Today we are looking at the city of Antioch which is very distant from Jerusalem. At this point in Acts, there was no church in Antioch but it was a large and famous city. The city was a center for liberal studies and gathered many intellectuals while also being very corrupt and immoral. One day, Greek-speaking Jews, who most likely came to believe after hearing Apostle Peter preach in Jerusalem, were scattered throughout the land because of the persecution that started with the murder of Stephen. Even though the church had just started, it was a fearful time to be a Christian with many Jews, like Saul of Tarsus, wanting to eliminate all who professed Jesus as Christ.
At first, the gospel was only being shared with the Jews, even though Jesus had revealed to Peter that all nations would be included (Acts 10:14,34-35). By the leading and power of the Holy Spirit, the gospel was being shared and bearing fruit with the Greeks as well, so much so, that the Jerusalem church sent Barnabas, who declares this growth is the grace of God. Evangelism and the salvation of sinners truly is the grace of God. With that in mind, we will learn who God calls to evangelism, how to evangelize, and why.
Who?
Evangelism is not just for pastors or leaders. It’s not reserved for those who have free time. It’s not only for veteran and educated believers. Evangelism never happens because it’s a title or position. Evangelism is voluntary work for every Christian. It does not depend on your theological knowledge but on your personal experience of the gospel. Every Christian should realize they are sent because they have been bought by the blood of Jesus. Not just their duty but their joyful service which will also be rewarded. In Acts 11:19 it says “those who were scattered”. There’s no qualifier here except that they were scattered. It wasn’t a specific person or a particular title of Christian, but the average no-named believer (Acts 8:1). They all shared the gospel wherever they went.
Also, the Great Commission which is given in the four gospel accounts is for all Christians. Jesus commands all of us to make disciples. This is Jesus’ last and perfect will that summarizes the goal of His saving work. Therefore, evangelism is our faithful obedience to Jesus our Lord. To share the gospel is the work of faith regardless of whether the hearer will listen or not. The Great Commission is our job description and failure to evangelize is failure to do our work. This is why God calls us (Luke 4:43). Our purpose is not to gain earthly fame, riches, or comforts. Our glory awaits us in the next life. This life is reserved for the work of evangelism.
We have the same message as Jesus and the Apostles. The gospel hasn’t changed in either content or power. What we do with the gospel has also stayed the same. Just as the Apostles and the early church proclaimed the gospel, we proclaim. The church in Thessalonians became an example by following the example of evangelism demonstrated by Jesus and the Apostles (1 Thess 1:7-8). The Thessalonians were not famous people and we don’t know their names. We know very little about them but they are remembered for being faithful and fervent to evangelize. God recognizes those who are faithful to evangelize.
How to be effective in evangelism?
Effective evangelism is not determined by numbers. Instead, it is a result of consistent faithfulness. In Antioch, evangelism was effective because of the hand of God (Acts 11:21). In Scripture, the hand of God means the power of God. God does not have a physical hand, but His hand is His power (Exodus 9:3). When we evangelize, we need God’s power because our goal is not moral or intellectual enlightenment, but to rescue sinners from the power of sin and death. Sinners will be happy to enjoy the company of Christians until they mention Christ and their need for Him because they are dead and in bondage (Eph 2:5). To rescue them, they need the power of God. The power of God is with those who are faithful.
- God’s blessing is attained with constant and fervent prayer for the lost. Salvation requires God’s presence and God’s personal delivery (Isaiah 53:1). This need is seen, when those people we would never think could be saved, those who have committed horrible sins, come to repentance and salvation. They are powerfully and personally saved by God. The arm of God has delivered even some of the most wicked, like Moses and Paul (who were murderers) or John Newton who was a slave trader. Our role is to pray for them while God is the one who saves them.
- As God’s messengers, we must have confidence in the gospel. The gospel is the truth that the world needs most desperately but denies so stubbornly. We must be like Apostle Paul who constantly and boldly proclaimed Jesus is alive before the courts. Not just confidence but passion. We must not be timid or ashamed because the gospel is the power to save (Romans 1:16).
- We must be changed. We have left our old life and been given a new life in Christ Jesus. The Christian is transformed within and continually sanctified. Our change is evidence of the authenticity of the gospel. Before we hated God and others, but now we evangelize to share the love of Christ.
Why do we evangelize?
The Christian desires to evangelize because they are converted. They are no longer dead but alive (Galatians 2:20). They realize that they are loved by God, therefore nothing will deter them from following Jesus. Their true conversion through the gospel compels them to obey Christ and love those who are still unconverted.
Conclusion
We are all evangelists and when we faithfully practice then people will be saved (Acts 11:21,23). When Barnabas arrived in Antioch he witnessed the grace of God and encouraged them. We must ask ourselves, why does our church not grow? Simply, we are not evangelizing. Maybe we evangelize once in a while but where is our consistent, diligent, passionate evangelism? We limit our evangelism to programs or holidays. Evangelism is not an event but the very purpose of our new life. We need faithful evangelism in our church by the grace of God. It is our serious sin that we fail to center our obedience around personal evangelism.
Evangelism is a loving work. It is good for the church to teach and grow in knowledge. The early church devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching (Acts 2:42). However if one fails to turn that teaching into action then it is a great danger and failure. Even with a little knowledge, the faithful can put the true gospel into action (1 Cor 15:3-4). Evangelism is also a work of prayer. We don’t have to pray hours or eloquently but we must pray. Pray in the morning, pray at your work, pray in your free time. We pray for God’s work and blessing in the hearts of the sinners (1 Kings 18:37). Evangelism is a work of love (Acts 2:47). Before we were saved we had no love. But ever since we knew God, we know love and we love the lost souls.
It is possible for the church to grow. It is possible for all of us to be evangelists. Jesus warns and encourages us in Revelation 3:4-6. We must follow Him faithfully and overcome. Therefore repent and obey. It is time to work and our church will grow by the grace of God.
BIBLE COMMUNITY CHURCH 
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