Title: Evangelization Strategy/John 20:19-23
Content Evangelization Strategy
John 20:19-23
Chungshin Church (Seodaemun) - Ahn Jae-eun (20010304)
2001. 3. 4 Sermon broadcast (sermon text)
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During the three years of his public life, our Lord preached the gospel of the kingdom, called up disciples, and gave them intense training. And before the ascension, Jesus commands his disciples to 'The Great Commission', so the disciples have an important mission to evangelize the whole earth through their ministry as witnesses.
Likewise, we too have a great and weighty mission to expand the kingdom of God through our lives as disciples of the Lord. Then, how should we preach the gospel in order to fulfill this mission?
We must not simply spread the Gospel vaguely, but have a strategy of evangelism. Regarding this, the Bible provides clear evangelization methods that we should know about in the gospel ministry.
Five Steps to the Evangelization Strategy
Evangelism → Baptism (conversion) → Teaching (nurture) → Training → Dispatch (ministry)
Discipleship through this evangelization process is the method the Lord has recommended to us. Above all, God is pleased to use prepared and trained devotees, and He is pleased to expand and spread the Kingdom of God through their hard work and sweat.
1. Evangelism
The process of calling one saint by God first goes through the process of evangelism. Evangelism is the process of preaching and persuading disciples who have been trained and devoted for the gospel, and it is the first step in the evangelization strategy. The gospel begins with hearing. Therefore, the importance of evangelism is not lacking no matter how much emphasis is placed on it.
(Romans 10:14,15) How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? How shall they hear without a preacher? How can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, Beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.
The place of evangelism includes the home, school, workplace, church, mission field, etc. where the members are in their social life. In other words, we must carry the Gospel to 'the whole world' and deliver the gospel to 'Manmin'. Therefore, the saints who have received this mission must never hesitate or lead a passive life of escape, and carry the Gospel with them.
(Mark 16:15) And he said to them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Preaching the gospel is a natural requirement of all Christians. Also, the demand for spiritual guidance is a natural phenomenon for believers with deep faith. Furthermore, since the gospel is the gospel of salvation that is essential for all people, it is necessary to introduce the gospel to those who do not know anything about the gospel.
Someone ended his life by saying, "If I had believed in Jesus 10 years earlier, my life would have been better...". In other words, it would mean "If someone had persuaded me to lead me to the church sooner...,"
(Luke 14:23) The master said to his servant, "Go out into the roads and through the hills, and compel them to take me and fill my house."
Muslims use a method called 'forced force' to communicate their doctrine. With the Quran in one hand and the sword in the other, they were told to either accept their doctrine or choose death. Although evangelism is not so extreme, it is not only pleasing to God that we are passive in evangelism because we think that evangelism puts a burden on others and causes them to worry, and refusing to do evangelism itself is not pleasing to God, that's going to be a hindrance.
When the gospel is preached, it must bear fruit. Therefore, the gospel must be preached. That medium is evangelism.
2. Baptism
The second stage of the evangelization strategy is 'baptism'. In other words, 'conversion'. After a person receives the gospel, he discovers his own sin according to the understanding of God's gospel and the request of the gospel. Through the discovery of sin, man becomes strongly aware of God's need for salvation. Therefore, through confession of sin and acceptance of Jesus Christ, man comes to salvation. This confession eventually leads to baptism.
(Romans 10:9,10) If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. come
'Baptism' is a ceremony in which those who hear the gospel confess their sins to God with their mouths and confirm that they come to the Lord as a response to God's word. The life of faith requires a public declaration of coming to God, and at this time, we receive a baptism for the washing of sins. This is just like a couple making an official declaration to become a couple in front of their parents and relatives through a wedding ceremony. Therefore, baptism refers to the conversion that comes as a result of evangelism. The preaching of the gospel does not stop at preaching the gospel like sowing a seed, but it must be followed by baptism leading to repentance.
(Acts 2:38) Peter said to him, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit
In this way, the expansion of the kingdom of God requires a change in the true inner man from evangelism to baptism.
3. Teaching / Nurture
While 'baptism' refers to the outward goal of faith, 'teaching' presents the inner goal of faith. That is, a new believer who hears the Gospel and becomes a member of the church must not stop at being saved, but must mature in his faith 'to the stature of Christ'.
