For quite some time now I have been pondering the place of evangelism within the apostolic structure. If any paradigm needs shifting in the church this is it. Most of the churched world has an improper view of evangelism drawing our understanding from modern evangelists, which have largely been a failure! One of the largest evangelistic ministries ever claims that only 2% of those who prayed “the sinner’s prayer” in one of their campaigns are still in the church. That is unacceptable!!! Let’s take a look at some of the errors of modern evangelism.

Modern Evangelism

First, modern evangelism starts from a wrong premise believing that the “Great Commission” is for us to make converts. What the Great Commission actually tells us to do is make DISCIPLES; there is a huge difference. While I believe that people have need of conversion, I am at odds with modern evangelism as to how we arrive at conversion. The modern evangelist opts for the quick fix of the “sinner’s prayer” instead of the relational work of making disciples. I have likened modern evangelism to fornication because it attempts to birth children with no commitment. The modern evangelist drives his campaign with the motto of “winning souls”, while those who obey the Great Commission are armed with the thought of “making disciples”. There is a huge difference. This leads us to the second error of modern evangelism.

The second error is “the sinner’s prayer”. The false hope imparted to multitudes that by praying a prayer you are saved has aborted the work of the Holy Spirit in many. Some even go further in this error by saying that the prayer has sealed your eternal security eliminating any need for repentance.

In Luke 24:47, Jesus said that “repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations…” Our proclamation of the gospel MUST include repentance. Many view this as “works” or even a negative message while the Bible teaches that it is “…the kindness of God that leads us to repent.” When preachers claim that you can be forgiven without repentance they abort the work of the Spirit in that potential disciple. Instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to bring that person through the cross where they pass from death to life, they are left bound in their sins with false assurance. Why do so many guard this sacred cow when the failure speaks for itself? This style of easy believism is populating their “churches” with goats!

Third error is that of using the church itself for evangelism. One “pastor” recently told his church, “the whole reason that we set this stage this morning is for sinners to come to Jesus.” This couldn’t be further from the truth. The church is not a hospital for sinners it is the body of Christ, the redeemed of the Lord.

The modern church growth movement has built an evangelism that teaches pastors to lower the bar in the church so the sinner will feel welcomed. So the pastor gears his church service to be “sensitive to the seeker”. While sinners feel welcomed in these events God does not!!!

Modern evangelism uses crowds as the ultimate litmus test for godliness, if it’s growing it must be God, they say, but even cancer grows. Most of these so called “churches” cannot meet even the definition of the word “church” which means, the called out assembly. The church is called out of the world and sin. We are not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers.

Look at the contrast of found in I Corinthians 14:23-25, “If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.” This does not sound “seeker sensitive” to me. Quite the opposite, it seems that for an unlearned unbeliever to come into an assembly of the church was an exception not the rule! I believe that the use of the church as the means of evangelism is the vilest error of modern evangelism!!!

The Biblical Evangelist

The New Testament includes the “Evangelist” as part of the five-fold ministry, (Ephesians 4:11). However, the only insight to the methods of a New Testament evangelist is Philip the Evangelist. We first hear of Philip in Acts 6:5 when he was elected as one of the first deacons. This is confirmed in Acts 21:8-9, where he is called “Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven…” Now that we have established that this is the same guy let’s look at the insights to his motus operandi found in Acts chapter 8.

In verses 1-4 we find that after the martyrdom of Stephen the church was “scattered abroad”. This is one of the most significant events in church history. From the day of Pentecost the church was dividing it’s time between the temple and the house (Acts 2:41-47). One of the greatest challenges for those of us who have a religious upbringing is to disassociate with our religion. We were raised to identify God with a building or a system of rituals and are addicted to this. God scattered the church in Acts 8 and it never returned to the buildings until 317 A.D. Some say that persecution was the only reason to leave the temple but I believe that the persecution was God’s judgment to move the church into the houses where it belonged! It is my prayer that the church would return to church in the house as an act of obedience instead of reacting to God’s judgment.

Also in verse 4 we see that the main result of the scattering was that they went everywhere preaching the word. As long as we keep the word locked up behind the four walls of our modern temples we will not see the power of proclamation.

In verses 5-8, we get our first insights to Philip the evangelist in action. He went to Samaria, a place that the Jews despised, but Philip being Greek was not bound by prejudice.

“He preached Christ unto them”. This style of preaching takes the Old Testament and proves that Jesus is the Christ. This powerful preaching style is necessary to shift those who are stuck in religious traditions.

Signs and wonders followed the Word causing citywide joy. Miracles and deliverances must be part of our evangelism. I heard one preacher say that signs and wonders are the calling card of Christians. The kingdom of heaven in not in word but in power!!!

