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EVANGELISM, THREE WAYS .  OUR ENGLISH WORD "evangelize" has a two-prong meaning, (1) to preach the gospel, and (2) to convert to Christianity. Actually there are three Greek words in the New Testament that serve as a defining backdrop to our modern word "evangelize." They are (1) euaggelizo (evangelizo), which means to preach the message of glad tidings, (2) euaggelistes (evangelistes), a messenger of the glad tidings, and (3) euaggelion (euangelion), the message of glad tidings. Of course the message of glad tidings (good news) is the death, burial and resurrection of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) and consequently the forgiveness of our sins and the hope of eternal life. Evangelism is the effort and process of getting out the glad tidings. Behind all of this is the Great Commission spoken by our Lord on the peak of his resurrection glory. .  Let us notice three different ways that evangelism takes place. . I. EXEMPLARY EVANGELISM . "They Also May Without the Word Be Won" .  Exemplary Evangelism is underscored in 1 Peter 3:1-4. Peter exhorted Christian women who have unbelieving husbands. He tells them to be "in subjection to your [their] own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives." The word "conversation" here (KJV) is an old English word meaning their conduct, their behavior—the way that they lived, their lifestyle. Their chaste manner of living, not frivolously engrossed in adorning themselves like the women of the world, would make an impact on the unbelieving husband; especially if there was the adornment of the Spirit—a changed life. The best proof of Christianity is Christianity as evidenced in Christian living. It would make a believer out of the husband. Paul had this in mind in 1 Corinthians 7:16 when he said, "For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy [unbelieving] husband?" (by staying with him and being a real Christian). . Being "Salt" and "Light" .  The Lord Jesus taught, "Ye are the salt of the earth…Ye are the light of the world…Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:13-16). Salt preserves and seasons by simply being salt. We are to "let" our light shine, not shine it. Simply be a real Christian. Paul admonished the Philippians, "Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life…" (Philippians 2:14-16). The conversion the Thessalonians in their turning from idolatry and living changed lives accomplished this (1 Thessalonians 1:6-10). . "That the Word of God Be Not Blasphemed" .  We must be an embodiment of our message. It is a message of hope that produces purity of life. If we do not embody our message, what we are (and are not) speaks so loudly that people can’t hear what we have to say. This was many times true of the Jews who lived among the Gentiles in the first century. Read Romans 2:17-24. They made their boast of the law, but at the same time by blatantly breaking the law they dishonored God. Their lives did not represent what they taught. Consequently Paul asserted that "the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written." Just the opposite of making believers out the Gentiles, they made the name of God a curse word. Therefore, Paul repeatedly admonished and urged Christians to be consistent in their living (Titus 2:4-10; 1 Timothy 6:1; Colossians 3:22,23). Be the real thing. . "An Example of the Believers" .  Not only was young Timothy admonished to preach the word, the message of his own life was to be addressed first. Listen. "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee" (1 Timothy 4:16). He was to be "an example of the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity" (1 Timothy 4:12). This needs to come through clear and plain. It is a "must," it will convert people within itself, and it absolutely is a prerequisite before all other ways of evangelism can be genuinely effective. . II. CASUAL, SPONTANEOUS EVANGELISM . "I Believed, and Therefore Have I Spoken" .  After the resurrection of Christ from the dead, initially the sharing of such news was spontaneous. How could one keep silent about such a happening (and in view of it what it implied for all of mankind, after learning about it)? The two men on their way to Emmaus found themselves talking about this (Luke 24:13-24), and then experienced the confirmation of what really took place by Christ himself (Luke 24:25-35). They didn’t have to be told to return to Jerusalem and tell others about what they now knew. The apostle Paul asserted, "We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak" (2 Corinthians 4:13). . As You Go, Make Disciples .  Some have seen the emphasis in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) as parallel with what we are trying to bring out under this point. Here the Lord said, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations [makes disciples], baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost [Spirit]: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you…" We are told that in the language of the New Testament the words "Go," "baptizing," and "teaching" are participles with only the verb "make disciples" (KJV, "teach all nations") being imperative (not a participle). In other words, the thrust would be something like this: As you are going, MAKE DISCIPLES, baptizing and teaching them all things. In this line of thought, they were to make disciples as they went about their everyday walk of life. It would be more of a casual, spontaneous transaction. . The Woman at the Well .  