1 2 B IBLE TEA CHING
THE EVANGELIST IN THE 21ST CENTURY In the first of a two-part teaching series,
people for works of service, so that
Counties CEO Martin Erwin looks at the
the body of Christ may be built up
role of an evangelist and the challenges
until we all reach unity in the faith
churches and evangelists alike face in
and in the knowledge of the Son of
today’s ever-changing society.
God and become mature, attaining to
The apostle Paul writing to the Christians in Ephesus, explained to
the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." Ephesians 4:11-13 (NIV)
the church how God would build,
This is one of only three places where
strengthen and establish the work:
the word ‘evangelist’ is used in the
"So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the
Bible. (The other two are Acts 21:8 and 2 Timothy 4:5).
pastors and teachers, to equip his
W H AT I S T H E G O S P E L? Of course, the word ‘Evangel’ is the NT Greek word for glad tidings, or good news, usually translated as ‘Gospel.’ But when used as a noun the ‘gospeller’ or bringer of Good News is called an ‘evangelist.’ There is a danger that we presume that everyone in our churches understands what the Gospel is, and are committed to it. A Counties evangelist said to me a number of years ago, “The problem is that we have many churches that call themselves evangelical, but they are simply not evangelising!” Sadly, too many churches are setting aside a
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‘mission’ or ‘evangelism’ budget and purely spending it on social enterprise. The Gospel of Jesus Christ, and in particular, the work of evangelism requires both our presence – bringing the love of Jesus through our actions, loving our neighbours - and a demand for clear proclamation. “But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?” Romans 10:14
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