Verses 9-13 show us why the evangelists must have the apostles to verify his work. The baptism of Simon the sorcerer shows the inability of the evangelist to properly discern the body of Christ. The evangelist and the pastor gifts in particular have a strong desire to gather. This can be a great asset or a great liability. If the apostles and prophets are not brought in to discern, those guys have a tendency to baptize the devil! This is why pastors and evangelists who are working out of position doing the apostle and prophet’s work create a mess in the church.

Notice also in verse 12, Philip uses two more preaching methods. He preached the things concerning the kingdom of God. Without a doubt the central theme of Jesus’ preaching was the message of the kingdom of God. Once we establish that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God we must preach His Lordship!!! The King of the kingdom ruling in the hearts of His subjects is the message of the kingdom with repentance as the bottom line (Matthew 3:2 and 4:17). The next thing that he preached was the name of Jesus Christ. When Peter and John healed the man at the gate beautiful in Acts 3 they used this miracle as an opportunity to exalt the name of Jesus. In verse 16 they said, “And His name through faith in His name has made this man strong…” In Philippians 2:5-11 the apostle Paul says that Jesus was given the name above every name and this would cause every knee to bow and every tongue to confess the Lordship of Jesus!!!

All of our attempts at evangelism should incorporate the three modes of preaching that Philip used 1) Preach Christ, 2) Preach the kingdom of God, 3) Preach the name of Jesus.

The next thing that we should see that the evangelist did was in Acts 8:12 he baptized the believers. As I stated earlier in this writing the modern evangelist has reduced salvation to a “sinner’s prayer”. The true Christian “altar call” IS baptism!!! Baptism takes commitment and effort on all parties involved. It moves us past an emotional response to something that requires thought. It’s messy and humbling. Baptism publicly tells everyone that I have passed from death to life. I no longer live for me but for Jesus. I am now a citizen of the kingdom of God and a loyal subject to King Jesus!!! If we want biblical results we MUST use biblical methods!!!

The next thing we should study in the work of the evangelist is in Acts 8:14-17; the apostles were brought in to confirm the salvations and baptize those converts in the Holy Spirit. In Ephesians 2:19-22 (key vs.20) we find that the Church is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Jesus Himself is the foundation not the apostles and prophets. For too long the Church has been built by pastors and evangelists without apostolic and prophetic foundations. Philip the evangelist baptized Simon, Peter the apostle judged him!!! If we are tired of complaining about the money grubbing preachers that have found their home in the modern churches all we have to do is invite the apostles and prophets back in, they will root out Simon every time!!!

The evangelist’s work is not complete until he brings the apostles and prophets in to prove and confirm the work so that every soul is baptized in the Holy Spirit. In the wake of true evangelism a church should be planted. The house church must be recognized by and related to the apostles in that region.

In verse 25 we see that the apostles preached in many villages of the Samaritans. This is true to the apostolic pattern of church planting. We will study this at the end of this paper.

Verses 26-40 reveal yet another fascinating aspect of the evangelist’s ministry. He was equally at home preaching to the entire city creating a revival or preaching to one Ethiopian eunuch. One or one thousand is irrelevant the passion is in the message of the gospel not the size of the crowd!!!

True to the pattern of the biblical evangelist he took an Old Testament verse (Isaiah 53), and preached Christ to the eunuch. When the eunuch believed that Jesus was the Christ the Son of God the evangelist baptized him.

Acts chapter eight is the only insight to a biblical evangelist. However, we see the apostles working in an evangelistic pattern throughout the book of Acts. I believe that Jesus taught the true pattern of evangelism that guided Philip the evangelist and all of the apostles. Next I want to examine Jesus’ model of evangelism that He taught to His disciples.

Evangelism Jesus’ Way

In Matthew 9:36-38 and 10:1-15; Jesus taught His disciples how to evangelize, this is our first step to restoring true evangelism to the apostolic wineskin.

Matthew 9:36-38 reveals several keys that set the stage for evangelism. First, “He was moved with compassion” because “they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” The motive of Jesus’ evangelism began with compassion on sheep without a shepherd. He did not send them a message, a writing, or a CD, He sent them a SHEPHERD. The last thing He told the apostle Peter was to “feed My sheep”.

Next Jesus says, “The harvest is plenteous, but the laborers are few.” Jesus perceived that scattered sheep were an opportunity for harvest. The dilemma was that there were not enough shepherds to get the work done.

The final point here is to “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest.” I believe that every person who prays this prayer immediately becomes a volunteer to be sent into the harvest. In other words if you pray “Lord send laborers into the harvest”, I believe you will hear Him say, “O.K. YOU GO!!!” The word “apostle” means “to send or sent” the essence of our commission is to “Go”. I believe that one of the errors of modern evangelism begins by trying to get people to come when we are commanded to go!!! God will send you out from where you are being fed to go feed others. You will become the next shepherd of the sheep.

