Lecture 1 Biblical Evangelism -Definition.pptx

Biblical Evangelism

1. DEFINTION AND PURPOSE OF EVANGELISM A Biblical Perspective

2. OBJECTIVES At the end of the lecture, students will be able to: Define Evangelism Know the Biblical Basis of Evangelism Understand the Purpose of Evangelism

3. Definition of evangelism

4. Etymology The term evangelism originates from the Greek noun euangelion , which means "good news" or "gospel." (Mat 4:23; Mark 1:1; Luke 4:18; Acts 8:25) The verbal cognate is euangelizo meaning to proclaim the good news, or publishing good tidings, concerning Jesus and God’s Kingdom (Luke 4:18); Evangelism, therefore, is the act of proclaiming publicly or sharing the good news of Jesus Christ to all nations world-wide in the context of the Great Commission Mandate.

5. Etymology It is a public proclamation of good news or good tidings of God’s redemptive work through Jesus Christ drawing the believing ones into fellowship with God and one another (John 17:11, 20-23).

6. Biblical Application Evangelism is the proclamation of the Gospel—the life, death, resurrection, and lordship of Jesus Christ—to bring people to salvation by grace through faith. It involves sharing the message of Christ's redemptive work and calling individuals to respond to that message through repentance and belief. The ultimate purpose of evangelism is the unity of the believers awaiting the universal unity of the church on earth with the church in heaven (Eph 1:9-11).

7. Scriptural Foundations Matthew 28:19-20 : The Great Commission, where Jesus commands His disciples to "make disciples of all nations," is often cited as the primary biblical mandate for evangelism. Acts 1:8 : Jesus’ call to be His witnesses "in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Romans 10:14-15 : Paul emphasizes the necessity of preaching the Gospel so that people can hear, believe, and call on the name of the Lord for salvation.

8. Key Elements of Evangelism Proclamation of the Gospel is the primary key element of evangelism. Central to evangelism is the verbal declaration of the message of salvation through Christ (Mark 16:15; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Call to Repentance and Faith form the secondary key element of evangelism. Evangelism invites individuals to respond to the Gospel by repenting of their sins and placing their faith in Jesus Christ (Luke 24:446-47; Acts 2:38).

9. Key Elements of Evangelism The third key to evangelism is Reliance on the Holy Spirit. Evangelism is empowered by the Holy Spirit, who convicts of sin, righteousness, and judgment (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8; John 16:7-11).

10. Purpose of Evangelism Eight purposes of Evangelism

11. 1. Fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20): Evangelism is central to the life of the church, which is Christian mission, because Jesus explicitly commanded His followers to make disciples of all nations. The purpose is to share the message of salvation with those who have not yet heard or believed so as to fulfil the Great Commission.

12. 2. Proclaiming the Gospel of Salvation (Luke 24:46-47; Romans 1:16; John 1:12;) Evangelism serves the purpose of proclaiming the Gospel as the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. It is the means, by which people hear the message of God's grace, repent of their sins, receive forgiveness, and place their faith in Jesus Christ to become sons and daughters of God.

13. 3. Expanding the Kingdom of God (Colossians 1:13-14) Evangelism plays a critical role in expanding God’s kingdom. As people respond to the Gospel, they are transferred from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of God’s Son, becoming part of the body of Christ (the Church).

14. 4. Glorifying God (1 Peter 2:9) Evangelism ultimately serves to glorify God by declaring His excellencies. When people turn to God in repentance and faith, it brings glory to God as His grace, mercy, and power are revealed through transformed lives.

15. 5. Obedience to Christ (John 14:15) Sharing the Gospel is an act of obedience to Christ's commands. It is not only a task for certain individuals (like pastors or missionaries) but for every believer as part of their discipleship (TMI).

16. 6. Demonstrating Love for Others (Matthew 22:37-39) Evangelism is an expression of love for others. Sharing the Gospel is the greatest act of love, as it offers people the opportunity to experience eternal life through Christ.

17. 7. Spiritual Growth for the Evangelist (Philemon 1:6) Engaging in evangelism also benefits the evangelist. It deepens the evangelist's faith, fosters reliance on the Holy Spirit, and leads to spiritual growth through obedience and witnessing God’s work in others’ lives.

18. 8. Necessitates the End of Time (Mat 24:14) Evangelism ushers in the end of time enhancing the Second Coming of Jesus to claim His own and establish the everlasting Kingdom of God.

19. Biblical Examples of Evangelism in Action

20. The Early Church (Acts 2:14-41 Jesus models the proclamation of the good news of the kingdom of God. Luke records: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor, he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord” (Luke 4:18-19; 8:1-3)

21. The Early Church (Acts 2:14-41 Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost is a powerful example of public evangelism, where he boldly proclaimed the death and resurrection of Christ, leading to the conversion of 3,000 people.

22. Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40) This account highlights personal evangelism. Philip shares the Gospel with the Ethiopian, who responds by placing his faith in Christ and being baptized.

23. Paul’s Missionary Journeys (Acts 13-28) The Apostles Paul and Barnabas serve as a model for evangelism through their missionary journeys, where the two apostles preached the Gospel, planted churches, and defended the faith in various cultural contexts Paul continued the work throughout Asia Minor planting churches and following up with instructive epistles, establishing leadership structures with the ordination of elders and deacons

24. Challenges and Misconceptions

25. 1. Common Misconceptions The notion that Evangelism is solely the work of evangelists rather than every believer’s responsibility is a misconception. Viewing evangelism as merely a program or event rather than a lifestyle is equally a misconception. Evangelism is the life of the church; it is the means by which the world is discipled for Jesus

26. 2. Challenges in Evangelism Cultural and societal resistance to the Gospel message. Fear of rejection or offending others. Need for contextualization without compromising the message. Targeting one class of people, leaving out the elite in society

27. In summary

28. Evangelism is central to the Christian mission, defined by the proclamation of the Gospel and the call to faith and repentance. Its purpose is to glorify God, fulfill the Great Commission, bring salvation to the lost, build up the Church, and demonstrate God’s love. Despite challenges, the call to evangelize is a privilege and responsibility of every believer, empowered by the Holy Spirit.

29. Evangelism is essential to the Christian faith and mission. It is rooted in the biblical mandate to share the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ and is driven by the purpose of glorifying God, expanding His kingdom, and leading people into a saving relationship with Christ. Through evangelism, believers participate in God’s redemptive work in the world, demonstrating love for others and growing in their own faith.