Evangelism the Narrow Way

Evangelism Three

Some thoughts on evangelism.

By Pastor Dan Domke – November 2001

 New Testament
Evangelism
“And daily in the temple, and in
every house, they did not cease
teaching and preaching Jesus as
the Christ”
(Acts 5:42)
 Our Guide and Standard
• The Old and New Testament is the
Christian’s standard in all matters
of doctrine, worship and life. Eph.
2:20.
 Ephesians 2:20

•20 built on the foundation of the apostles and

prophets, with Christ Jesus himself being the
chief cornerstone.
 Our Guide an Standard

•What does the New Testament teach

regarding the pattern of Evangelism practiced
during the time of the apostles?
•Are we following that pattern today? (cf. 1
Pet. 4:11; 1 Cor. 4:6)
 1 Peter 4:11
“If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of
God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with
the ability which God supplies, that in all things
God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to
whom belong the glory and the dominion forever
and ever.”
 1 Corinthians 4:6
“Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively
transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes,
that you may learn in us not to think beyond
what is written, that none of you may be puffed
up on behalf of one against the other.”

We should follow the

New Testament pattern
in our work of
Evangelism
 The Book of Acts
• Apostles were in the center of the
work in the infancy of the church
(1-7; cf. 5:42)

Are we in the
center of this
work today?
 Acts 5:42
“And daily in the temple, and in every house,
they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus
as the Christ”

Antecedent of “they” is the

apostles. cf. verse 29, 34.

Nothing systematic, just

sharing the gospel wherever
they went.
 The Book of Acts
• Apostles were center of the work
in the infancy of the church (1-7;
cf. 5:42)

• When the persecution increased,

the disciples took up the apostles’
example, and preached as they
were scattered (8:1,4)
 Acts 8:1,4
“…At that time a great persecution arose against
the church which was at Jerusalem; and they
were all scattered throughout the regions of
Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.”

“Therefore those who were scattered went

everywhere preaching the word.”

Again, spontaneous, as men and

women, compelled by a sure knowledge of
Jesus resurrection shared the gospel with
the lost.
 The Book of Acts
• Apostles were center of the work
in the infancy of the church (1-7;
cf. 5:42)
• When the persecution increased,
the disciples took up the apostles’
example, and preached as they
were scattered (8:1,4)
• Peter’s preaching (9:32-11:18),
and the ministry of Paul (13-28),
show the apostles doing the work
given them by the Holy Spirit
 Acts 11:17-18
“‘If therefore God gave them the same gift as He
gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus
Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?’
18 When they heard these things they became
silent; and they glorified God, saying, ‘Then
God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance
to life.’”
Holy Spirit led Peter to
Cornelius house to
preach to the Gentiles.
 Acts 14:26-27
“From there they sailed to Antioch, where they
had been commended to the grace of God for the
work which they had completed. 27 Now when
they had come and gathered the church together,
they reported all that God had done with them,
and that He had opened the door of faith to the
Gentiles.”
Paul and Barnabas reported
to the church in Antioch
their work.
 Evangelism in the Epistles

• Paul puts the work of evangelism

and shedding light on a personal,
individual basis (Phil. 2:14-15)
 Philippians 2:14-15

“Do all things without complaining and

disputing, 15 that you may become blameless
and harmless, children of God without fault in
the midst of a crooked and perverse generation,
among whom you shine as lights in the world.”
 Evangelism in the Epistles

• Again: Paul puts the obligation of

shedding light on a personal,
individual basis (Phil. 2:14-15)

• Notice that not just “preachers”,

or “missionaries”, but rather
“brethren” preached (Phil. 1:14)
 Philippians 1:14

“And most of the brethren in the Lord, having

become confident by my chains, are much more
bold to speak the word without fear.”

The brethren were emboldened

by the example of Paul
 Evangelism in the Epistles
• Paul puts the obligation of
shedding light on a personal,
individual basis (Phil. 2:14-15)

• Notice that not just “preachers”,

or “missionaries”, but rather
“brothers” preached (Phil. 1:14)

• Jude exhorted all Christians to

contend for the faith (Jude 1:3)
Jude 1, 3
“…To those who are called, sanctified by God
the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ:
3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to
you concerning our common salvation, I found it
necessary to write to you exhorting you to
contend earnestly for the faith which was once
for all delivered to the saints.”

The brothers were emboldened

by the Work of God.
 Evangelism in the Epistles
• Paul puts the obligation of
shedding light on a personal,
individual basis (Phil. 2:14-15)
• Notice that not just “preachers”,
or “missionaries”, but rather
“brethren” preached (Phil. 1:14)
• Jude exhorted all Christians to
contend for the faith (Jude 1,3)
• The New Testament emphasis is
individual, and here is where God wants
it kept!
 Philippians 1:3-5

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of

you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making
request for you all with joy, 5 for your
fellowship in the gospel from the first day until
now.”

They sent Epaphroditus to him

with their “gift”, to minister to
his needs.
 1 Corinthians 9:14
“Even so the Lord has commanded that those
who preach the gospel should live from the
gospel.”
No man who gives himself over to the
preaching of God’s word should be made
to feel ashamed to “live from the gospel.”

Note: Support does not equal

“employer/employee” as some
seem to think.
Congregational Responsibility
• Philippian church supported Paul’s
evangelistic efforts (Phil. 1:5)
• The Church in Philippi
“assisted” him in his work.
• Men who preach deserve to be
supported in the work (1 Cor. 9:14)

• The Pattern: Local congregations support

their pastors, and send mission support on to
missionary work. (2 Cor. 11:8,9)
 2 Corinthians 11:8-9
“I robbed other churches, taking wages from
them to minister to you. 9 And when I was
present with you, and in need, I was a burden to
no one, for what I lacked the brethren who came
from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I
kept myself from being burdensome to you, and
so I will keep myself.”

Paul received support directly

from churches.