The gift of Evangelism

 The word evangelism comes from a Greek word meaning, “to proclaim the good news.” An evangelist tells others the good news about Jesus Christ. The good news is that Jesus died for the sins of the world, was buried, and rose again on the third day. Jesus Christ is the one who conquered sin and death. This is the message which the evangelist proclaims.

We can make the following observations about the gift of an evangelist.

Evangelism, like Every Other Gift, Is to Equip Believers

When Paul wrote to the Ephesians he said that the purpose of the gifts was to equip the believers for the work of the ministry. We read the following explanation.

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ(Ephesians 4:11, 12 NKJV).

How is the body of Christ built up through one who has the gift of an evangelist? By definition, those who have believed in Christ as their Savior do not need to be evangelized – they are already converted. Why then has God given the gift to the church?

The Gift of Evangelism Is to Teach Others How to Share the Faith

There are some who argue that the primary function of one with the gift of evangelist is to teach others how to share the good news about Jesus – it is not to do the work of evangelism for the church. It is to prepare believers so that they can evangelize non-believers.

This distinction is crucial. Those who have the special gift of an evangelist are not only able to powerful share their own faith in Jesus Christ they are also able to teach other believers to do the same thing.

It Is Telling the Story of Jesus

Evangelism consists of telling others the gospel story. It is not a “nonverbal witness.” Evangelists verbally proclaim the message to others. While it is important that a person’s life be consistent with their beliefs, living the Christian life in front of others is not evangelism. Indeed, evangelism is telling those people about Jesus.

All Believers Are Commanded to Evangelize

All believers are commanded to evangelize; to tell others the good news about the Lord Jesus. Jesus gave a command to His disciples that they were to make disciples of people from all the nations.

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:19, 20 NASB).

Their responsibility was to spread His message to the entire world. In doing so, they were to make disciples of Christ.

Before His ascension Jesus promised power for these believers to accomplish this purpose. We read in the Book of Acts.

But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere – in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8 NLT).

These particular believers, like all other believers, were to be given spiritual power to spread the message of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth.

Paul said believers in Christ could be compared to a letter to be read by others. He wrote the following to the Corinthians.

For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? And I wrote as I did, so that when I came, I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice; for I am confident about all of you, that my joy would be the joy of all of you (2 Corinthians 2:2, 3 NRSV).

Our lives are to be read by others. We are to be a living testimony to Christ.

There Is a Need to Evangelize

The Apostle Paul stressed the need for people to hear the good news about Jesus. He wrote the following to the Romans.

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:14-17 NKJV)

Evangelism is something that is absolutely necessary. Indeed, the message of Jesus must be spread to the entire world.

There Is a Special Gift of an Evangelist

Although every believer is instructed to evangelize the lost, some are specially gifted with this ability. The New Testament gives examples of those who have the gift. We read of Philip who is called “the evangelist.”

The next day we left and came to Caesarea; and we went into the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the seven, and stayed with him (Acts 21:8 NRSV).

God gave certain people the special gift of an evangelist.

The Gift Is to Be Used, Not Neglected

Paul exhorted Timothy to exercise his gift of evangelism which the Lord had given. He wrote.

But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry (2 Timothy 4:5 NKJV).

Those who have their gifts are to use them. This is especially true of those who have this particular gift.

The Gift Can Be Used Both Publicly and Privately

It is important to note that a person with the gift of evangelism does not necessarily have to exercise it before a large audience. Indeed, it can be done on a one-on-one situation. Philip, the evangelist, did both public and personal evangelism.

Scripture tells us that he preached to the crowds in Samaria. The Bible says.

Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them. The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing. For in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed. So there was much rejoicing in that city (Acts 8:5-8 NASB).

Here Philip preached to a large audience.

Yet we also find that he did one-on-one evangelism with the Ethiopian eunuch. We also read of this in the Book of Acts.

Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him (Acts 8:35 NASB).

Consequently, the Scripture does not limit the practice of evangelism to a public meeting.

There Are Degrees of the Gift of Evangelist

Knowledge of the gospel does not mean that a person will always preach it successfully. There are varying degrees in which God gives the gift of evangelism. Some people have an extraordinary ability to clearly and powerfully communicate the gospel so as to reach great numbers of people. Others, who have the same gift, do not possess it to the same degree. This is something which we all must recognize.

What Is Necessary in Evangelism

It seems that for someone to have the gift of evangelism there should be at least four things in place. The person must have the desire to evangelize, understand the issues in evangelism, be able to explain them clearly, and have a compassion for the lost.

1. There Must Be a Desire to Evangelize

First, there must be a special desire in the heart. Those who have the gift of an evangelist have this uppermost in their mind. Indeed, they constantly want to tell people about Jesus.

2. One Must Clearly Understand the Issue

Those who do the work of an evangelist must have a clear understanding of the gospel message. There is no possible way to communicate it to others unless it is clearly understood by the evangelist. Thus, it is crucial that we understand the gospel message.

3. There Must Be the Ability to Explain the Gospel Clearly

There is also the need to explain the gospel clearly to others. It is not enough to clearly understand the truth about Jesus Christ; it is critical to be able to explain it in an understandable way. We read the account of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch.

So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” He replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him” (Acts 8:30, 31NRSV).

This man needed someone to explain the gospel to him. He needed to understand what he was reading. Consequently, Philip made a clear presentation of the good news about Jesus.