On the other hand, our Korean church did not deviate from the early form of the Christian gospel, and has fostered many baptized members in the line of accepting the gospel and professing their faith. So it is true that there were many people who had the faith of a child even though they had been in the church for a long time. However, true evangelism requires religious nurture that makes mature Christians.
(Ephesians 4:13) We will all become one in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, until we become a perfect man, to the point of being full of the stature of the stature of Christ.
The goal of our believers' faith is to become a 'perfect man' and to be full up to the fullness of Christ. The early church, the model of the church, taught the Word of God to all the saints above all else. And the members grew spiritually as they diligently learned the Word of God. Therefore, the growth of the Word means the growth of the church.
(Acts 6:7) And the word of God continued to prosper, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased exceedingly, and a great multitude of priests obeyed this way.
4. Training
The 4th stage of evangelism is 'training'. During the three years of his public life, Jesus raised 12 disciples. Jesus commanded his disciples to leave everything and follow him. 'Throwing away everything' means 'learning Jesus in daily life'. Also, 'Deny yourself and follow yourself' means 'Entrust all of your life to God and do not pursue the things of the flesh'. We are so eager to serve both God and the world. On the other hand, the range of disciples of Jesus gradually expanded to 12, 70, 120, 500, etc.
In addition, Paul followed the example of Jesus and devoted his life to three years of intense training in the Arabian wilderness. And he trained disciples such as Demothes, Silas, Luke, Priscilla, Aquila, and Philemon. This is the 'principle of concentration' used by Jesus.
The disciple who has been trained through the gospel delivered in this way nurtures and multiplies other disciples, and the kingdom of God is expanding. This principle of reproduction is evident in Paul, which he hoped that the discipleship ministry that Paul performed to Timothy would be succeeded by Timothy.
(2 Timothy 2:2) And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to faithful men, that they may teach others.
Therefore, the 'evangelization strategy' is to train the disciples who are devoted to God to expand the kingdom of God, and that is what God wants. Likewise, the saints must receive the Lord's call, receive training as disciples for the gospel, and be used by the Lord.
(1 Timothy 4:7) Let go of profane and false myths, and practice attaining godliness only.
Training doesn't just mean studying the Bible. This means honing with some clear purpose. Therefore, we should become Christians who strive to be trained, recognizing the clear purpose for which we are called for God's work.
5. Sending / Ministry
The final stage of evangelism is the stage of 'dispatch (ministry)'. God did not appoint anyone to work for the gospel ministry. God calls those who are ready and trains them. Therefore, Jesus established 12 disciples separately, and set Paul apart as an evangelist to preach the gospel to the Gentiles (Matthew 20:17, Acts 13:2-3).
(Matthew 20:17) As Jesus was about to go up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples by themselves and said to them on the road,
(Acts 13:2) While serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set aside Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called you."
Likewise, in our church, there are many dedicated officers and disciples who are called for God's work, and the kingdom of God is expanded through them. God has entrusted His work to each of us. This refers to 'gift assignment' for ministry. God sets up trained and prepared people according to their gifts and entrusts them with the work.
However, when an untrained and unprepared person enters into ministry, he will experience many failures and setbacks. Therefore, God's evangelization strategy is to put well-trained people in the right places to do the work. Those who have been well trained in the gospel should engage in the work of the kingdom of God.
The problem of the modern church today is that believers without thorough conversion or education and training are deeply involved in God's work. In other words, the problem is that the unqualified people are mistaken for the qualified ones and entrusted with the Lord's work. Also, even if you have been trained, if you do not do ministry, it will be of no use. If you have a driver's license, but don't drive, it's useless. Therefore, if you have been trained, you should be sent to work hard to do the Lord's work.
Churches that are growing today, churches that have a social impact, are those that understand and put this principle into practice.
conclusion
Until now, we have been baptized and served the church without any education or training for the gospel ministry. As a result, even the church lay leaders who lead the church have many problems in serving the Church of God. Therefore, we need to reaffirm our problems while reaffirming the meaning of evangelization.
Let's think again about the five steps as a strategy for gospel ministry.
The 5th stage of evangelization is the ministry of discipleship through the process of evangelism → baptism (conversion) → teaching (nurture) → training → dispatch (ministry).
Now, in what position do you think I can fulfill the mission I have been entrusted with for God's gospel work? What do you think God has called me to do? If so, do you think I have been trained enough for the job now? I want you to decide for yourself what kind of preparation, training, devotion, and determination you will be faithful to this work in response to the Lord's calling.