Eight Principles of New Testament Evangelism
By J. D. Payne|
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Although there are many evangelism tools and resources available today to assist us in our ministries, there is no better resource than scripture. An examination of the approaches of Jesus and the Apostolic Church to evangelizing their world included at least eight principles.
1. They proclaimed an exclusive gospel. The message of Jesus and the Apostolic Church was not just another message (1 Corinthians 1:23). Although it was good news, it was an exclusive type of good news. Salvation was found in no one other than Christ, and people had to place explicit faith in him (Acts 4:12). Jesus was seen as the only way to the Father (John 14:6). Repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus was proclaimed to Jew and Gentile (Acts 20:21). This gospel was proclaimed to those following the Jewish religious ways (John 3) and Samaritan faith traditions (John 4, Acts 8). It was also proclaimed to the extremely religious (Acts 17) and to the God-fearers (Acts 10). It was news of love, hope, freedom, healing, deliverance, reconciliation and forgiveness. It was a message of God incarnating himself among people, dying as atonement for the sins of the world and resurrecting from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
2. They were intentional in sharing the gospel. Evangelism did not just happen by coincidence. They were intentional in their efforts. Evangelism was not a backup plan in case the other good deeds of the Church did not work. John records, “And he had to pass through Samaria” (John 4:4). Although it is easy to miss the gravity of these simple seven English words, it should be remembered that no decent, right-minded Jew would ever travel through Samaria when traveling from Judea to Galilee. Rather than journey through their region, Jewish people would circumvent the entire area. Jesus, however, intentionally entered into this area and encountered the Samaritan woman, who, along with her village, became a believer (John 4:39-42). Following this account, Jesus leaves the area. Apparently the primary reason Jesus traveled through Samaria was to reach these people with the gospel.
3. They were Spirit-led. It has been said that the Book of Acts should actually be titled, “The Acts of the Holy Spirit.” From the very beginning (Acts 1:8), the Holy Spirit was the one who enabled the Church to be effective witnesses throughout the world. He was the one who provides boldness to share the gospel (Acts 4:31). He worked through the apostles to perform signs and wonders (Acts 2:43). He called out missionaries (Acts 13:1-3).
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Dr. J. D. Payne is a national missionary with the North American Mission Board and assistant professor of church planting and evangelism at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. He is the founder of www.northamericanmissions.org, a web-based resource for the multiplication of disciples, leaders, and churches. He is author of the newly-published book Missional House Churches: Reaching Our Communities with the Gospel (Paternoster). |