4. There Has to Be a Genuine Compassion for Lost

Finally there should be an overwhelming concern for the lost. Those who are gifted with evangelism should have an extraordinary burden for those who do not know Jesus. The Bible says of the compassion of Jesus.

But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Matthew 9:36-38 NKJV).

We should have the same heart, as Jesus has, for those who are in unbelief. This should be our attitude whether or not we have the gift of an evangelist.

Summary – Question 6
What Is the Gift of an Evangelist?

All of the gifts of the Holy Spirit are for the purpose of building up the church, the body of Christ. This includes the gift of evangelism. This gift has often been misunderstood. It is not primarily given so the evangelist will preach the good news to non-believers – it is given so that the person will teach fellow believers how to evangelize others. While those with the gift will certainly preach the gospel to others they are given the gift to help others fulfill the Great Commission.

Thus, the gift is primarily to be used to instruct Christians on the subject of evangelizing the lost.

While all Christians are called to preach the good news about Jesus there are some believers who have a special gift of evangelism. We find it being exercised with Philip on both a public and one-on-one situation.

Those who possess the gift should have at least four things. They include the following.

First, there should be a desire to exercise the gift. In other words, there needs to be a willingness to use this particular spiritual gift which the Lord has given to them.

Next, the evangelist should have an accurate understanding of the issues surrounding the gospel of Christ. Indeed, it is impossible to clearly present the message of Jesus Christ unless one has a grasp of what is involved.

It is not enough to understand the message; the evangelist should also be able to explain clearly the message to everyone who asks. In short, those with the gift of an evangelist need to be able to present the message in clear, understandable terms. Above all, the evangelist should have a deep compassion for the lost. This is primary. The person with the gift of an evangelist should have an intense desire to reach the lost with the good news of Jesus. This includes teaching other believers to evangelize as well as doing their own preaching of the gospel.

This briefly sums up the New Testament gift of an evangelist as well as the attitude it which it should be used.

The Various Gifts of the Holy Spirit (Part Two) – Question 7

One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is that of exhortation. Paul wrote to the Romans about this particular gift He said.

We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness (Romans 12:6-8 NRSV).

The gift of exhortation is listed separately from the gift of teaching. The word exhortation comes from a root word that means “to advocate or comfort.” In fact, it comes from the same Greek word, paraclete from which the term “Helper” or “Comforter” – the title of the Holy Spirit.

The Exhorter Is One Who Encourages

Exhortation is a gift that enables a person to encourage others to become mature in Jesus Christ. Those with the gift of exhortation will attempt to bring out the best in people. Indeed, it is to bring them to spiritual maturity. Exhortation includes rebuking fellow believers for their sins. It is not the same as teaching – it is a call to action. Jude wrote.

Beloved, while eagerly preparing to write to you about the salvation we share, I find it necessary to write and appeal to you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints (Jude 3NRSV).

Jude was exhorting the people to agonize, or struggle, for the faith. This is what the person with the gift of exhortation does; it is a call to action!

A Teacher May Have the Gift of Exhortation

A teacher may have the gift of exhortation, as did the man Barnabas. We read the following description of him in the Book of Acts.

There was a Levite, a native of Cyprus, Joseph, to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”) (Acts 4:36NRSV).

Note that his real name was Joseph but he was given the name Barnabas because of his encouragement of others.

We find that Barnabas encouraged the Apostle Paul when other apostles avoided him. We read about it in this manner.

When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus (Acts 9:26, 27 NIV).

This is truly an important gift which Barnabas had. Indeed, when others shunned Paul Barnabas embraced him.

Barnabas also encouraged a man named John Mark who had failed in his ministry. We further read about this in episode in the Book of Acts. It says.

Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. But Paul decided not to take with them one who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work. The disagreement became so sharp that they parted company; Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus (Acts 15:37-39 NRSV).

The disagreement over John Mark caused Paul and Barnabas to go their separate directions.

Later, Paul said that John Mark was useful for service. He wrote the following to Timothy.

Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry (2 Timothy 4:11 ESV).

Seemingly, the ministry of Barnabas helped resolve the difficulty between John Mark and Paul. This again points out the need for this gift of encouragement to operate in the church.

Paul Had the Gift of Exhortation

The Apostle Paul also possessed this spiritual gift. He and Barnabas exhorted the believers.

They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said (Acts 14:21, 22 NIV).

Therefore, as we search the Scripture we find that exhortation, or encouragement, is a very important spiritual gift.

Summary – Question 7
What Is the Gift of Exhortation? (Encouragement)

The gift of exhortation is also known as the gift of encouragement. Depending upon the circumstances, the gift of exhortation can encourage, or rebuke, people in the church. A teacher should possess this gift, but not all those with the gift are teachers of God’s Word. The exhorter, or encourager, is one who calls people to action.

We find an example of this gift in the Apostle Barnabas. Scripture says that he encouraged Paul when he was a new believer. In fact, when Paul first came to Jerusalem as a new Christian he was shunned by the others.

They were afraid of him because of his reputation of persecuting the church. Barnabas not only encouraged Paul, he helped him join together with the other believers. Consequently, he performed a valuable service in this instance.

Indeed, we discover that Barnabas was actually named Joseph. His name was changed to Barnabas which means “one who encourages.” This encouragement continued. Barnabas also helped settle a problem between Paul and John Mark. For a time, Paul considered John Mark as being unprofitable in the ministry. Barnabas took John Mark along with him on a missionary trip when Paul refused to let him be part of his ministry. However, later Paul wrote that John Mark was profitable.