In Matthew 10:1-15 Jesus reveals His plan to evangelize. In verse one, He called His twelve disciples. Evangelism starts by calling disciples (learners). Next, He gave them power over devils and disease. When Jesus ascended He commanded His followers to “wait for the promise of the Father.” Then He told them “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Modern evangelism requires no power because it is a mental ascent to God that requires no proof of change. Deliverance and healing cause the former things to pass away and all things to become new.

In verse two we see the second key to evangelism. In verse one He called His twelve “disciples” to himself and empowered them. In verse two it says, “The names of the twelve APOSTLES are these…” They went from disciple to apostle in one verse. It is vital to understand that Jesus expects those He calls as disciples to grow up to become apostles!!! Most of the church world remains in a state of perpetual infancy believing that the reason we are here is to drink the milk of being “preached to” every Sunday. True disciples will eventually leave the teacher to perform what they have been taught. This reveals another error of the church world and modern evangelism. Most believe that what I have just described is only meant for a certain few chosen vessels that have a special calling on their lives. This fosters the lie that in the church there is clergy and laity. If the harvest is depending on sending laborers it is vital that the entire church be made of disciples that are going to be apostolically sent into the harvest!!!

The third thing that we see is after identifying the twelve He tells them where not to go first then where to go. ALL EVANGELISM BEGINS AT JERUSALEM!!! We are first sent to those who are bound in RELIGION, which is the worst darkness we can be in.

Fourth we are given THE message “the kingdom of heaven is at hand”. The message is simple the kingdom of heaven is within your reach. Repent, change the way you think and act because The King of the kingdom wants to rule your heart.

Fifth, “freely you have received, freely give.” The entire enterprise of church work is hinged on this statement. WE MUST GIVE WHAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN!!! Teach faithful men who will teach faithful men. IF you have been healed, go heal someone. If you have been set free from a devil, go set someone else free. If you have been raised from the dead, go raise someone from the dead. After you are converted strengthen the brethren. God will use you the most in the areas that you have been converted in.

Sixth, make no provisions for yourself the workman is worthy of his meat.

Now we get to the intricate parts of the “how to” of evangelism. When you come into a city or town enquire who in it is worthy and stay with that person or group. Not everyone is ready for the gospel. We need to look for those who are ready to receive the gospel of peace. Luke 10:6 calls this person “the son of peace”. This literally means one who is seeking peace. We should constantly be on the look out for this person. They may be seeking peace in the vilest forms of sins but they are soft to the message of the gospel, look for this person.

Verse 12, “When you come into a house”, we need to enter a house, that is, a circle of family and friends that are linked by relationships. DO NOT TRY TO TAKE THIS PERSON OUT OF THE HOUSE AND BACK TO YOUR CHURCH, TAKE THE CHURCH TO THIS PERSONS HOUSE!!! I said everything in this article to make this point. Jesus’ brand of evangelism apostolically sends people to plant churches. Church planting is the form of evangelism that Jesus taught, we must change our thinking of church as a “building” to the church as “people”. We must change our thinking that an apostle is some superman of faith; an apostle is an obedient disciple that is doing the work. Yes there is a “five-fold” ministry that trains the work for the work of ministry. Yes there are those who are especially gifted. But none of this excuses anyone from being what the church is called to be you might not be “an apostle” but surely you can work apostolically.

Apostolic Evangelism

Finally I want to show you how the apostles operated in this pattern of evangelism. In the book of Titus 1:4-7a, we find evidence that even Paul himself used this pattern.

In verse four He calls Titus “mine own son after the common faith”. The father-son relationship between Paul and Titus is plainly displayed here. This is both revealing and indicting because while it reveals the relational aspect of apostolic ministry it indicts the modern church of lacking this trait. The modern churches have opted rather for professional training while placing little or no value on relational discipleship. This has created a hireling mentality in the churches.

In verse five Paul reveals how the work was done. The reason he put Titus on the Isle of Crete was two-fold, order and ordination. The apostolic works to bring order in the churches. When the church is “wanting” or “lacking” the apostolic makes sure it is supplied. The second part of Titus’ purpose was to “ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee.” This gives us great insight into the work of church planting evangelism. Titus was appointed as an elder in the Isle of Crete; he was then promoted to a Bishop over the entire Isle of Crete, which boasted of one hundred cities. Titus had successfully served as an elder of a house church and now was to see that house churches would be planted in the entire region. His new job was to identify, equip, and ordain elders in every city of Crete. This was organic relationship building that set a qualified disciple in as a house church pastor. Just think about it an elder in every city training disciples and planting churches that were connected relationally by a Bishop and an Apostle.

Conclusion

While there is much more I could elaborate on I hope that you are getting the picture. Away with the futile efforts of modern evangelism that is filling the churches with goats. Let’s return to the Biblical pattern of church planting evangelism that Jesus taught His disciples and was practiced by His apostles. The harvest is ready for those who will operate in the Biblical pattern.

Brother Teryl