What Is Evangelism? | Reformed Bible Studies & Devotionals ...

Evangelism is the term we use to refer to the preaching of the Gospel. It comes from the same Greek word for gospel (euangelion) and means, literally, ... NowthatwehavedefinedtheGospel,wewillbeginlookingatwhatitmeanstospreadthegoodnewsofJesusChrist.EvangelismisthetermweusetorefertothepreachingoftheGospel.ItcomesfromthesameGreekwordforgospel(euangelion)andmeans,literally,“gospeling.”Whenweevangelizeweare“gospeling”—wearespreadingtheGospelofJesusChrist. EvangelismisonewayinwhichwecanfulfillChrist’scalltobeHiswitnesses(Acts1:8).Inbiblicalcategories,witnessinginvolvesmakingvisiblewhatisotherwiseinvisible.TherealitytowhichwebearwitnessistheinvisiblekingdomofGod,andinwitnessingwestrivetomaketheLord’sreignvisiblymanifest.AmongthemanywayswecanbearwitnesstoJesusisthroughlovingourfellowbelievers.WerevealtotheworldthatwebelongtoourSaviorwhenweloveotherChristians(John13:34–35).CelebratingtheLord’sSupperproclaimsvisiblytheLord’sdeathuntilHecomesagain(1Cor.11:26).Inpreachingthelife,death,andresurrectionofJesusinourevangelism,wearealsohelpingtomakevisibletheinvisiblerealityofChrist. ThedistinctionbetweenwitnessingandevangelismisimportantbecauseitiseasytothinkweareevangelizingwhenallwearedoingisbearingwitnesstotheSavior.Givingone’stestimonyisagoodthing,butitisnotevangelism.TestifyingtotheworkofGodinourlivesbearswitnesstowhatChristhasdoneforus;itdoesnotbyitselfgivethecontentoftheGospel.LivingarighteouslifemanifeststheworkoftheHolySpirit,butwehavenotevangelizedourneighborifwehaveneversharedtheGospelwithhim.Nooneisconvertedbyourkindnessorhonesty;theyarebroughtintothekingdomofheavenonlythroughrepentanceandfaithinJesusChrist(Acts16:25–34). Godhascreateduswithdifferentpersonalitiesandgifts,andsomeofusaremoreadeptattheverbalproclamationoftheGospelthanothers.Nevertheless,declaringthemessageofsalvationthroughChrististheresponsibilityofusall,andwemustseekopportunitiestopreachtheGospel.OnlyifweconfessHimbeforemenwillHeconfessusbeforetheFather(Matt.10:32–33).CoramDeoDeclaringtheGospelisajobgiventoeveryChristian,butwecanhardlypreachthegoodnewsofJesusChristifwedonotknowanyunbelievers.Howmanynon-Christiansdoyouknow?Ifyoudonothaveanycontactwithnon-Christians,lookforanopportunitytomakecontactwithaneighbor,co-worker,orsomeoneelse.ThisweekletusallsharetheGospelwithatleastonepersonwhodoesnotknowtheSavior.ForFurtherStudyPsalm68:111Corinthians9:161Peter1:13–25Revelation14:6–7WhatIstheGospel?Acts20:24SystematicEvangelismActs8:1–8OriginallypublishedinTabletalk,ourdailyBiblestudymagazine.LearnMore‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