Again, the encouraging work of Barnabas was a huge help. From these examples, we can conclude that this is a spiritual gift that is greatly needed in the church. Indeed, while all Christians should be encouraging one another, we should be especially thankful for those who have this particular spiritual gift.

The Various Gifts of the Holy Spirit Part Two – Question 8

Giving is listed as a spiritual gift in the New Testament. Indeed, the Apostle. Paul wrote to the church at Rome about this gift.

We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness (Romans 12:6–8 NRSV).

From Scripture, there are a number of things that we can learn about the spiritual gift of giving. They can be summed up as follows.

All Believers Are Encouraged to Give

All believers are encouraged to be generous with their belongings. Paul made this point when he wrote to the Corinthians. He said.

Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7NRSV).

Each of us is to support the Christian ministry by giving part of what we have.

Paul wrote to the Romans about the need to reach out to others. In this instance, it is helping fellow believers who are in need.

When God’s children are in need, be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night (Romans 12:13 NLT).

The Bible encourages believers to give to the work of the Christian ministry.

We Are to Give Freely

Jesus said to His disciples to give freely; we are to expect nothing in return. Matthew records Him saying the following.

Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give (Matthew 10:8 NASB).

The Contemporary English Version puts it this way.

Heal the sick, raise the dead to life, heal people who have leprosy, and force out demons. You received without paying, now give without being paid (Matthew 10:8 CEV).

These disciples received God’s blessings without paying for them. Now, in the same manner, they are to give without expecting money in return.

Jesus also said that believers are to give generously. Luke records Him saying the following about giving.

Give, and you will receive. A large quantity, pressed together, shaken down, and running over will be put into your pocket. The standards you use for others will be applied to you (Luke 6:38 God’s Word).

We should give generously out of the things which the Lord has given to us.

There Is a Gift of Sacrificial Giving

While all believers are to give, there is also a spiritual gift of sacrificial giving. It involves the giving of one’s own possessions, to others. This also includes giving money. Doing so actually brings satisfaction to that person. Indeed, the Apostle Paul, in quoting Jesus, emphasized the spiritual blessing which comes along with giving. He wrote.

I have given you an example that by working hard like this we should help the weak. We should remember the words that the Lord Jesus said, ‘Giving gifts is more satisfying than receiving them’ (Acts 20:35 God’s Word).

This is not a spiritual gift reserved for the wealthy. Anyone, no matter what his financial resources may be, can have the gift of giving.

The Philippian Church Helped Paul

The church at Philippi helped the Apostle Paul when he was in need. He recognized them when he wrote his letter to this church. We read.

And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again (Philippians 4:15, 16 ESV).

They were helpful to the Apostle Paul. Indeed, they partnered with him when other churches did not.

The New Testament Example of Dorcas: She Gave Sacrificially

Dorcas was a New Testament example of a person who gave sacrificially. We read about this in the Book of Acts. It says.

Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity (Acts 9:36 NRSV).

This is an indication that she had the spiritual gift of giving.

We Should Give Privately, Expecting Nothing in Return

Again it must be emphasized that giving is not to be done with the idea of gaining anything back. There is to be no thought of a return on an investment. Jesus taught the way that all believers should give.

When you give a gift to someone in need, don’t shout about it as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I assure you, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone, don’t tell your left hand what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in secret, and your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you (Matthew 6:2-4 NLT).

It also is done in a private way. People with this gift give anonymously and expect God to be the one to reward them. Indeed, He does.

Summary – Question 8
What Is the Gift of Giving?

All Christians should freely and happily give of their possessions for the work of the Lord. In fact, this is something which we all should do.

However there are some individuals who have a special gift of giving to meet the material needs of others. This is spiritual gift of giving. This gift is not reserved for the wealthy. Anybody, no matter what their financial status, can have this gift.

When Jesus sent out His disciples to minister to others, He told them to freely give. The idea is that they received God’s blessings without having to pay. Consequently, they themselves should give without expecting anything in return. This is the proper way to give.

Scripture provides a number of examples of Christians giving to the cause of Christ. We learn that the Philippian church helped the Apostle Paul with his needs. They partnered with him when others would not. He acknowledged their gracious act of giving.

There was also the example of a believer named Dorcas who gave of herself to others. She was so valuable to the early church that Simon Peter prayed to bring her back from the dead! Her gift of giving was extremely valuable.

We learn from Jesus that giving should be done in private. Indeed, there is to be no public demonstration or reward for our giving to the ministry. God is the One who rewards us for our faithfulness. We should not be looking for accolades or praise from others.

This brings up another important point about giving. We should give without any expectation of a financial return. Again, it is the Lord will be the One who gives a return on the investment.

In summary, we note that every believer should be giving of their possessions to the Christian ministry. There are some, however, who have a special gift in doing this; the gift of giving.

The Various Gifts of the Holy Spirit (Part Two) – Question 9

The Bible says that the spiritual gifts include a gift of “faith.” Paul wrote to the Corinthians about this particular spiritual gift. He stated.

To another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:9NRSV).

Thus, there is a gift of faith. In looking at this gift, we also discover that there are a number of things that the Bible has to say about faith. They include the following.

All Believers Have Some Faith

All believers have a certain amount of faith. Indeed, without faith none of us would be Christians.

The writer to the Hebrews defined faith as a firm conviction about something. He wrote.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1 ESV)

The author then wrote.

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him (Hebrews 11:6 ESV).

According to this verse, we are not able to please God unless we have some amount of faith.

To the church at Rome, the Apostle Paul wrote about the measure of faith which believers have been given.

