A correct understanding of evangelism
Acts 8:26~40 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the road--the desert road--that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." (26)
♬ Hymn for scheduled worship: Korean/English Hymnal #497 I Love to Tell the Story (#274 in previous version)
There are many church leaders who have not learned how to evangelize even after graduating from theological seminary and find it difficult. Believers also feel burdened and cannot enjoy the blessing of evangelism. Other religions don’t even have the Gospel, but do their own missions work in a classy manner. It is a huge problem that the church does not know how to evangelize.
1. What is evangelism?
Though it seems like we are evangelizing, evangelism is actually God’s sovereign ministry. God created everything with His Word and is ruling over all of creation through it. He chose those who will receive salvation before creation. God has a purpose for everything that happens. He has a time schedule for the saved. That is why we need to receive accurate guidance. Evangelism contains everything that is of God. Though it looks foolish, God decided to save people through evangelism. Our personal lives, the church, our nations, the world, and all of history is contained within evangelism. Evangelism is the greatest blessing.
2. How does evangelism take place?
Just like God prepared the Ethiopian eunuch and used Phillip to convey the Gospel, God knows the disciples and the believers and uses them, and prepares those who are to receive salvation. God does evangelism by the most blessed method. He works through His angels, and God’s Spirit works. Evangelism is carried out according to the Word. God does evangelism through the people who know Christ correctly and enjoy Him. We must examine ourselves and check whether we have understood the Gospel correctly.
3. What happens after evangelism?
Though evangelism activities cease, the work of the Holy Spirit continues on. After the Ethiopian eunuch returned to his field, evangelism continued to place. Though it was one soul who was saved, the fulfillment of the Word continued to happen. If you really accept the Gospel, all problems will be taken care of at once, and true joy and happiness will come after evangelism takes place. If we relay the accurate Gospel, those who receive the Gospel, as well as we who share it will receive eternal blessings. There is no truth besides the Gospel, nothing that is as urgent as evangelism, and nothing but missions that allows us to see the world.
● Forum Topic - Are you enjoying evangelism, or are you afraid of it? How do you understand evangelism?
Core Training Message / 2009.10.17