Theological Term of the Week: Evangelism

evangelism

“[T]he faithful delivery of the message of the gospel”;1 sharing with non-Christians the message of what Jesus has done to save sinners, and calling them to repent and believe.

• From scripture: 

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20 ESV)

But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them … . 

[22] “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—[23] this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. [24] God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it… .

[36] Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

[37] Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” [38] And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:14a, 22-24, 36-38 ESV)

• From Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J. I. Packer: 

Evangelism … is a task appointed to all God’s people everywhere. It is the task of communicating a message from the Creator to rebel mankind. The message begins with information and ends with an invitation. The information concerns God’s work of making His Son a perfect Saviour for sinners. The invitation is God’s summons to mankind generally to come to the Saviour and find life. God commands all men everywhere to repent, and promises forgiveness and restoration to all who do. The Christian is sent into the world as God’s herald and Christ’s ambassador, to broadcast this message as widely as he can. This is both his duty (because God commands it, and love to our neighbour requires it) and his privilege (because it is a great thing to speak for God, and to take our neighbour the remedy—the only remedy—that can save him from the terrors of spiritual death). Our job, then, is to go to our fellow-men and tell them the gospel of Christ, and try by every means to make it clear to them; to remove as best we can any difficulties that they may find in it, to impress them with its seriousness, and to urge them to respond to it. This is our abiding responsibility; it is a basic part of our Christian calling.

Learn more:

1. Ernest Reisenger: Evangelism — What is it?
2. Trillia Newbell: The Call to Evangelism Made Simple
3. Burk Parsons: Evangelism For God’s Glory
4. Kim Riddlebarger: Some Dos and Don’ts of Evangelism
5. Erik Raymond: How the Trinity Should Shape Evangelism
6. Juan Sanchez: Overcoming the Fear of Evangelism
7. J. Mack Stiles: The Problem With Evangelistic Programs

Related terms:

• conversion
• gospel
• gospel call

1 Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J. I. Packer.

Filed under Salvation

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Sunday Hymn: Jesus Calls Us, O'er the Tumult

Jesus calls us: o’er the tumult
Of our life’s wild, restless sea,
Day by day his sweet voice soundeth,
Saying, “Christian, follow me.”

As, of old, apostles heard it
By the Galilean lake,
Turned from home and toil and kindred,
Leaving all for his dear sake.

Jesus calls us from the worship
Of the vain world’s golden store,
From each idol that would keep us,
Saying, “Christian, love me more.”

In our joys and in our sorrows,
Days of toil and hours of ease,
Still he calls, in cares and pleasures,
“Christian, love me more than these.”

Jesus calls us: by thy mercies,
Saviour, may we hear thy call,
Give our hearts to thine obedience,
Serve and love thee best of all.

—Ce­cil F. Al­ex­an­der

Another hymn for this Sunday:

• Soldiers of Christ Arise at The Happy Wonderer 

Theological Term of the Week: Mystery

mystery

As used in the New Testament, something true that we could never figure out for ourselves, but which must be disclosed to us by God; something which was “beyond us to discover, though we can understand it all right when God has made it known to us.” 1

• From scripture: 

Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages [26] but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—[27] to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen (Romans 16:25-27 ESV).

• From The Epistle to the Romans by Leon Morris, commenting on Romans 11:23:1 

He speaks of a mystery, a term the Christians used in the sense of something that people could not possibly know of themselves, but which has now been revealed to them. It was not incomprehensible, not “mysterious” in our sense of the term; it was something beyond us to discover, though we can understand it all right when God has made it known to us… . Paul uses [this term] to refer to a number of facets of the Christian message (e.g., 1 Cor. 2:7; 15:51; Eph. 3:4), but especially to the gospel (e.g., Eph. 6:19).

Learn more:

1. Blue Letter Bible: What Does the Term “Mystery” Mean In Relation to Bible Doctrine?
2. Albert Mohler: The Mystery of the Gospel
3. J. Hampton Keathley, III: Mystery Truths of Scripture

Related terms:

• gospel

1 The Epistle to the Romans by Leon Morris, page 419.

Filed under Miscellaneous

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This theological term was suggested by Neil Baulch.

Do you have a a theological term you’d like to see featured as a Theological Term of the Week? Email your suggestion using the contact button in the navigation bar above. 

Clicking on the Theological Terms button above the header will take you to an alphabetical list of all the theological terms.