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned (Romans 12:3 NRSV).

Therefore, the Bible says that all Christians have a certain amount of faith.

There Is a Gift of Faith

While all believers possess some amount of faith, there is a gift of faith which is a special ability to trust God beyond the limits of what we think is normally possible. Not every believer possesses this gift.

Indeed, Paul spoke symbolically of the ability of faith “to move mountains.” He wrote the following to the Corinthians about this.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing (1 Corinthians 13:1-2 NIV).

While we cannot actually move mountains with our faith, the idea is that faith can cause things to happen.

The martyr Stephen was a man who was full of faith. The Book of Acts says the following about him.

And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch (Acts 6:5 ESV).

Stephen’s faith was such that the Bible singled him out.

Faith Comes from Knowing God’s Word

Faith comes as a result of knowing God’s Word. Paul wrote the following to the Romans about the connection between knowing God’s Word and having faith.

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17 NKJV).

Before one can exercise biblical faith they must personally know the God of the Bible and be able to hear His voice. One way in which God communicates to His people is through His written Word. This is how He speaks to us. Our responsibility is to respond to Him.

We Are Not to Look down on Those Who Lack Faith

If a person has been given the gift of faith, then they should not look down upon those who lack faith. Not every Christian possesses this spiritual gift. God the Holy Spirit alone decides who will receive it. Rather than rebuke a person for lacking faith those with the gift should pray that God increase the faith of those who need it.

Faith Is Not Merely Getting Things from God

The gift of faith should not be equated with only getting things from God. Too often, the idea is that the more faith we have the more things God will give us. Many times the emphasis is wrongly on the material rather than the spiritual blessings. Exercising great faith does not mean that material possessions will follow.

The Gift of Faith Is Exercised through Prayer

Often this gift is exercised through praying on behalf of others. Consequently many who have this gift may not be very well-known among other believers. However those exercising the gift are absolutely indispensable for the work of the ministry.

4:7,11 - Each one of us has received a special gift in proportion to what Christ has given….It was he who “gave gifts to mankind”; he appointed some to be apostles, others to be prophets, others to be evangelists, others to be pastors and teachers.

2 Tim. 4:5…you must keep control of yourself in all circumstances; endure suffering, do the work of a preacher of the Good News, and perform your whole duty as a servant of God.

Matt. 28:18-20 - Jesus drew near and said to them, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age.”

Definition and comment:

The gift of Evangelism: the special ability that God gives to believers to present the Gospel to unbelievers in a clear and meaningful way, which calls for a response. This gift enables one to present the story of Christ’s death and saving resurrection with simplicity, clarity, and effectiveness. The individual possessing this gift not only understands the Gospel, but feels a deep burden for those entrapped in the darkness of sin.

There are several dimensions to this gift that become evident from reading scripture. Sometimes the gift is embodied in an individual referred to as an “evangelist” - Philip is called that, and he is clearly a man on a mission to baptize. John, the Evangelist, is another example - he is known as the Baptist. In other references, however, people are called to “do the work of an evangelist.” Timothy falls into that category. In all cases the admonition is clear - effective evangelism brings people to Christ.

To evangelize is to bring the Good News of Christ’s salvation to unbelievers. To the degree that many Christians claim to belief is more in the category of “lip service” rather than discipleship, the gift of evangelism is needed greatly in the church to enable members of the body to develop ministries for true discipleship. 

Affirm that you have this gift; questions to ask yourself: 

1. Do you like to talk about Jesus to those who do not know him?

2. Do you are able to share the Gospel in a way that makes it clear and meaningful?

3. Do you wish to relate to non-Christians so you can share your faith?

4. Are you are at ease in sharing how Christ has changed your life? 

5. Do you get frustrated when others do not seem to share their faith with unbelievers as much as you do?

6. Have you been instrumental in leading others to believe in Christ as their Savior or in helping believers find their ministry?

Areas for study and personal growth:

1. Because of the poor reputation of so-called “televangelists,” many people today equate evangelism with quackery, and that is very unfortunate. Seek out the writings of reputable evangelists of today (such as Billy Graham), and strive to learn how they respond to God’s call in the use of this gift.

2. Scripture gives some wonderful examples of evangelism, both on an individual level (see Acts 8:26-40, where Philip performs his ministry), and in larger groups (see Acts 2:14-42, where Peter exercised his gift with a crowd of thousands). Study these passages to fully understand how these disciples used their gift of evangelism.

3. To evangelize effectively one must be able to communicate the Gospel story is the vernacular - that is, in today’s language. Read and internalize the story of Christ’s life, rising from the dead, and saving grace, and discover ways to speak about it from the heart. 

4. Attend some workshops on evangelism to learn techniques and discover tools that may help you in this ministry. Seek to learn methods of reaching out to the unchurched as well as programs that will help church members connect with personal ministries. Plan to be a catalyst for change where it is needed.

5. Since approaching people effectively is critical if you hope to convey your evangelizing message, look for ways that will improve your appeal. Appearance, humor, tolerance, kindliness, patience - learn what attributes and virtues need strengthening within yourself to enhance your acceptance by others. Remember how Paul sought to fit in with all people to gain acceptance.

General ways to use the gift of evangelism:

• Personally: be involved in one-to-one evangelism wherever the need is present; lead your own children to Christ

• Within the church: participate in a church visitation program, lead an evangelistic Bible study group, serve on the evangelism committee (see more specific church service opportunities in the Booklet Channels for Using the Gifts).

