Where evangelism starts

[Brother-Paul]

Most churches you see are merely Christian social clubs.

You say.....
Of all born again Christians, what percentage would you say are "Believers" and if you say that all are believers, what do they believe in? Many do not believe in healing, many do not believe in miracles for today, many do not believe in deliverance from demons, many do not believe in some part of the Word. Many Christians cherry pick over the Word to decide what they will believe or not.
If one does not believe in ALL of the Word how can he believe any of it? If a person thinks God is wrong or lying about part of His Word, how can this Christian believe any of it?

First sentence...
What percentage of people in some churches/places of prayer and worship are actually Born Again. Head Christians or Heart Christians? Congregation and/or minister?

I have to agree...
Sadly MANY churches/places of prayer and worship have set readings and cotton wool sermons. John 3:3 may be 'read' but 'not preached' in a sermon, to much time may be spent on why Nicodemus called at night, etc and the 'main point' is missed. Set readings are 'cotton wool' stuff, nice to hear stories! Possibly they think they are maintaining souls in pews, to pay wages and overheads? Possibly they have pressure on them to do this? Maybe they are souls filling pews but not all are saved souls. 'Cherry picking scripture' I have this many times, believing either what they want to believe or what they have had read in church on a Sunday morning. (cherry picked readings)

But when you say...
But here's the evangelizing, the preaching in my life; People see me obeying my God, they see the results of it, they want it.
I still say preaching is evangelising and showing by our behaviour is witnessing. Possibly witnessing with intent to evangelise.

Matthew 10:32 (BBE)
32 To everyone, then, who gives witness to me before men, I will give witness before my Father in heaven.

Matthew 19:18 (NKJV)
18 He said to Him, "Which ones?" Jesus said, "'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,'

Matthew 24:14 (NKJV)
14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

To Evangelise is to preach. The word "evangelism" comes from the Greek word "euangelizomai," which literally means "to bring Good News."

To Witness let others see Jesus in us by what we do.

Then you said...
Most churches you see are merely Christian social clubs.
I have said this so many times, the Roman Catholics are a prime example.

Sad but true

 

[B-A-C]

I think the word "witness" has gotten lost in translation.

To witness something simply means to see something. Like being a witness in a trial... you actually saw the crime take place.
You can also witness good things. To witness to others about Jesus is to share what you've seen and heard about Him.
Witnessing simply means sharing or telling an event. It's true we can live our lives as a witness to others, that's simply what
they see in us or about us. Good or bad. It's possible our neighbors may see something "different" about us. Maybe we are giving, maybe we are compassionate, maybe we show love, maybe those things will be obvious enough to our neighbors that they take notice. But unless the conversation comes up about what made you different... you're just a nice person to them.

In Matt 19:18; (which is a quote of Exod 20:16; ) bearing false witness against your neighbor, simply means slandering or telling
an untruth (lie) about your neighbor. Also see Deut 5:20; Matt 15:19; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20;

John the Baptist was a witness "to the light" ( John 1:7; )

This is slightly different from evangelizing. In the great commission we are told to "go" (Mark 16:15; )
unto all the world and preach to all creation.

In Luke 10:1; Jesus sends seventy (or seventy two) people out in pairs "to every city and place He was going to come to".

1 Jn 5:7-10; talks about the three that witness (some Bibles say testify) to our life.

 

[Bendito]

“The church, not the individual, is the basic unit of evangelism. A community that lives out the truth of the gospel is the best context in which to understand its proclamation.” – Lesslie Newbigin

I hope its ok to paste this....If not I hope Chad will remove it.


EVANGELIZING AND WITNESSING


Introduction


Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. (Acts 26:16)


It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, (Ephesians 4:11)


The word witness appears over a hundred times in the Bible. The terms evangelize or evangelism do not appear at all. Evangelist is found twice and evangelists once.


When we use the term witnessing today we usually are speaking of evangelizing. We are telling others about Jesus, about the plan of salvation.


The word witnessing is employed only once, and that by the Apostle Paul.


Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: that Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles. (Acts 26:22,23—KJV)


Paul here was referring to that which had been shown him by the Lord. Notice how different Paul's witness was from the "four steps of salvation" we use today. I think the difference is significant.


Christ would suffer.


Christ would be the first to rise from the dead.


Christ would proclaim light to the Jews.


Christ would proclaim light to the Gentiles.


Paul was actually bearing witness of what he had seen with the Lord. What a refreshing breath of Heaven Paul's witness was! Our approach today, "all have sinned, we can't save ourselves, if we confess and believe we will be saved," sounds more like we are making converts to a religion. It is not really a witness of anything. It is a kind of "canned evangelism" that operates without regard to the individual's background or needs and often is pressed without any sense of the Lord's leading or timing.


Today's kind of proselytizing lacks the vibrant uplift of Paul's witness of what he had seen with God. All kinds of religions and cults send forth their converts to make more converts to their group. This is proselytizing and I think it is what often takes place under the name of witnessing, leading others to Christ, saving souls, or what have you. I don't believe there is much Divine life in it.


