"What Am I Doing?" Re-evaluating our view of Evangelism

Evangelism • Sermon • Submitted 8 months ago • Presented 8 months ago

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In his book, Evangelism as Exiles, author Elliot Clark tells the unlikely evangelism story of a girl named Meryem.

Meryem was only 17 years old, and she had only been a Christian for a few months, but she was already passionate about her faith in Jesus.

While in school one particular day, her teacher began lecturing on Christianity.

Meryem lived in a Muslim nation, so it was no surprise that her teacher was a devout Muslim also.

The teacher began accusing Christians of believing in three different gods, and of trusting in four gospels which contradict each other.

And that’s when Meryem raised her hand.

“That’s not true,” she said. “That’s not what Christians believe.”

“How do you know?” the teacher asked her.

“Because I’ve read the Bible. And I have one with me!” she replied.

Then before 38 students in a high school with zero other Christians, Meryem boldly defended the gospel.

She explained that Christians only believe in one God who exists eternally in three persons.

She clarified that the four gospels are not contradictory, but complementary accounts that teach a unified message of how Jesus is the Son of God who lived a sinless life and died a sinner’s death then rose from the dead so that whoever repents and believers in Him may be saved.

As a result, Meryem got in trouble with the principle. He was threatening her with expulsion, public shaming, and even the possibility of legal trouble with the Muslim authorities.

All because she saw an opportunity to defend the gospel and she too it. [1]

After telling the story, Clark draws a convicting parallel between Meryem and many of us:

“I think there’s a striking difference between many of us and Meryem. Put in her position, I doubt we’d have assessed the situation as an opportunity from the Lord. And most likely we wouldn’t have acted on it. That’s because we increasingly define ‘evangelistic opportunities’ as those rare instances where we perceive others to be open to the gospel. When we think we have a willing audience. When we surmise that those around us are sympathetic to our perspective and will listen without rebuttal.” [2]

Today I want us to consider a question that many of us fail to consider: what am I doing when I evangelize?

If you had to simply explain the term evangelism in your own words, what would you say?

[Take answers until someone says something about “sharing” the gospel]

1) HOW Does the Bible Talk About Evangelism?

A. PROCLAIM the Gospel

From the Greek word kerusso, meaning to proclaim, preach, announce, like a herald

Matthew 9:35 “And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.”

Mark 16:15 “And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”

Luke 24:45-47 “Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”

Acts 8:5 “Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.”

Acts 9:20-22 “And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.”

Romans 10:14-15 “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!””

1 Corinthians 1:23 “but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,”

2 Corinthians 4:5 “For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.”

Colossians 1:23 “if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.”

1 Thessalonians 2:9 “For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.”

1 Timothy 3:16 “Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.”

See also: Matthew 4:23, 10:7, 24:14, 26:13; Mark 1:14, 5:20, 6:12, 13:10, 14:9, 16:15; Luke 4:18-19, 8:1, 8:39, 9:2, 24:47; Acts 8:5, 10:42, 19:13, 20:25, 28:31; Romans 10:8; 1 Corinthians 1:23, 15:11-12; 2 Corinthians 1:19, 11:4; Galatians 2:2; 1 Timothy 3:16

See also a synonym for this Greek word (also usually translated “proclaim” in English) in Acts 4:2, 13:5, 13:38, 16:17, 17:3, 17:13, 17:23, 26:23, 1 Corinthians 2:1, 9:14; Philippians 1:17-18; Colossians 1:28

What implications does/should this term have on our understanding of evangelism?

B. ANNOUNCE Good News

Greek word euangelidzo, meaning to announce or proclaim good news

Luke 3:18 “So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people.”

Acts 8:4 “Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.”

Romans 1:15 “So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.”

1 Corinthians 15:1-2 “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.”

2 Corinthians 10:16 “so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another’s area of influence.”

Galatians 1:11 “For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel.”