• Within the wider community: become involved in marketplace ministry; give an evangelistic message at a rescue mission; offer counseling at an evangelistic crusade.

For reflection:

The charge to evangelize is clear, the need is present, and yet many fear even the word “evangelism” because of the negative connotations involved. There are too many images of “Brother, have you been saved” on the street corner or high-pitched TV evangelists seemingly ranting and raving as they “pitch” the word of God as they see it. It makes one want to shrink from the duty of using this gift - “Please, God, give me a different one - I can’t be one of those people.”

But you have something really special. You have a unique spiritual gift of evangelism. The words you use, the style you employ, the approach you make - these will be born of keen insight, reason and intelligence, and inner peace. Trust that God will empower you in appropriate ways to do his work. The way you operate will not be a “canned” approach; it will be all you, and it will be effective because you are gifted.

To some degree the exercise of all spiritual gifts should have evangelistic implications and bring people to the saving knowledge of Christ. Indeed, all Christians are subject to Christ’s great commission to spread the Gospel. But those who are spiritually gifted in evangelism have an even greater level of responsibility because evangelizing is what God has especially equipped them to do. Perhaps it is even more critical that you accept and use this gift because of the reluctance of so many others to do so. It is truly a life-changing gift that is also life-saving. Fulfilling Christ’s great commission is the result when this gift is effectively employed. Is there really anything that would be more important to do?

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” Ephesians 4:11-12

Every follower of Jesus can and should be a witness of His amazing grace. But, there are some specifically gifted to share the gospel. The good news of salvation from sin in Christ somehow makes its way into the conversations of an evangelist. These bold believers are compelled by the love of God to share the love of God. This gift of evangelism cannot be silent about the need for a Savior. Because their conversion to Christ was transformational, they pray for all to come to know Him.

Many of us became believers because of the message we heeded from an evangelistic messenger. Maybe we heard on the radio, “You must be born again.” Perhaps a visiting preacher at church proclaimed Christ’s death on the cross as the payment for our sin, and His resurrection as the power to live the Christian life. A friend may have asked us about our assurance of going to heaven when we die. Or, in reading the Bible the fiery faith of the Apostles may have ignited our faith.

“Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38

Do you actively share the good news of Jesus Christ? Is your gift of evangelism vigorous and alive? Any gift that is unused becomes ineffective. Like a piece of idle, rusty machinery your gift can lock up for lack of use. If this is the case, ask the Holy Spirit to fall fresh on your faith. Let the Lord lubricate your life with courage—to loosen your lips as Christ’s witness. Yes, you share the gospel with humble passion, not in proud judgment. But don’t stay silent—be bold for Jesus!

You talk about what you love. If you love cars, you read about, discuss and drive cars. If you love your family, you spend time with them and you tell others how they are doing. If you love Jesus, you are loved by Jesus, so that you can love others to Jesus. Love compels you to grow closer to Christ and out of your intimacy with Him, engage your lost world with soul saving truth. You can’t be quiet, because you have the cure for the curse of sin—faith in Jesus. Love speaks up.

Furthermore, use your gift of evangelism to equip the saints of God to do the work of God. Your experience, passion and theological understanding are a bridge to help other believers share Jesus. You teach others who in turn teach others to turn to God. Don’t be shy in multiplying your influence by training up faithful evangelists for Kingdom advancement. Yes, stay in the reality of reasoning with others about Christ—but also, be wise to mobilize an army of witnesses for Jesus!

“They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. 2 Timothy 4:4-5

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for those who shared the gospel with me Now use me to love others to Jesus with my words and deeds. In Jesus’ mighty Name amen.

The word “evangelist” is a transliteration of the Greek “εὐαγγελιστής” (euangelistḗs), which means “proclaimer of the gospel”¹ or “a bringer of good tidings”.² The term is used only three times in the New Testament and seems to have been infrequent in the earliest centuries of the church as well, but it denoted a person recognized and entrusted by the churches as a preacher of the good news of Jesus Christ. As one lexicon explains, “This name is given in the N. T. to those heralds of salvation through Christ who are not apostles.”³ Today, the word “evangelist” typically refers to someone who devotes themselves full-time to the work of preaching the gospel to the lost or, more informally, to any Christian with a reputation for frequently sharing the gospel with unbelievers.

Biblical use of the term “evangelist”

The Bible uses the term “evangelist ” precisely three times:

“On the next day we left and came to Caesarea, and entering the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we stayed with him,” (Acts 21:8).

“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,” (Ephesians 4:11).

“But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry,” (2 Timothy 4:5).

None of these verses offers us a plain definition of the word. Indeed, in each case, the writer obviously assumes that his readers already understand what the word means. That said, we are given several clues that help us round out a pretty clear definition.

Evaluating the biblical data

From the few references we have, at least four observations can be made:

1. The word itself is derived from the word “gospel” or “good news,” and clearly means a person who brings such a message to people. This is why J.B. Phillips translated the word as “preachers of the Gospel”⁴ and Robert Young rendered it as “proclaimers of good news”.⁵ This is the unambiguous meaning of the word.
2. In Ephesians 4:11, “Evangelist” is listed alongside formal titles like apostle, prophet, and pastor. This strongly implies that it was a defined position among the early churches rather than merely an informal designation for any believer who shares their faith.
3. Similarly, when Paul tells Timothy to “do the work of an Evangelist,” this seems to indicate that evangelists had a definitive, specified role whose work could be imitated.
4. The man mentioned in Acts 21:8 is called “Phillip the evangelist” the same way other men are called things like “Simon the tanner” (Acts 10:32) “Herod the king, (Acts 12:1), or “Alexander the coppersmith,” (2 Timothy 4:14). In other words, “evangelist” seems to have been Phillip’s distinctive title in the same way that a man’s position in government or his vocational trade might serve to distinguish him from other men of the same name.

