Why the church?
A Biblical Study
The Five Ministries of Each Local Church
Study 7
Evangelism
Acts 2:42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
These two verses were quoted to begin this study since they provide the basis for all the ministries in each local church but also because there is a clear difference between what is described in verse 42 and what is described in verse 47.
In verse 42 Luke is describing the four ministries that are carried out when the church gathers corporately. Verse 47 indicates what happens when the church scatters: it is evangelism. Notice that the verse says that it is the Lord who adds to the church.
You cannot have a church without evangelism and you cannot have evangelism without the church effectively carrying out the ministries the Lord has designed for it.
Evangelism-God’s Way
God Saves People
1. Read John 6:43,44,65. How does Jesus describe how people are saved?
2. Read 1 Corinthians 3:5-9. How does Paul explain God’s work in the process of people becoming Christians?
3. Read John 1:12,13. Compare and contrast the responsibility that each person has when they hear the gospel with God’s role in saving a person.
Each Christian Must See the Need
4. Read through Matthew 9:35-38 and John 4:27-38. What is common between these two passages concerning our witness for Christ?
How do these passages convict you concerning your witness to others?
5. What is a key responsibility of the church in spreading the gospel which is outlined in
Romans 10:14-17and illustrated in Acts 13:1-4?
6. How is Jesus an example of someone who would witness to people as they came to Him? (See Matthew 4:23; Mark 1 35)
Understanding the Content of the Gospel
7. What is the content of the gospel message according to these passages? (Mark 1:15; Luke 24:44-49; 1 Cor. 15:1-4; 2 Timothy 1:8-11) Is there anything that should be added?
Checking Our Attitude
8. What kind of attitude is important for us to have when we are proclaiming the gospel?
(1 Thess. 1:5, 2:8,9; Phil. 1:12-20)
Preparing Ourselves for Different Responses
9. What kind of response can we expect from some people when we proclaim the gospel? (Luke 21:7-19; John 15:18-27; Romans 1:16; 2 Timothy 1:8)
10. How are people called to respond to the gospel when it is proclaimed?
(Mk. 1:15; Romans 1:16; Eph. 1:13; 2 Tim. 2:24-26)
God’s Primary Approach to Witnessing
11. What is God’s primary method for reaching people for Christ? (Acts 15:7;
Romans 10:14,15)
12. How does Colossians 4:2-6 help us understand witnessing?
13. What is the purpose of the proclamation of the gospel expressed in 2 Thess. 2:14?
14. What is the consequence for those who reject the gospel? (2 Thessalonians 1:8;
1 Peter 4:17)
15. How did Paul use his imprisonment? (Philippians 1:12-14)
Using Discernment with the Gospel
16. How can you tell the difference between the true gospel and the false gospel?
(2 Corinthians 11:4; Galatians 1:6,7)
17. Why does Paul indicate that the gospel helps Christians mature in their faith?
(Romans 16:25-27)
18. Why is it important to live holy before the Lord? (1 Cor. 9:12,23-27)
19. How can you be bold in proclaiming Christ to others? (Ephesians 6:19)
What prevents us from being bold in our witness for Christ?
20. Why is it necessary for Christians to stand for the truth of the gospel?
(Galatians 2:5,14; 2 Peter 2:1-3)
21. How can we be ready to proclaim Christ to others? (Ephesians 6:10-20)
“Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation.” Paul Romans 10:1
“In prayer, you ask for things and give thanks for things. Why? Because you recognize that God is the author and source of all the good that you have had already, and all the good that you hope for in the future. This is the fundamental philosophy of Christian prayer. The prayer of a Christian is not an attempt to force God’s hand, but a humble acknowledgement of helplessness and dependence.” James Packer, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, p. 11
“In prayer, then . . . you know that it is God who saves men; you know that what makes men turn to God is God’s own gracious work of drawing them to Himself; and the content of your prayers is determined by this knowledge. Thus, by your practice of intercession, no less than by giving thanks for your conversion, you acknowledge and confess the sovereignty of God’s grace.” Ibid, 15,16