Sunday, November 5, 2017 am
New Testament Church
2017
The Work of the Church (1)
Evangelism
In this study we are focusing on the local church and what it is called
upon to do. We will identify
its areas of work and examine the pattern for these various works in the
New Testament.
This is an important area of study as it is one of the avenues through
which brethren are divided.
There are churches who have redefined or replaced what the work of the
church is and how it is done.
Far too many churches today are more interested in catering to
the masses, turning the worship “experience” into something more
contemporary and entertaining, and appealing to their material wants and
needs of people rather than to the gospel.
Because of stewardship and what the Bible teaches about
fellowship of error (cf. Ephesians 5:11, 2 John 9-11, etc.), the purity
of the church and its pattern, as well as autonomy and independence of
congregations, it is important that we strive to understand and follow a
pattern that God is pleased with.
In this study, we will appeal to what is authorized according to
God’s pattern.
Summarized, there are four areas of work for the local congregation –
evangelism, edification, worship, and benevolence.
Today, we will begin with the work of evangelism.
a.
One of the primary works
of the church is to evangelize.
Evangelize – the English word is defined as to convert or to try and
convert to another religion. (Merriam-Webster).
The word is NOT found in many of our English versions, though the word “evangelist”
is found 3 times (Ac 21:8, Eph. 4:11, 2 Tim. 4:5).
BUT, the word evangelize is actually based upon a Greek word that IS
found often in the New Testament – the word, εὐαγγέλιον
(euangelion) is the Greek word for “gospel” in most of our English
texts. IT is defined as, “to
tell the good news” (L&N, 33.217).
BDAG defines the word as, “God’s good news to humans, good news
as proclamation.”
SO when we see the word gospel (about 77 times in the New Testament) we
are dealing with the message of evangelism.
As you study scripture you will find that the church in the first
century increased in numbers, even in the face of difficult
circumstances. This was done
through evangelism.
b.
IT is through the
preaching of the gospel that man is saved – Romans 1:16-17, 10:14-17, James 1:21, etc.
1 Cor. 1:21, to the world it is foolishness, but it is God’s power unto
salvation.
c.
The Great Commission was about reaching the lost.
Matt. 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-16.
Acts 1:8 as Jesus gave His apostles instructions, they were to open the
kingdom to the whole world.
I am convinced that while the Great Commission was given to the
apostles, its fulfillment applies to all of us.
I state this because the apostles did not act alone in the spread
of the Gospel in the first century.
Acts 8:4 describes disciples going everywhere preaching the word.
Philip (not an apostle) went to Samaria where he taught many
including Simon the sorcerer (Ac. 8:5-13).
2 Timothy 2:2 illustrates how it is passed on.
Colossians 1:23 notes that the gospel had been “preached to every creature under heaven…”
My point is that evangelizing was important.
And it required the efforts of Christians everywhere.
d.
Christians are to be
engaged in evangelism.
i.
Acts 8:4 – the disciples
went everywhere preaching the word.
ii.
1 Peter 3:15, we are all
instructed to Sanctify God in our hearts and be ready to give a defense
for the hope that is in us.
iii.
2 Cor. 5:10-11 – we will
all appear before the judgment seat of Christ…Knowing the terror of the
Lord, we persuade men.
iv.
Phil. 2:14-16 speaks of
us shining as lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation.
v.
1 Peter 2:9, “But you
are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own
special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you
out of darkness into His marvelous light;”
vi.
NOTE: While the church
is involved in evangelism, the truth is EVERY example of conversion
recorded in scripture was the result of individuals taking the gospel to
them.
e.
Churches are involved in
evangelism.
i.
1 Thessalonians 1:8
finds Paul commending the church in that community.
“For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only
in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God
has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything.” (1
Thessalonians 1:8, NKJV)
ii.
A study of the book of
Acts finds churches growing as a result of the efforts of both
Christians and congregations in evangelism.
iii.
Acts 11:22, when
brethren in Jerusalem heard that Hellenists were turning to the Lord,
they sent Barnabas to go as far as Antioch.
iv.
Acts 13:1-3 while in
Antioch, the church received word to separate Paul and Barnabas to do
the work they were called to do (evangelize).
The brethren prayed and fasted and sent them on their way.
v.
1Timohty 3:14-15
describes the church as “the pillar and ground of truth.”
vi.
NOTE: The survival of
the TRUE church depends upon its support of evangelism among its members
In our next lesson we will notice HOW churches cooperated in NT times and contrast that with some ways churches cooperate today.