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Refocus Church

Series 2

12. Churches grow bigger through EVANGELISM
   

Underlying Theme:    How these things contribute to church growth

   

Focal Idea No.5:   Evangelism is about creating opportunities for others to encounter to God and come to know His salvation through Jesus Christ. As the church does that which is up-most on God's heart, it will receive His blessing and be built, encouraged and strengthened. Outsiders will be drawn to Christ and added to the Church.

 

   

A. What is Evangelism?

 

•  Note first of all that the word ‘evangelism' does not appear in the Bible.
•  ‘Evangelist' does.

 

Eph 4:11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers ,

•  evangelist is therefore a God-given ministry

 

Acts 21:8 we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven.

•  Philip had been appointed one of the seven deacons in Jerusalem (Acts 6:5) but had fled in the face of persecution (Acts 8:4,5) and had a remarkable signs and wonders evangelistic ministry in Samaria
•  this was a classic example of the evangelistic ministry, following Jesus' pattern of healing and deliverance to open the hearts of people to the gospel.

 

2 Tim 4:5 do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

Earlier in that letter Paul had said, “ this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands” (1:6) indicating that the ministry had been God-imparted through Paul

 

•  An ‘evangelist' is one who has a God-given ability to share the Gospel with others in such a way that it brings conviction and salvation to many.

 

•  ‘Evangelism' is the process whereby people are drawn to Christ by deed and word.

 

 

B. Evangelist, no, witness, yes

 

•  So we may not have been gifted by God in this way, but does that mean we have no part to play?

 

Acts 1:6 you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem , and in all Judea and Samaria , and to the ends of the earth."

•  Interestingly this was to the remaining 11 apostles but of them only Peter seems to have had that evangelistic gift
•  but the call was to all of them to be witnesses

 

 

C. So what does a Witness do?

 

Acts 10:39 -41 " We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem . They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen--by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead .

•  they simply told what they had seen and heard, what they knew of Christ
•  a witness simply tells what he knows

 

1 Jn 1:1-3 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard , which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched --this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it , and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard

•  John was a classic example of a witness

 

Jn 9:25 " Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know . I was blind but now I see!"

•  this was the most simple and powerful testimony possible

 

Eph 4:11,12 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up

•  ‘ministries' are established gifts to equip the rest of the church
•  those ‘works of service' build up the church.

 

 

D. Lessons about being Witnesses

 

•  We can all be witnesses of what has happened to us and what we know.
•  Our part is to be available to God and to other people.
•  God's part is to give you the words as you ask Him, and to convict the listener and bring them salvation.
•  The evangelistic process of drawing people to Christ usually involves
  •  building friendship bridges to people
  •  showing concern and then sharing God's love in deed and word
  •  God bringing conviction to them
  •  Them ‘seeing it' and praying and receiving Christ.

     

E. The Outcomes of being a Witness & Being Part of the Evangelistic Process

 

i) Us as individuals

•  In that part of God's design is for us all to be witnesses, we are most fulfilled when we are the people God has designed us to be and that means someone open to share God's love in deed and word with others.
•  When we do that we feel good and are particularly blessed by God

   

ii) The rest of the church

•  There is a sense of togetherness which is good, when we collectively work together to build bridges to people, welcome people, and bring God's love to people in the church and in the community.
•  The church is particularly build up and encouraged when people come to Christ –there is nothing like seeing people being born again.

 

iii) Outsiders

•  When outsiders find their hearts being melted by the love of the church, God's people, they become secure enough to face their own needs, receive the testimony of the church and the Gospel, and then come to Christ.

A Final Comment  

Becoming aware of God's gifting - or lack of it - can become a real means of becoming free. Many Christians are both fearful and guilty over their inability to share the Gospel - and see results! I have shared the Gospel - and seen results - but I am not an evangelist. That is not my gifting. I am a witness.

Being a witness is an easy thing once we get over that initial fear of sharing about God's love in our lives. That, I'm sorry to say, is a leap that we just have to take, but the good news is that when we learn to be sensitive to God's moving we can also learn to be sensitive to how to say and how much to say.  Larry Norman who recently died, and was known for being an amazing witness as he carreid a Cross around America and Europe, used to say that he never shared until the Lord showed him the next person to share with. But did you notice that - the 'next' person. He expected to share and when he came like that the Lord gave him the opportunities.

Yes, we can each think out what is our basic testimony in a minute. That's all it takes to start the ball rolling when someone shows interest. Some of us will be freer than others in being able to share. That's all right; it depends on personality and it depends on learning - but it also depends on availability. You may not be a brilliant 'people-person' but you can still ask  the Lord to give you contact with people who are like you, with whom you can empathise and who will emphathise with you. When you find people who are like you it is easy to share. If you don't have such inhibitions, just ask the Lord daily to give you people who will be open to you, and when they do, and respond with open hearts, risk it, pray with them and watch God work!  That's one of the ways how churches are enlarged.