See also Matthew 11:5, Luke 7:22, 9:6, 16:16, 20:1; Acts 5:42, 8:12, 8:25, 8:35, 8:40, 10:36, 11:20-21, 14:7, 14:21, 15:35, 16:10, 17:18; Romans 10:15; 1 Corinthians 1:17, 9:18, 2 Corinthians 11:7; Galatians 1:8-9, 1:16, 1:23; Ephesians 2:17; 1 Peter 1:12, 1:25, 4:6

What implications does/should this term have on our understanding of evangelism?

C. TEACH the Gospel

Greek word didasko, meaning to teach or instruct

Acts 4:1-2 “And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.”

Colossians 1:28 “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.”

See also Acts 4:18, 5:21, 5:25, 5:28, 5:42, 11:26, 15:35, 18:11, 18:25, 20:20, 21:21, 21:28, 28:31;

What implications does/should this term have on our understanding of evangelism?

D. TESTIFY About Jesus

Greek word diamartyromai, meaning to testify, bear witness, solemnly urge, or warn

Luke 16:27-28 “And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’”

Acts 8:25 “Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.”

Acts 10:42 “And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.”

Acts 18:5 “When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus.”

See also, Acts 2:40, 20:21, 20:24, 23:11, 26:22-23, 28:23

What implications does/should this term have on our understanding of evangelism?

E. Speak BOLDLY

Greek word parresiazomai, meaning to speak freely, speak boldly, speak fearlessly

Acts 14:3 “So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.”

Acts 19:8 “And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God."

1 Thessalonians 2:2 “But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.”

See also Acts 4:29, 9:27-29, 18:26, 26:26; Ephesians 6:20

What implications does/should this term have on our understanding of evangelism?

F. REASON with Unbelievers

Greek word dialegomai, meaning to converse, discuss, argue, reason

Acts 17:2-3 “And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.””

Acts 18:4 “And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.”

See also Acts 17:17, 18:19, 19:8-9, 24:25

What implications does/should this term have on our understanding of evangelism?

G. DECLARE the Gospel

Colossians 4:3-4 “At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.”

H. DEFEND the Gospel

From Greek word apologia, meaning to defend

1 Peter 3:15 “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,”

I. EXHORT Sinners to Believe

Greek word parakaleo, meaning to urge, implore, exhort, encourage, or comfort

Luke 3:18 “So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people.”

Acts 2:37-40 “Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.””

What implications does/should this term have on our understanding of evangelism?

J. REFUTE Untruths

Greek word diakatelenchomai, meaning to refute, rebuke, expose, or convict

Acts 18:27-28 “And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.”

What implications does/should this term have on our understanding of evangelism?

K. IMPLORE Sinners to Repent

From Greek word deomai, meaning to ask, request, beg, plead, or implore

2 Corinthians 5:20 “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

What implications does/should this term have on our understanding of evangelism?

L. SHARE the Gospel

From Greek word metadidomi, meaning to share, give, impart, or contribute

1 Thessalonians 2:8-9 “So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.”

Is there any significance to the fact that this is often our preferred term for evangelism?

2) WHY Does it Matter How We Talk About Evangelism?

Does the way we speak about evangelism affect the way we do evangelism?

Clark—“It’s more than a bit curious that the dominant way American Christians describe the act of evangelism is in terms of sharing. This isn’t just one way we talk about it; it’s almost the only way we talk about it. And I believe this lack of clarity is more than an issue of semantics.” [3]

Imagine a pitching coach who tells his pitchers “just toss the ball.” Not throw strikes. Not work the corners. Not change speeds. Not pound it inside. Just toss the ball.

Clark—“Sharing typically involves the act of giving something to someone who desires it. Children share (or don’t share) Legos with other kids who want them. Friends share a great cookie recipe with another friend who asks for it. Or we might share money with those holding a cardboard sign at the street corner. In each case, we share with others because they’re asking for what we possess. But the reality is, few people are ever begging us to share the gospel with them. [4]

My goal in sharing all this: not to change how you talk about evangelism, but how you think about evangelism and do evangelism.

Three Applications:

A) Don’t wait until you’re asked!

B) Speak with authority

C) Don’t forget the power of the gospel!

Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

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