There certainly are Christians who are evangelists, ranging from personal evangelists all the way to the greatly used evangelist who stands before hundreds of thousands of people.


But telling all believers, even if they have been converted for only five minutes, that their job is to save others, that they have been saved to save others, is not at all scriptural and is the same thing that takes place in the cults. It would be comparable to telling a baby that had just been born that his task is to go out and get more babies.


When we of today refer to personal evangelism, or "leading others to Jesus," we are speaking of evangelizing, not really of bearing witness.


We think this is an important issue. It is our opinion that the tremendous emphasis placed on getting all believers from the time they receive Jesus to go out and evangelize not only is not scriptural but actually detracts from their spiritual growth. We feel that much more time needs to be spent on helping the believers come to know the Lord so they will be able to stand in the age of moral horrors we are entering.


There is little or no emphasis in the Epistles on having each believer go forth and try to "save souls." There is a very great emphasis on having each believer overcome sin and grow in Christ. If we believe the Bible is the Word of God we ought to emphasize what the Bible emphasizes. Do you agree with this?

 

[Dovegiven]

I hope its ok to paste this....If not I hope Chad will remove it.


EVANGELIZING AND WITNESSING

There is little or no emphasis in the Epistles on having each believer go forth and try to "save souls." There is a very great emphasis on having each believer overcome sin and grow in Christ. If we believe the Bible is the Word of God we ought to emphasize what the Bible emphasizes. Do you agree with this?

No. How many times does God need to issue a commandment before expecting anyone to obey? Because Jesus left what we call "The Great Commission" once, does that he wasn't very serious about that?

Why add a condition to "go forth" like that, "try to save souls"? Well, trying a common concept promoted by tradition, not the word of God. We are expected to promote the gospel, then leave the results up to God. Some will believe, most won't. Each of us enters as much of the world as possible. God understood all along many must remain in a limited part of it so as to support our families. Some get to travel far and wide promoting to millions more than most of us.

 

[Bendito]

No. How many times does God need to issue a commandment before expecting anyone to obey? Because Jesus left what we call "The Great Commission" once, does that he wasn't very serious about that?

Why add a condition to "go forth" like that, "try to save souls"? Well, trying a common concept promoted by tradition, not the word of God. We are expected to promote the gospel, then leave the results up to God. Some will believe, most won't. Each of us enters as much of the world as possible. God understood all along many must remain in a limited part of it so as to support our families. Some get to travel far and wide promoting to millions more than most of us.

Dovegiven It appears that you are focused on syntax and not on the context of what's being said. Or do I misread here?

 

[B-A-C]

Romans 10:13-15 NASBS
for "Whoever WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED." [14] How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? [15] How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "How BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO bring GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!"

 

[B-A-C]

Romans 10:17 NASBS
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

 

[Brother-Paul]

Romans 10:13-15 NASBS
for "Whoever WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."
[14] How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed?
How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?
[15] How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "How BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO bring GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!"

How indeed... Preach and hear, we cannot hear by showing people by our actions but by our actions, with Jesus in our hearts, we witness to others.

Faith comes by hearing...

 

[Brother-Paul]

EVANGELIZING AND WITNESSING
Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. (Acts 26:16)

>>> Get up and stand on your feet are actions not words, I have... appoint you as a servant and as a witness appointed to do His will not yet preaching the Word.

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, (Ephesians 4:11)

>>> It was He who gave... not yet preached.

The word witness appears over a hundred times in the Bible. The terms evangelize or evangelism do not appear at all. Evangelist is found twice and evangelists once.

>>> I agree but the number of times quoted does not increase its meaning, only when repeated in context does it increase its meaning. e.g. Verily, verily I say unto you... Repeated this way has emphasis Jesus is saying Listen, listen this is important, A word said 100 times in the Bible does not add to its meaning.

When we use the term witnessing today we usually are speaking of evangelizing. We are telling others about Jesus, about the plan of salvation.

>>> but surely we are talking what the Word says about witnessing, not when we use the term today?

The word witnessing is employed only once, and that by the Apostle Paul.

Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: that Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles. (Acts 26:22,23—KJV)

Paul here was referring to that which had been shown him by the Lord. Notice how different Paul's witness was from the "four steps of salvation" we use today. I think the difference is significant.

>>> Paul here is making a plea, starting with a disclaimer about obeying God, he is describing what he has previously done and what he has done in obedience to the vision when he stood before Jesus. What Paul is doing is providing a plea, a summary, in fact a brief summary, but none the less it is a summary. If we continue with this reading... Acts 26:24 (NKJV) 24 Now as he thus made his defense... He had little time and had to get over the facts in a short a way and shorter time as possible, yes he was preaching but in context the details are condensed.

Acts 26:22-23 (NKJV)
22 Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come--
23 that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles."
:1-32
Surely considering witnessing, or to witness, on this one verse cannot be correct, especially in the way it is used in this section of scripture, Acts 26:1-32. Paul here was providing a condensed plea, a tightly worded summary of events to get is 'key points' over.