Perhaps we can see this in Jesus himself. An illustration of this is seen in his encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:5-42). In asking the woman for a drink of water, it opened the door for an extended discussion. She went away into the city and said, "Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?" (4:29) "And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman…" (4:39). Others personally checked it out, and said, "Now we believe, not because of thy [the woman’s] saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world" (4:42). A religious subject came up, and Jesus took it from there. . "And When Peter Saw It," Etc. .  The book of Acts provides more illustrations of this. "Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer…" (Acts 3). They had to go past a lame beggar to enter the temple. He was a familiar fixture to everyone who came that way, as he was laid there daily. So when this man through the power of God was miraculously healed by the apostles, and was seen leaping and walking and praising God, it caused quite a stir. "All the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering." Then we read, "And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people…" What an opportunity to speak up for Christ, and he spontaneously responded to it. He preached the gospel to them. Acts 8:4 reads, "Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word." The rank and file of the church were dispersed in this first full-scale persecution. This wasn’t planned, and what took place just happened. In an informal, unregimented way they carried the gospel message with them. They spontaneously dispensed the good news as they were dispersed. .  Yes, people will talk. And in such casual exchange of words with acquaintances, or even strangers, opportunities are often available to speak up. Let us not be ashamed or hesitant to do so. In an "unstaged" and relaxed atmosphere share your faith with others. Let it naturally come from your heart. Backed by sincere and conscientious Christian living, it could mean eternal life for someone. . III. PLANNED, CONCERTED EVANGELISM . An Imperative Command and Imperative Action .  Certainly the Great Commission may have had that "evangelize as you go" aspect, but behind it was the command of the Lord that called for imperative action, as they were to go "into all the world." Besides Matthew’s account, Mark makes this very evident (Mark 16:15-20) as he concludes his account by saying, "And they went forth, and preached every where…" Initially they may have been slow to move on out, as they evangelized Jerusalem, but persecution and the conversion of Paul turned this around. God prodded them with the household of Cornelius experience (Acts 10). The church at Antioch sent out Paul [Saul] and Barnabas (Acts 13:1-3). The chapters that follow in the book of Acts tell of their concerted efforts throughout the Mediterranean World. In Romans 10:15, Paul asked, "And how shall they preach, except they be sent?" . The "Home Base" for This Action .  Of course today the local church is "home base" for all planned and concerted action. The church is "the pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:15), and "the Spirit and the bride say, Come" (Revelation 22:17). The manifold wisdom of God is made known by the church (Ephesians 3:10). Inasmuch as the local church is the extent of ecclesiastical organization found in the New Testament, the local church itself is the "missionary society" to accomplish its mission in the world. The local church at Antioch sent Paul and Barnabas out, and they reported back to it. It seems like today that men have leap-frogged Scriptural precedence and gone on with their own devices. Any organization beyond the local church is denominationalism and a step back toward Rome. . Planned and Concerted Efforts .  Besides the work of the evangelist who is spearheading evangelism, although preachers today are more like priestly clergymen, planned and concerted efforts in conjunction with the church can be and are undertaken in many ways. Gospel meetings, canvassing a community, and knocking on doors fall into this category. To that could be added home Bible studies, broadcasting on the radio and publishing gospel literature. The list goes on. We could add all legitimate, honorable and spiritual undertakings that are in harmony with the Scriptures. The message of salvation must be gotten out. A world is lost in sin. Evangelize. That is what the church is all about.   EVANGELIZE! EVANGELIZE!   Through all the earth in Jesus’ name!   Give us a watchword for the hour,   A thrilling word, a word of power!   A battle cry, a flaming breath,   That calls to conquest or to death!   A word to rouse the church from rest,   To heed the Master’s high behest!   The call is given: ye hosts arise!   Our watchword is evangelize!   The glad evangel now proclaim,   Through all the earth, in Jesus’ name!   This word is ringing through the skies:   Evangelize! Evangelize!   To dying men, a fallen race,   Make known the gift of Gospel grace!   The world that now in darkness lies,   Evangelize! Evangelize! x <BACK x TheSwordANDStaff