The task of evangelism

The Task of Evangelism¹
pdf
Dr. Paul Manuel—2013

One issue we touched only lightly is the church's part in the task of evangelism. All would agree that the church has a responsibility to spread the gospel. The question is: What part of the church is responsible for evangelism? From the biblical data, we can make three observations.

I. Observations from the book of Acts and the epistles

A. Local churches, as such, do not engage in (congregational) evangelism.

1. The primary work of a church (as we noted earlier) lies in other areas (i.e., glorification, edification, and purification).

• Nowhere does Jesus or any New Testament writer charge or chasten congregations regarding evangelism.

2. The secondary work of a church may, however, include this area.

• The New Testament only records one kind of involvement by the local church in evangelism: A congregation can send and support those whose ministry (i.e., spiritual gift) is to spread the gospel (Acts 13:3; Phil 4:1516).²

Acts 13:3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

Phil 4:15 ...when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need.

B. Most believers do not do (confrontational) evangelism.

1. The primary work of a believer lies in other areas (i.e., his gift[s]).

• Nowhere does Jesus or any New Testament writer make evangelism the responsibility of all Christians.³

2. Instead, they advocate a subtle and less confrontational means of communication (so-called lifestyle evangelism), indicating how the secondary work of a believer should include this area.⁴

• He must demonstrate the value of a relationship with God by leading a godly life (Matt 5:16; Phil 2:14-16a).⁵

Matt 5:16 ...let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Phil 2:14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16a as you hold out the word of life....

• He must prepare to answer inquiries from unbelieving neighbors (Col 4:5b-6; 1 Pet 3:15b).⁶

Col 4:5b ...make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

1 Pet 3:15b Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

C. Some believers do (consistent) evangelism.

1. The initial work of apostles lies in this area.

• Jesus charges them (not disciples in general) with the task (Matt 28:18-20a; Acts 1:7-8).⁷

Matt 28:18 Then Jesus came to [the eleven apostles] and said.... 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20a and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

Acts 1:7 [Jesus] said to [the apostles].... 8 But 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.

• They are the ones most clearly active in this role (Acts 5:18-21, 42; 13:1-3; cf. 14:14).⁸

Acts 5:18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. 20 "Go, stand in the temple courts," he said, "and tell the people the full message of this new life." 21 At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.... 42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

Acts 13:1 In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen ... and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off?⁹

NB: Luke identifies both men as "apostles" in 14:14.

2. The continual work of evangelists lies in this area.

• The Holy Spirit equips them (not disciples in general) for the task (Eph 4:11).

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,

• They are the ones most clearly active in this role (Acts 8:40; cf. 21:8).

Acts 8:40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.

NB: He is called an "evangelist" in 21:8.

Apostle and evangelist are two different ministries whose Spirit-given ability involves evangelism.¹⁰ The apostle has a broader responsibility in that he is a church planter, so his duties include discipling, baptizing, and teaching. Hence, communicating the gospel is part of an apostle's larger role that involves organizing new converts into new congregations. For the evangelist, communicating the gospel is his ministry, and he will usually direct new converts into existing churches.

Because apostles and evangelists are the ones whom the Spirit specifically equips to communicate the good news does not mean those of us with other spiritual gifts can keep quiet when we have an opportunity to tell someone about Jesus.¹¹

II. Conclusions from the book of Acts and the epistles

• The gospel disseminates basically in three ways:

A. Apostles spread the gospel.

• Their witness is part of a larger ministry that includes discipling, baptizing, and teaching.

B. Evangelists spread the gospel.

• Their witness is their ministry, the primary role for which the Spirit equips them.

C. Others spread the gospel.

• Their witness supplements another ministry (e.g., helps, prophecy, administration).

This three-fold distinction is important because it can keep us from error, on one hand, and from frustration, on the other. If we recognize that we are not apostles, then we will not make the mistake of taking the Great Commission passages as our mandate for telling others the good news (and then feel guilty for becoming a farmer instead of a missionary). If we realize that we are not evangelists, then we will not feel compelled to turn a casual conversation into a springboard for the "Four Spiritual Laws."¹²

What to remember: So what part of the church is responsible for spreading the gospel? The New Testament delegates the chief responsibility for evangelism to those whom the Holy Spirit specifically equips to do it. There is no evidence in the New Testament of local groups engaging in congregation-wide evangelism and little evidence of it among Christians in general. For the vast majority of believers—those not apostles or evangelists—the most effective means of communicating the gospel, the method Jesus and New Testament writers advocate, is by leading a godly life and by answering the spiritual inquiries of others.

For the Bibliography and Endnotes, see the pdf here.