Encouragements for Evangelism | Part 1

Introduction

Talking about evangelism is notorious for producing feelings of discomfort and guilt. I have heard one pastor say that preaching on evangelism is one of the topics which can most easily discourage a congregation. Typically, all Christians would agree that evangelism is a good thing to do, and going further, admit that they personally should be doing it more. As a result, when evangelism is brought up in discussion, we can tend to feel uncomfortable or guilty in light of our “not doing enough”. If you are anything like me, you can relate to this sense of guilt.

Evangelism is intimidating and hard. It requires us to step out of our comfort zone and confront people with topics that are both offensive and unpopular. When left to my own inclinations, I can generally think of numerous excuses why I should not evangelize. To name a few: “I don’t want to look dumb”, “I don’t have the time”, “They wouldn’t be responsive”, or “What if I don’t know what to say?” Now, there is a level of wisdom and prudence to be had in knowing when and how to share (Matt. 10:16). However, I think more often than not we feel restrained to share Christ out of fear of man or sinful apathy. Our natural tendency is going to be to come up with all kinds of reasons to shy away from evangelism. My aim in writing this is to provide a few encouragements for evangelism which serve to push against this natural tendency. In doing so, my prayer is that evangelism will not feel like a burden which heaps up guilt, but rather seen as the blessed spiritual discipline and privilege that it is.

I have sought to provide seven encouragements in answer to the question, why should we evangelize? These are compiled out of insights from scripture and the testimony of others which have helped me over the years. This list is neither exhaustive nor given in any particular order.

Because we have good news to share.

The first encouragement to compel us to evangelize is the reality that we have good news to share! To bring good news is what the Greek root of the word literally means. Consider your own salvation: you were once a sinful rebel who hated God, and lived all your life in defiance of him. Every bit of pain and brokenness experienced in your life is the result of Sin. There is no reason why God should not have wiped you, me, and every other person on this planet out, except for his great mercy. God sent forth his Son into the world to reverse the effects of the curse and bring us sinful rebels to himself. In Christ Jesus, we not only have forgiveness of sins but are counted as sons and daughters of God. By Christ’s saving work, he makes us heirs of eternal life and heirs to every promised blessing of God. This is an amazing message. This is the message the world needs to hear.

Because we are commanded to.

The second encouragement to evangelize is because Jesus tells us to. Considering this charge has served to motivate me in evangelism even when I feel apathetic, which unfortunately is a feeling I know all too well. Regardless of how we are feeling, it is right for us to obey God anyway. Jesus’s final marching orders to his disciples is to “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.” (Matt. 28:19-20) The demand is further accentuated in 1 Peter 2:9, “But you (believers) are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” We are also called to be witnesses who are “ ready in season and out of season” (2 Tim 4:2) and who “walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time” (Col. 4:5).

Because it glorifies God.

A third motivation to evangelize is because it brings glory to God. When we share Christ with others, we testify to the goodness and grace of all God has done. J.I Packer writes in Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God,

“We glorify God by evangelizing, not only because evangelizing is an act of obedience, but also because in evangelism we tell the world what great things God has done for the salvation of sinners. God is glorified when His mighty works of grace are made known.”

—J. I. Packer

Our evangelism ought never to be man-centered. We were created to worship God. Delighting in God and all his glorious works is where each of us will find our greatest purpose and joy. Further, when we share Christ and others come to know him as their savior and Lord, more worshippers are made, extending the praise and knowledge of God’s glory (Hab. 2:14).

Because Hell is real.

Hell is not a fun topic to talk about, but it does serve to sober us to the reality of life and death. There is a real place called Hell and anyone who dies apart from Christ will spend eternity there. The description of Hell provided by scripture is no joke. Consider just a sampling of these texts:

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.

—Revelation 21:8

Then he will say to those on his left, “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”

—Matthew 25:41

And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.

—Revelation 14:11

When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.

—2 Thessalonians 1:7–9

Because Hell is real, we ought to feel a compulsion to share and pray fervently that God would save as many people as possible from that horrific reality.

Because it strengthens your faith individually.

A fifth encouragement to evangelize is because it has a sanctifying and strengthening effect on your faith. Evangelizing does much good for our souls. It forces us to have to die to our fear of man and desire for self-preservation. The difficulty of the task requires dependence on God for strength and boldness. As we bear witness, God’s spirit strengthens our confidence in him and the joy we have in Christ. Jesus promises to be with us and give us his Spirit to empower us as witnesses (Acts 1:8). The Spirit of God loves to make much of Christ, and we experience this joy as we seek to make much of Christ in proclaiming the Gospel. This is the great irony of sharing our faith even when we don’t feel like it. As we bear witness to Christ, in the power of the Spirit, we are filled with fresh delight in him and concern for the lost.

Because it builds up the church corporately.

The sixth encouragement for evangelism is that it serves to build up the Church. The first and most obvious way is that preaching the gospel is how people are converted and added to the church (Acts 2:46-47). Bringing in new converts strengthens a church and builds the faith of all those looking on. For truly, the gospel is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom. 1:16). Another way that evangelism strengthens the church is witnessing the example of other believers stepping out in faith to share.

Ephesians 4 reveals that God has given various offices, including evangelists, as a gift to the church “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:12-13). The gift of an evangelist is not that they are great personal evangelists (though this should be present as well), but rather that they are given to build up and equip the rest of the church. So this implies that the gift of evangelism is to help others in the church grow in sharing their faith, which is a vital component for one maturing to “the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”.

Because it is God who gives the growth.

Finally, we can be encouraged in our evangelism by the reality that it is God who converts and saves a person. It does not depend on our cleverness or abilities. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 3:6, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” Knowing that our effectiveness in evangelism ultimately depends on the power of God provides much relief. In almost every gospel conversation I have, I leave thinking “I should have said or done this differently”. Praise God it does not depend on me, and I can be freed from looking to myself for confidence in evangelism. We preach a transformational message, empowered by a God who is at work saving people. This should increase our confidence to share, in spite of our weakness.

Where are we headed?

One of the primary themes of all of scripture is God’s rescue mission to save sinners. From the beginning, God has communicated his intent to lovingly bless and relate to man. Following the fall and subsequent rebellion of humanity, God’s saving acts of redemption are continually put on display, climaxing in Christ. In his life, death, and resurrection, sinful man can be forgiven and made righteous before God, this is the good news of the Gospel. This is what God is doing, saving people for his glory to one day enjoy him forever. History is headed to this end, and living for it is where we find our highest call and delight. Picture the worship in heaven, when people from every tribe, tongue, and nation are gathered around the throne worshiping the Lord who is worthy of praise. Oh, how our joy will be multiplied knowing that some present around the throne are those we had the privilege of pointing to this great Savior!