Thus, while we cannot be certain, it seems that evangelists were specific, designated people who served a special role in proclaiming the gospel. As John Calvin summarized in his commentary on 2 Timothy 4:5:

“Whether he denotes generally by this term any ministers of the gospel, or whether this was a special office, is doubtful; but I am more inclined to the second opinion, because from Ephesians 4:11 it is clearly evident that this was an intermediate class between apostles and pastors, so that the evangelists ranked as assistants next to the apostles. It is also more probable that Timothy, whom Paul had associated with himself as his closest companion in all things, surpassed ordinary pastors in rank and dignity of office, than that he was only one of their number. Besides, to mention an honorable title of office tends not only to encourage him, but to recommend his authority to others; and Paul had in view both of these objects.”⁶

Phillip the Evangelist as an example

Since Phillip is specifically identified as an evangelist, his life and ministry help illustrate what the “work of an evangelist” probably looked like. In the brief account the book of Acts provides, we find him often on the move proclaiming the gospel to people in unreached places. Though he is first mentioned as one of the seven appointed men serving the widows in the Jerusalem church, his role takes a turn when persecution scatters the majority of the believers there. We then immediately read:

“Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them,” (Acts 8:5).

Thus, Philip seems to be the first man to take the gospel beyond the Jews to a foreign people, the Samaritans.⁷ After ministering there for a time, he travels south toward Gaza (Acts 8:26) and meets an Ethiopian with whom he also shares the gospel. After this, Philip travels from town to town proclaiming the word:

“But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he kept preaching the gospel to all the cities until he came to Caesarea,” (Acts 8:40).

From this example (and the other Biblical data), most commentators have concluded that Evangelists were migrant ministers who shared the gospel from place to place rather than settling down to serve in one church or city. Marvin Vincent defined them as “Traveling missionaries”⁸ whose “work was not confined to a particular church.”⁹ Calvin likewise said that their purpose was “to preach the gospel in all places, and not to have any certain place of abode.”¹⁰

Yet, upon further reflection, it seems that perhaps evangelists did not necessarily have to move about from city to city in order to fulfill their duty. While it is true that Philip traveled all over Judea and parts of Samaria for a time, he seems afterward to have served as an evangelist in one city. Acts 8:40 says that he preached from town to town “until he came to Caesarea.” Many years later, the Apostle Paul and his companions “came to Caesarea” and stayed in “the house of Philip the evangelist”. It appears that Philip not only remained in Caesarea but even settled down in a home there, and yet he is still called “the evangelist.” While it is possible that this was a reference only to Philip’s past service as an evangelist, it seems more likely that Philip was still fulfilling his role, preaching the gospel to the many people coming and going through that bustling port city.

Conclusion

The term “evangelist,” though not used often or emphasized much in the New Testament, seems to refer to people who were set apart and entrusted with the task of proclaiming the gospel to unbelievers. While all believers share the charge to spread the gospel, these were individuals who were appointed specifically to carry out that task as their primary role and gifting. They may have often done this by traveling about from town to town, though it was also possible to fulfill their mission by remaining in a specific place (especially if that place was a large center for trade and travel where many unbelievers from many places would always be present.) The term would roughly correspond to how we often use “missionary,” so long as we are talking about overtly gospel-centered missions that focus on verbal proclamation rather than humanitarian efforts.¹¹

This article explains what ‘Evangelism’ is and explores the enduring Biblical message, motives and methods for its practice in every age and culture. Jesus himself was an ‘Evangelist’ who called his followers to learn how to ‘evangelize’. His Apostles provide us with clear instructions about the message, motives and methods of evangelism in every age and culture. Within these enduring guidelines, Christians and Churches will explore a wide variety of ‘evangelistic’ initiatives that prove effective in different contexts. ‘Evangelism’ is both a thrilling privilege and the urgent priority of God’s people. Because it is God’s mission for which he has delayed the end of the world, it obeys the ‘great commission’ of Jesus to make disciples of all nations, and it is the means by which the Holy Spirit draws all who are chosen for salvation from the horrors of hell into the happiness of heaven, to the glory of God forever.

Let us consider what the Bible says about the message, motivation, and methodology of evangelism.

One Message in Evangelism

“Evangelism” is proclaiming God’s “evangel” or “gospel.” This message or “Word” is empowered by God to create saving faith in people to believe his gospel, turn from sin and follow Jesus. The word “gospel” means “good news.” It was used in the Roman Empire of New testament times for momentous public announcements like the birth of an Emperor. The “Gospel of God” is God’s sensational announcement to his world, progressively revealed throughout the Bible (Rom. 1:1-17). The Gospel is not everything good announced in the Bible but has specific content.

In the Old Testament God’s gospel promised a kingdom and a king

The gospel was first announced in God’s promise to Abraham of a kingdom bringing blessing to all nations (Gen. 12:1-3 – called “the Gospel” in Gal. 3:8). The history of Israel provides an earthly picture of this future Kingdom through which wonderful heavenly blessings will come.