 

[Dovegiven]

>>> Get up and stand on your feet are actions not words, I have... appoint you as a servant and as a witness appointed to do His will not yet preaching the Word.


>>> It was He who gave... not yet preached.



>>> I agree but the number of times quoted does not increase its meaning, only when repeated in context does it increase its meaning. e.g. Verily, verily I say unto you... Repeated this way has emphasis Jesus is saying Listen, listen this is important, A word said 100 times in the Bible does not add to its meaning.



>>> but surely we are talking what the Word says about witnessing, not when we use the term today?



>>> Paul here is making a plea, starting with a disclaimer about obeying God, he is describing what he has previously done and what he has done in obedience to the vision when he stood before Jesus. What Paul is doing is providing a plea, a summary, in fact a brief summary, but none the less it is a summary. If we continue with this reading... Acts 26:24 (NKJV) 24 Now as he thus made his defense... He had little time and had to get over the facts in a short a way and shorter time as possible, yes he was preaching but in context the details are condensed.

Acts 26:22-23 (NKJV)
22 Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come--
23 that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles."
:1-32
Surely considering witnessing, or to witness, on this one verse cannot be correct, especially in the way it is used in this section of scripture, Acts 26:1-32. Paul here was providing a condensed plea, a tightly worded summary of events to get is 'key points' over.

I've served on a grand jury once as a witness called in for facts, no opinion. The gravity of bearing true witness is the same in an actual trial by jury, or at it's lowest level, serving as an expert in a trial, having witnessed no facts of the case.

A witness can be someone who saw or heard something that can become fact, or has witnessed something that's already fact, such as confirming a law of physics by a credible example that's helpful to a jury to deal with facts.
All believers need to be capable of standing as a witness to the reality of Jesus Christ experienced in their lives. If one of us was charged with being a Christian, could we prove for Jesus' sake the charge is true, confessing our guilt of being a follower? If the charge was based on my overall life quality, would that constitute evidence? Not in a fair court. Specific acts, such as words heard by others, are used by the prosecution as well as the defense.

All Christians are witnesses, but not all are pastors. All should preach the gospel, understanding that preaching is not limited to pastors. Preachers can witness Christ anywhere, while a pastor usually ministers in a limited area. Preaching the gospel is for all believers, a privilege given by Jesus within his teachings. In addition God sets some preachers into a ministerial gift, that of evangelist, specially anointed to present the gospel wherever desired.

Phillip was an evangelist.
Acts 21:8 (KJV) And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.

So was Timothy.
2 Timothy 4:5 (KJV) But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

Within a well known list of ministries in Ephesians 4:11-12 (KJV)
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

That has individuals of the body of Christ set to specific anointings to service, all not available to all members. In the same way not all pastors are good teachers, and not all prophets would make good pastors, all witnesses couldn't be effective evangelists. Billy Graham was dedicated to evangelism, though regarded as "White House pastor", and "America's pastor", yet couldn't be available to all needing a pastor. He didn't represent any particular church, was not sent out by one, but was commissioned by God to evangelize the lost, building up the Church. He didn't establish churches like the apostles did, so wasn't an apostle. He made the way smoother for local pastors to minister to new Christians. He was an independent evangelist.

By that I'm seeking to emphasize that it is individual Christians who evangelize, pointing new believers to local churches, then leaving those babes in Christ in the hands of already established local ministers. It isn't "the Church" ministering to "the Church", a job left to individuals anointed to serve the Church in various capacities. Similarly, God met Paul on the road to Damascus, called him to be an apostle. Jesus wasn't calling the whole church to do what Paul was called to do. He did the work of evangelist and apostle, establishing churches and staffing them with qualified ministers for the work of the ministry.

 

[Brother-Paul]

@Dovegiven

So as not to divert this subject off topic I have created a new thread called 'Recommend a Church to a new believer in Christ' it takes an example of a believer who has a chance meeting with a none believer who before they part company repents of their sins and accepts Jesus into their heart. But both are on a journey, the meeting is by chance as they change coaches or planes, I will let you read the rest.

Your replies (above) are good :thumbsup:

 

[Shutterbug]

Evangelism can be broken down into two categories: passive, and active.

Passive evangelism is what people see and take note about your character, or nature. Does your character exemplify a love for Christ and his principles, his people, and for others through the Holy Spirit? Do you have a good knowledge of Scripture, and apply it in a heartfelt manner? More importantly, is your walk with Christ consistent? Or, do you tend to fall off the wagon because Life gets in the way of your objectives?

Active evangelism is applying the above and engaging others (the neighbours) whether it be in person or by way of electronic media. While not everyone will stand behind a podium speaking to thousands at a time, we can all speak in small groups to family members or strangers. Returning to the above about Christian character, is it your desire to fulfill the commandment that others should not perish? Do you have an honest Spirit led desire to seek out the lost sheep? Or, is it still a work in progress?

Cheers,
John