It is almost here! For the last 2 years many Christians in the
Pittsburgh area have been preparing for the Festival of Hope. This 3 day event
(August 15-17) at the Consol Energy Center is focused on bringing individuals
into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The Billy Graham EVANGELISTIC
Association is the lead on the event and Franklin Graham is the EVANGELIST.
Just what do the words evangelist and evangelistic mean?
The word Gospel is "euangelion" in the Greek language of
the original New Testament writing and means "good news". It can be
translated into English as the "Evangel". Consequently, to be an
evangelist is to be a messenger of the good news. To be evangelistic is to be
focused on sharing the good news and to evangelize is to actually communicate
the good news.
In our text we are taught that the Lord gave some people the gift
of being an evangelist. Apostles are foundational to the whole church, prophets
have special messages from the Lord, pastors and teachers instruct local congregations
while evangelists travel to various places to share the good news of Jesus.
Often these places are where there is little or no gospel influence. Many
commentators equate evangelists with missionaries. In today's Christian world
the evangelist is often seen as someone who works with local churches to
proclaim the Gospel to unbelievers with the goal of conversion. An evangelistic
church is one that has a focus not only on instructing the saints and doing
good works in the community but also concerned that unbelievers come to a
personal faith in Jesus.
We meet one individual in the Scripture who is identified
specifically as an evangelist. This is Phillip in Acts 21:8. We see Phillip
travelling from Jerusalem to Samaria to the desert to the sea coast preaching
Jesus wherever he went. Though Timothy is considered a pastor, Paul instructs
him to do the work of an evangelist in 2 Timothy 4:5. This would indicate that
we should be sharing the good news of Jesus Christ and His saving grace right
where we are.
This is what we sometimes call personal evangelism. We may
not be an evangelist but we can share/show the Gospel in various ways to those
around us who do not know the Lord.
See you Sunday!
1. If someone were to ask you what an evangelist is...what
would you answer?
2. The church of Jesus was evangelistic early on. Read
Acts 8:1-4. Who is out preaching the word? So is evangelism just for the
"preachers" (compare vv.1 + 4)?
3. We see some evangelistic folk in John 1.In other
words, folk who wanted their loved ones and friends to meet Jesus. Who
were they? John 1:40-42; 44-47
4. What are some ways we can share the good news that Jesus
saves with others?
5. What prayer request for evangelism did Paul have in
Colossians 4: 2-4
6. Can we share in evangelism by providing support for
evangelists/missionaries/evangelistic pastors and teachers? 1 Corinthians
9: 14; Philippians 1:5 + 4: 16, 17
7. Who shared the good news of Jesus with you as our Lord
brought you to salvation? Have you had the joy and privilege of sharing
the good news of Jesus in some way with someone else?