God again announced his “Gospel” in Isaiah’s repeated promises of a King for his Kingdom (Isa. 40:9-11; 52:7-10; 61:1-2).  They announce that the Lord himself will come like a shepherd gathering his lambs. He will reveal his salvation to all nations. And he will liberate his people from their captivity in exile from God and gather them into his Kingdom. Astonishingly, this mighty deliverer will be the LORD’s suffering servant, punished in the place of sinners in death and rising to life to “justify” (qualify) them for heaven (Isa. 53:4-12).

But then there was silence for centuries. Until the explosive moment when Jesus emerged in Galilee, “proclaiming the gospel of God, “The time has come” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the gospel” (Mark 1)

In the New Testament God’s gospel announces Jesus as Lord and Savior

The mystery of the Gospel becomes crystal clear when Jesus is unveiled as the promised King saving sinners into his Kingdom. There are many versions of God’s Gospel because it concerns a person and not a formula. But two glorious themes emerge in them all: Jesus is our Lord (his identity) and Jesus is our Saviour (his activity). Both are stunningly good news for the world.

Jesus is our Lord

In Romans 1:1-4, Paul explains the Gospel of God for all nations is “regarding his Son.” If we’re not talking about Jesus, we’re not talking about the gospel. Paul repeatedly summarises it with the phrase, “Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 1:4; Acts; Col. 2:6; 2Cor. 4:5):

• “Jesus” means the crucified Galilean of history;
• “Christ” means the promised Messiah-saviour of the Old Testament;
• “Lord” means the divine and risen king over all.

God’s Gospel celebrates how amazing Jesus is: Jesus is Christ our Lord. It then tells us what he’s done:

Jesus is our Savior

God’s Gospel celebrates Christ’s four greatest achievements:

1. Christ came as our King (Mark 1:14-15) – Mark’s gospel is entitled, “the good news [gospel] about Jesus the Messiah” and announces, “Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news [gospel] of God…The kingdom of God has come near!” Jesus is the long-awaited King rescuing people into his heavenly Kingdom. He demonstrated the benefits of life under his rule with merciful forgiveness, wise teaching and compassionate miracles. This gospel is how God’s kingdom grows in the world today, as people surrender to the rule of Jesus and become citizens of his heavenly kingdom.
2. Christ died for our sins (1Cor. 15:1-4) – Paul reminds the Corinthians of God’s saving Gospel, “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures.” Christ died (voluntarily and not as a victim) for our sins (as our loving and self-sacrificial substitute). He died “according to the scriptures” – to satisfy the justice of God. His death is undeniable because he was buried by his disciples.
3. Christ rose to rule (1Cor. 15:4-7) – Paul continues, “…he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures.” The New Testament triumphantly proclaims that as promised in the Old Testament and by Jesus, he was raised to life and enthroned in heaven. Paul reminds us his resurrection is also undeniable because “he appeared” to many people on many occasions.
4. Christ will return to Judge (Rom. 2:16) – Many Christians are unaware that Scripture explicitly says judgment is part of the gospel e.g. “the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ as my gospel declares” (Rom. 2:16). Jesus consistently explained his judgement will begin an eternity of extravagant blessing in his renewed creation for his repentant followers but an eternity of torment in hell for his unrepentant enemies.

The spectacular benefits of God’s gospel are life in his heavenly Kingdom

God’s Gospel is described as the gospel of peace, hope, life, righteousness and grace. This is not to say that if we talk about peace or hope we are proclaiming the gospel. Rather these words describe the wonderful benefits of the gospel for believers. We begin to experience the reassuring comfort of peace with God even in tragedy and pain, the uplifting encouragement of our hope of heaven, the deep satisfaction of abundant lifein knowing him, the joy of Christ’s righteousness counted as ours and growing within us, and the sweet generosity of God’s grace. One day, when Christ returns, we’ll know these joys perfectly in his renewed creation. These benefits of the gospel are life in the Kingdom of God: the blessing originally promised to Abraham.

This one message can be helpfully summarized in one simple word: SWAP. God became an ordinary man in Jesus to swap places with his people on the cross: there he was treated as if he was us and punished for our sin; so we can be treated as if we were Jesus and accepted as God’s children into heaven. Because despite everything…he loves us passionately. This gospel is not a good idea or good advice but very good news!

Five Motives for Evangelism

In 2 Corinthians 5 where Paul is defending his unimpressive and unpopular evangelism from the scorn of false teachers, he reveals five of his motives for evangelism. They all relate to Christ:

First, obedience to Christ: “we make it our aim to please him” (5:9) – for when Jesus called his disciples he said “follow me and I will make you fishers of men” (all believers are evangelists), and when he rose from the dead he commanded them, “all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” (Matt. 28:18-20).

Second, the fear of Christ: “for we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ…therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord we persuade others” (5:10-11). Christ will reward our evangelism because among the many ways to love our communities and relieve suffering, evangelism is our highest priority because it rescues people from eternal suffering in hell.

Third, gratitude to Christ: “the love of Christ controls us because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died…that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who died and was raised” (5:14). The love of Christ expressed in suffering the shame, pain and hell we deserve for our sins on the cross drives believers to tell others about him.

Fourth, the message of Christ: “All this is from God who, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation … entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us …” (5:18-20). Through the Apostles then and through all who faithfully proclaim God’s gospel now, God calls people to be reconciled to him.

Fifth, the day of Christ, “Behold, now is the favorable time; now is the day of salvation” (6:1-2). This age in which we live, the “last days” before Christ returns, is the wonderful age of evangelism – when God is constantly calling people from all nations to salvation through his gospel.

