1 Kid Making a Difference

Week 2: Authorization for Evangelism

What right do we have to go to a person of another religion and tell him about our God? If people want to worship Satan or pray to the sun or to idols, do we have any right to disturb them? There are many good teachings in most religions, so why should we try to change people’s beliefs and customs? By whose authority do we go out and preach the gospel? To find the answers to these questions, read Matthew 28:18-20.

The great God of the universe, the one true God who made the world and everything in it, has ordered us to give everyone on earth His Word. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, gave this order to the church. We call it the Great Commission. We have our orders, our authorization for evangelism, in the Word of God.

Certificate of Authorization
To whom it may concern: Every Believer In Christ is hereby authorized to witness for Me and give everyone the good news of My salvation according to the instructions in My Word.

Acts 1:8 Jesus Christ
Matthew 28:18-20 Supreme Authority
Mark 16:15-16 in Heaven and Earth

Notice the word authority in Matthew 28:18. (Some Bible versions translate it as power.) Jesus, the One with all authority in heaven and earth, has promised to be with us. We can count on His supreme authority to back us and give us official support as we carry out His orders!

When the early church preached the gospel and told people about Christ, they were persecuted and ordered not to talk about Jesus any more. They recognized that the Word of God was a higher authority than the orders of men. So they kept on witnessing. (Fortunately for us, they did!) The apostles were thrown into jail, but an angel let them out. Called before the religious council that had threatened them and put them in jail, Peter told why they had disobeyed. They had orders from a higher authority: “We must obey God rather than men!”(Acts 5:29). Wherever God sends you, go in the power of His commission. Remember, Jesus is right there with you!

Many people today feel that a Christian should not talk about Christ to people who already have their own religion. Some Christians face persecution and possible death if they witness for Christ. Others are not aware that the Great Commission is for them.

Week 1: Defining Evangelism

In the subSaharan country of Burkina Faso in West Africa, there lives a blind man who is a zealous evangelist for God. He does not own an automobile, yet he travels from village to village proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. For many years he has effectively witnessed of the saving power of God, and many people have come to know Christ as a result of his efforts. His example has inspired his converts in many villages of Burkina Faso to be faithful in their Christian walk and witness. This blind evangelist has depended upon his nephew and other young people to transport him from place to place upon a bicycle, so that he could preach the gospel in many remote areas of his country. As a result, not only is the nephew now a minister of the gospel and a Bible school teacher, but countless other lives have also been changed. All because of this one faithful and dedicated man who, despite a tremendous physical handicap, obeyed the Great Commission of Jesus, “Go . . . and preach the good news to all creation”(Mark 16:15).

The work of evangelism is God’s plan for bringing the world to Him. God works through His people to carry out this plan. In this lesson we will look closely at the meaning of evangelism and our authorization for evangelism. We will see that God has a specific pattern for evangelism, and the power to implement it. Then we will look at our part in working with God to take the good news of salvation to every creature.

WHAT IS EVANGELISM?

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word evangelism? Church services? Big campaigns? Telling your friends what Jesus has done for you? The pastor inviting people to join the church? Evangelism may mean different things to different people. It takes many forms and uses many methods. How successful are they? What are the results? This depends to some extent on the workers’ understanding of what evangelism is—a clear view of the goals and what must be done to achieve them. So, let’s begin our study of evangelism by looking at the meaning of the word and the basic methods of evangelism.

Meaning of the Word

The word evangelism comes from the Greek word euaggelidzo, which means “I bring good news.” Basically, then, evangelism is to give people the good news of the gospel. (Gospel means “good news.”) We evangelize when we tell people the good news that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, will save them from their sins and give them eternal life.

However, the word evangelism as we use it now includes more than telling the good news. We try to persuade people to act on it—to accept Christ and all that He offers them. We help them take this step. After that, we do all we can to get them established in the Christian faith and fellowship.

William Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury, gives us this definition:
Evangelism is to so present Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit that men might come to trust Him as Savior and serve Him as Lord in the fellowship of His church.
—(Quoted in Christian Life, November, 1968)

EVANGELISM
Action ................................................Present Christ
Power .................................................The Holy Spirit
Purpose ....................... That men may trust in Christ as Savior
Results ......Men serve Christ as Lord in the fellowship of His church