Telling the world about Jesus Christ…
We know that the church exists for three reasons. To be a worshipping community, a witnessing community and a working community.
How is the church a witnessing community? Witnessing and ministering to one another are in a sense individual acts of worship. So two more ways to worship God are to win lost people and to help lost people.
The church has been commanded by Jesus Christ to go into all the world and preach the gospel! The church is to be a community witnessing to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Each of the four gospels have the command to win the lost by Jesus Christ – Matthew 28:18-20;Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-47 and John 17:18. In addition, the Book of Acts not only concurs with the Great Commission, Acts 1:8, but actually records the church’s obedience to the Great Commission, from Jerusalem to the remotest part of the earth.
Evangelism is NOT an option to be considered or rejected by the church, it is a Command. It also is not just limited to the gifted or to the church leadership. It is the MISSION of the entire church. Evangelism is the heart and soul of the New Testament church.
So how do we fulfill this command?
So often we think, what can I do, we question perhaps our biblical knowledge, our capacity to speak or the fear of rejection simply stalls us completely. As we study the Book of Acts we see that Jesus gave the disciples some important yet succinct instructions – Act 1:8 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 in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
What are we to say, and to who are we to witness. Firstly, our message is simply the gospel of Jesus Christ, His atoning death, His bodily resurrection and His conquering of death for all have sinned. It’s at this point people often struggle and go no further. The gospel message you share is simply what Jesus Christ has done in your life as you have accepted His gift of love and turned your life over to Him.
But who do we tell this to?
By asking the Holy Spirit to guide you each day and asking Him to give you opportunities to share about Christ in your life.
How does this happen? Someone will ask you, “What have you been up to lately, what did you do over the weekend, or what do think of the current world situation, it’s violence, it’s changing morals”. God will give you so many open doors for you to share your belief and love of God and what the Bible says about such a matter.
Finally, do we have to become a missionary to go overseas to do this, do I have to attend a Bible training centre. No, you simply live where you are at, whatever vocation God has you in, whether it is a homemaker, a tradesman, a teacher, whatever. Where ever people are and you are, that’s God’s mission field for you!
The amazing thing will happen, when you follow Jesus command, a person who shares their heart aches with you, often a complete stranger, or a fellow worker or neighbour will ask you this amazing question, how then do I become a Christian too?
You then simply pray with them how you prayed, you share how you confessed your sin before God and you asked Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior! It will happen.