So our evangelism should be motivated by obedience to Christ’s command, fear of Christ’s judgment, gratitude for Christ’s love, responsibility for Christ’s message, and excitement at the opportunities granted by Christ in these days in which we live.

Four Methods of Evangelism 

There are many wonderful Bible passages prescribing godly evangelistic methods:

First, a loving church:  “they devoted themselves to the Apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers… And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved’ (Acts 2:42-47). In the Jerusalem church, recently filled with the Holy Spirit for prophesying the wonders of Jesus from the scriptures, it wasn’t just through a few gifted individuals but the whole church community devoted to learning, loving, sharing and praying, that people were daily being saved.

Second, a respectful manner.  The Apostle Peter instructs Christians scattered across the Roman Empire and experiencing persecution to speak with gentle honesty, “Do not fear what they fear, do not be frightened; but in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you for the reason for the hope that you have, but do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”  Fear is dissolved away by believing our own gospel that Jesus is Lord, authorizing our evangelism and sovereign over our conversations. But we must be equipped to answer people’s queries, ready to testify to our hope in the risen Jesus. But we must speak gently and respectfully, remembering we were all once lost and ignorant of God, and keeping a clear conscience before God – rejecting all exaggeration and exploitation. Promising health and wealth or taking advantage of people in need is evil.

Third, a cultural flexibility. Paul explains that while he will not twist the gospel message in order to make it more palatable, he is always willing to be culturally flexible and radically contextualize his ministry: “I have become all things to all people that by all means I might save some” (1Cor. 9:22).

Fourth, an honest sincerity. Paul has explained that unlike so many false teachers, we are not “peddlers of God’s Word” for profit but people “of sincerity” (2Cor. 2:17). In chapter 4, having explained that evangelism is the ministry through which God’s Holy Spirit gives new life, he elaborates four principles:

1. Tell the truth: “we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s Word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God” (4:1-2). We must not manipulate people or twist the gospel to make it more popular but speak truthfully.
2. Expect blindness: “and even if our gospel is veiled…the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ” (4:4). When unbelievers can’t understand the gospel, it isn’t because there is anything wrong with the gospel, but sadly something wrong with our audience: they are blinded, as we all once were, by Satan, and so we must pray for them.
3. Proclaim Christ: “we do not preach ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord.” We proclaim the gospel of Christ for in his character and his cross we behold the glory of God.
4. Honest sincerity: “we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power us from God and not for us.” We are as weak and fragile as cheap clay pots, but our gospel is priceless treasure. God wants it this way so people will realize that we are not evangelizing for personal benefit but because the gospel is true. And many passages encourage us to be willing to suffer for the gospel as Jesus did e.g. “whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it” (Mark 8:35) and Paul writes, “share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God” (2Tim. 1:8).

It is no surprise to discover that our Lord Jesus’ priority was evangelism

“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the Kingdom …when he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd…” (Matt. 9:35-38)

His priority was evangelism (Matt. 9:35)

Jesus came not only to be the gospel but to proclaim the gospel and train others to do the same. For as God in his Trinitarian holiness is self-giving love, so in his relationship to sinners he is righteous in grace in evangelism before he returns one day to be righteous in his wrath. So when God took flesh, he came as an evangelist! Notice the scale of his mission: he went through “all” the towns and villages: there were over 200 of them. This wasn’t a casual stroll but a determined and demanding effort. To be holy like Christ requires us to be both separated from sin and committed to evangelism. Indeed, Jesus’ preaching, small group discussions and conversational counseling were not primarily about parenting or marriage but salvation. Indeed, he avoided being distracted by his healing ministry in order to preach the gospel (Mark 1:38). Clearly, godliness is evangelistic. So while the defining activity of a church is bible-teaching the purpose of Bible-teaching is equipping believers to follow Jesus in lives of holy evangelism. Congregations are not to be like passengers on a cruise ship dedicated to their own comfort but like crew on a lifeboat dedicated to saving people who are drowning in sin. Because Jesus’ priority was evangelism!

His motivation was compassion (Matt. 9:36)

Jesus saw beneath appearances to people’s spiritual needs: he saw the crowds like flocks of sheep, prone to wander, vulnerable to predators, hungry for food but precious to the farmer i.e. desperately in need of the good shepherd (cf. Ezek. 34:11ff where God sees Israel desperately in need of good pastoral ministry beginning with evangelism: “I myself will search for my sheep……I will rescue them…I will bring them out from the nations and gather them). Jesus sees people, not primarily as wicked sinners deserving retribution, but as “harassed (lit. flayed i.e. stressed) and helpless” (lit. flattened i.e. burdened)! They don’t need us – they need him! The particular word “compassion” used of Jesus here is only ever used of Jesus in the gospels, and always of how Jesus sees people: it means “entrails” and describes gut-wrenching tenderness. The primary reason we commonly struggle to evangelize our communities is not that they are more hostile than another culture but that we don’t see them with Jesus’ gut-wrenching compassion.

His strategy was praying for workers (Matt. 9:37-38)

Jesus identified two features of the age in which we live: the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few! Notice that our challenge is not the hardness of society but the shortage of workers – not just clergy but believers prepared for the labor of evangelism. There’s no shortage of evangelistic opportunity for we are surrounded by unbelievers. Jesus describes himself as the “Lord of the harvest” willing to send out workers – as he then demonstrates in sending out the twelve in chapter 10. If we are to evangelize the world by making disciples in our communities, by cross-cultural evangelism and by church-planting we must begin with prayer to Jesus, the Lord of the harvest!