SUBJECT - MISSION AND EVANGELISM // LESSON – 1 // INTRODUCTION //

 

LESSON – 1

INTRODUCTION

The great commission of our risen Lord is carried out from generation to generation by the obedient ones and making disciples of all nations. As Jesus said I will build my church is an on going process till the gospel is presented to each person and the church is planted among each people group. The evangelism should lead for church growth through church planting. So the ultimate goal of the minister of the gospel is to extend the kingdom of God.

 

Evangelism is the foundation of Christian Ministry. Evangelism is not exclusively a New Testament concept. It has a history earlier to the New Testament times, but only in the NT times does it develop fully and deeply.

 

In its Greek form “evangelism” is closely related to “gospel”. In the New Testament it arises out of the nature of the gospel, which came to mankind in Jesus Christ and which announces to the world the great redemptive acts of God in His Son, our Savior and Lord.

 

Till the seventh century the word evangelize did not appear in the English language. It comes from the Latin word “evangelium” which is derived from Greek text. There are two Greek words that must be understood before a biblical definition can be derived.

 

The  first greek word that must be understood is “evangelion” it is a compound word. Composed of ‘eu’ which means ‘good’ and ‘angelos’ means ‘messanger’. Together they form the word “evangelion” literally meaning ‘good message’ or ‘good news’. The word occurs seventy seven times in the NT. Sixty six of which are used by apostle Paul. Mark uses this word in his gospel ‘the beginning of the good news about Jesus Christ. Paul is more specific in 1 Corinthians 15 and this passage only in the NT gives a definition of the gospel. In vers 1 and 2 Paul says he is about to declare to them the gospel by which they were saved. Then in vers 3 – 5 he defines gospel and say four things about Christ. He did for our sins. He was buried, He arose, and He was seen. Paul adds the phrase according to the scriptures. Indicating two basis elements of the gospel are : Christ died for our sins and Christ rose from the dead.

 

The second Greek word is “evangelizo” translated ‘evangelize’ means to announce the ‘goodness’. From this root only the other word such as Evangelizm, evangelist and evangelize are coming. It is used 55 times in the NT and is a verb used in general way. The phrase used in the NT is ‘to preach the gospel. (1 Cor 1:17, 9:16, Mark 16:15, I Thess 3:6)

 

The word 'evangelism' does not occur directly in the Bible but the biblical meaning of evangelism is best understood by looking at the three New Testament words that directly relate to it:

 

Word -1

 

The word, "gospel” literally “evangel”, means “good news”, it is found 77 times in NT.

 

Word -2

The verb “evangelize” means to bring or to announce or to proclaim the good news. It appears 51 times in the NT.

 

Word -3

The word “evangelist” describes the person involved in telling the good news. It occurs 3 times. The New Testament presents the message, the method and the messenger of evangelism.

 

A.     Gospel - What is gospel?

 

The Greek word “evangelion” means “gospel” or “good news”. In classical Greek, it has three meanings. Originally it means “the reward given to a messenger for bringing good tidings”. (II Samuel 4:10)

 

It also means, 'the sacrifices made to the gods, when such good tidings were received'.  In late Hellenistic Greek, it comes to mean the good

tidings of “birth of a child” (Jer. 20:15).

 

In the Septuagint. It has two usages:

 

Psalm 40:10; 96:2 – the corresponding verb is used for 'telling forth the righteousness and the saving power of God'.

 

In Isaiah it is used for 'the glad tidings of the coming of God’s anointed one to His people.'

 

According to NT,

 

gospel is God’s good news for all persons and every person, everywhere. The gospel is the Christ's story - the good news about Jesus Christ. The gospel, therefore, is the good news that Lord was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself.

 

In 1 Cor. 15:1-5

 

the gospel which Paul delivered was “that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures and that he appeared to Peter and then to the twelve.” So, the content of the scripture is

 

So, the content of the scripture is

 

·       Christ died for our sins (death)

 

·       Christ was buried, a proof of His actual death. (burial)

 

·       Christ rose again on the third day. (Resurrection).

 

B.     Definition of Evangelism

1.      Evangelism is the activity of the church in telling the gospel to sinners with intent to bring them to the saving knowledge of Christ. (Macaulay, Personal Evangelism p12)

2.      Evangelism is the bringing to the gospel to the unsaved anywhere (R.B. Kuiper. God centered Evangelism. P 7)

3.      Evangelism is to present Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, that men shall come to put their trust in God through Him, to accept Him as their saviour and serve Him as their king in the fellowship of His church. Evangelist Billy Graham used this definition very often, because it retains fully the New Testament perspective.

 

Evangelism is the communication of the gospel. It is a message which must be communicated in words, power and with deep conviction (I Thess.1:5). “To evangelize is to present Christ Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit that men shall come to put their trust in God through  Him.” (Dr. J.I. Packer)

 

William Temple said, "Evangelism is the winning of men to acknowledge Christ as their Saviour and King so that they may give themselves to the service in the fellowship of his church". The definition of evangelism formulated first in England in 1919 by the 'Archbishop's Committee of

Enquiry into the Evangelistic work of the Church', is accepted as a comprehensive definition of evangelism by most evangelical leaders today:

 

"Evangelism is to present the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit that men shall come to put their trust in God through Jesus Christ, accept Him as their Saviour and serve Him as their Lord in the

fellowship of His Church".

 

Evangelism is defined as the communication of the gospel of Jesus Christ, with a purpose to bring the hearers to faith in Christ, and ultimately instructing them in the Word of God, so that he/she can become a mature member in the body of Christ. (Eph.4:13). It is a responsibility given by the Saviour of the world to all the members of the body of Christ for this age (Matt.28.18-20).

 

 

C.      The Gospel Proclaims

 Pardon for guilty ( Acts 26:18)

 Peace for the troubled (Eph. 2:17)

 Power for the strengthless ( Rom.5:6)

 Purity for the defended. ( Acts 15:9)

 Plenty for the needy. ( Luke 14:16,23)

 Pleasures for the dissatisfy. ( Phil.4:6-11)

 So, gospel is the proclamation of the Kingdom of God and the demonstration of God’s redemptive activity in Jesus Christ to a world unsaved by sin. Luke 24:45-49 gives an outline for evangelism.

 Vs.45-47- The evangelism Message of repentance and forgiveness through the suffering and resurrection of Christ based on Holy Scripture.

 Vs 47- The evangelistic Mandate is to share this message with all nation. (Vs.48)

 The Method, is through human witness (Man and Woman) Vs. 49

 The evangelistic Means is the dynamism of the Holy Spirit.