.
VI. Directives for Carrying Out the Task of Evangelism
A. The biblical mandate for the task of evangelism
1. Mt. 28:16-20
a. To whom were the words spoken?
b. The essence of the passage
(1) Context- the Exalted Christ, and the ever present Christ
(2) The assumed activity- Going
(3) The clearly commanded primary activity- Make disciples
(4) The specific attendant activities- Baptizing and teaching
(5) His promised presence in the endeavor
c. Its great importance in the pastoral instruction of our people
(1) Its Christ-centered nature is vital.
(2) Its comprehensiveness is balanced.
(3) Its compelling nature is inescapable.
James I. Packer, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2008), p. 74 & 75.
2. Acts 1:8
a. The significance of the setting
b. The essence of the task
c. Its great importance in pastoral teaching
3. Phil. 2:14-16
a. The significance of the setting
b. The essence of the text
Robert Johnstone, Lectures Exegetical and Practical on the Epistle of Paul to the Philippians, (Edinburgh: William Oliphant and Co., 1875), pp. 181-184.
c. The importance of this text from a pastoral perspective
4. The example of the Lord in His compassion for sinners.
1 Jn. 2:6
Mt. 9:36
Lk. 15:1-2
5. The example of the Apostle Paul in his sense of indebtedness.
Rom. 1:14
1 Cor. 9:22-23
Rom. 9:1; 10:1
1 Cor. 11:1
6. The necessity of hearing the Gospel if men are to be saved.
Rom. 10:9ff
7. The necessity of public confession of Christ as a badge of discipleship.
Mt. 10:32ff
SUMMARY AND APPLICATION:
- From these texts it should be clear then it is God’s purpose that the church should be a community whose life can only be exegeted by its message. It is possible to live blameless, gospel transformed lives before men, but unless those men hear the message which has produced such lives, they never will be saved.
- On the other hand, it is God’s purpose that the church should be a community whose witness is validated by its life – a lifestyle that enforces the truth that in its message alone is there life and salvation.
- In short, it is only when the church is comprised of lights that shine and mouths that speak, that the Church fulfills it’s God ordained mission.