Principles of Evangelism
The Book of Mark
Mark 6:7-13,30-32
Introduction
A. Mark 6:7 begins a new thrust in Jesus’ ministry.
1. Up to this point He had been doing all of the speaking and interacting with the people.
2. Now after two years of training the disciples are being sent out to begin proclaiming the Kingdom.
B. There are a couple of reasons for this.
1. Matt.9:35-38 cf.6b.
2. His ministry is coming to an end and these men must be ready to continue the work of spreading the gospel.
C. This is what discipleship is all about.
1. Teaching and sending.
2. They had been observing Him all this time.
a) He demonstrated His power and authority to them.
b) He taught them the difference between true religion and externalism.
c) He taught them about their future responsibility.
d) He gave them instruction on the kingdom of heaven.
e) He taught them the importance of trusting Him.
f) He taught them the importance of exercising faith.
3. If He had continued to just teach these men and not send them out they would have become just like the Pharisees – self-satisfied about their great knowledge and relationship to the teacher but of no practical use.
D. Evangelism one of the most difficult if not controversial parts of our faith.
1. Lots of people don’t like it when we share the gospel with them.
a) I am sure you have heard this expressed this way “its ok for you to believe in Jesus but you shouldn’t share it with others.”
b) Many Christians unfortunately buy into this too.
(1) We have our faith and they have theirs.
(2) We don’t like to upset people.
c) The problem is that that kind of statement is contradictory.
(1) When people tell you to keep your faith to yourself they are actually forcing their world view on you.
(2) They are asking you to change your world view.
2. What the world and unfortunately many Christians fail to understand is that we have the most important message about the most important person in all of history.
a) That is what the Gospel is all about.
b) It is the good news about Jesus Christ.
c) God who condescended to us in the flesh, lived among us and then gave His life so that we might have fellowship with Him in heaven forever.
I don’t know about you but when I do something I do a better job if I understand what it is I am doing and why I am doing it.
The passage we are studying in Mark right now describes the first evangelistic outreach of Jesus’ ministry.
Evangelism is the main purpose for us being here.
What I want to focus on in this passage is not the how to but rather the why of evangelism.
As we study this portion concerning the sending out of the apostles we find 5 principles of evangelism.
E. 5 Principles of evangelism.
1. Godly calling.
2. Godly commission
3. Godly credentials
4. Godly coaching
5. Godly perspective
I. Godly Calling
A. This shouldn’t be overlooked.
1. It is God who is doing the calling.
2. Not some minister of evangelism.
B. Jesus called these men who He had chosen as Mark 3 says.
1. He didn’t call them randomly off the street.
2. He had a purpose in calling them 3:12.
3. God has a purpose in calling us also.
a) Eph.2:8-10
b) Jn.15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.
C. A Evangelism stems from a Godly calling with a purpose.
II. Godly Commission vs.7b.
A. The word send is apostello - to send forth as an ambassador.
1. Luke 9:2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
2. 2Cor.5:18-20.
B. Up to this point they had been following Him observing His work.
1. Now the time had come for them to put what they had learned into practical use.
2. Knowledge without a practical outlet is useless.
a) This was the problem with the Pharisees.
b) It is also a problem in the church today lots of people come to hear but few share what they learn with others.
3. Notice that He spent time teaching them first, He didn’t just throw them out there to fend for themselves.
4. That is what discipleship is all about teaching and sending.
C. He sent them by twos
1. Why? He could have covered more area by sending them out individually.
2. Two reasons.
a) Fellowship
(1) He is emphasizing the idea of unity.
(2) This closeness, this companionship, this unity is an underlying theme of the church.
(3) Fellowship helps stop discouragement which as we have seen is a very big part of evangelism.
(4) They have observed Jesus being rejected
(a) Pharisees.
(b) Gadarines
(c) His own home town.
b) Strength in numbers.
(1) Eccl. 4:9-12
(2) Pro.27:17 As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
(3) They would be able to support one another in their conversations.
D. This is a lesson we would do well to learn as a church.
1. There is strength and comfort in numbers.
2. This becomes even more important as the day of Christ’s return gets closer.
a) Heb.10:24-25
b) Our responsibility to share our faith doesn’t diminish when trouble comes.
III. Godly Credentials 7c.
A. He was exercising His authority through them.
1. They had no authority or power of their own.
2. They derived all of their power from Him.
B. The same is true with us; we can do nothing apart from God.
1. Phil. 2:13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
2. Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
C. The authority they were given was over unclean spirits and the ability to heal the sick Lk.9:1
D. These were their credentials – the power testified that they were from God.
1. These are the same credentials that were presented in the book of Acts.
2. Signifying that the 12 plus Paul were the spokesmen of God.
3. Ro.15:19 in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
4. 2Cor.12:12 Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.
E. Today our authority is God’s word.
1. Is.55:11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
2. Heb.4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
3. Ro.10:17 Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
4. We have the very word of God and He is observing our handling of it.
a) 2Cor.2:17 For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.
b) That may be why Paul admonishes Timothy to accurately handle the word of truth.
So we have been called by God, sent by God and given our credentials by God but we also have received coaching from God.
IV. Godly Coaching. Vs. 8-11.
A. A good coach knows the game plan and he then communicates that plan to his players so that they know how to best execute that plan.
B. Don’t depend upon your own resources vs.8-10.
1. Vs.8-9 convey the idea of urgency.
2. A staff and sandals
a) Walking stick and good shoes were the only provisions.
b) No money or bread.
c) Two tunics – they were to identify with the common people not with the rich.
3. They were to be totally dependent upon God vs.10.
a) They were not to be encumbered with the cares and necessities of the world but to totally concentrate on the work that He had given them.
b) God would provide others to meet their necessities vs.10, Luke 10:7-8 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you.
c) They were to remain in the house they first arrive at that accepts them and not look for better accommodations even if offered.
4. He was preparing them for what was to come in future days.
C. Don’t be surprised when you are rejected vs.11.
1. Shaking the dust off of ones feet indicated a disassociating from those people.
2. It was symbolic of the judgment which is to come to those who reject Christ.
a) Acts 18:6.
b) It isn’t our responsibility to make people respond to the Gospel.
c) We are responsible to share the truth with them.
D. Preach a message of repentance vs.12.
1. Turning away from something to something.
a) Turn away from a life of rejection and rebellion against God and turn to His Son the Messiah.
b) This was the message that John taught and Jesus taught and it’s the same message we preach today.
2. Their task was not to get mixed up with fine points of theology and doctrine but rather to preach the simple truth of the Gospel.
3. There is a place for studying doctrine and discussing the finer points of theology but it isn’t when you are sharing the gospel.
4. The message is simple and straight forward.
E. It’s called the simple plan of salvation but it has had and still has profound impact on the lives of people who hear it. We simply need to remember that it is God at work in the lives of those with whom we share it.
A Godly call, a Godly commission, Godly credentials, Godly coaching and finally
V. Godly Perspective Mark 6:30; Luke 10:17-20.
A. Subsequent to the disciples being sent out Jesus sent out 70 others.
1. They were given the same marching orders and given the same powers as the apostles.
2. As with the apostles they had great success and returned to report their experiences.
3. He debriefed them and gave them further instruction.
B. There are two important things for us to remember to have the right perspective on evangelism.
1. Focus on the most important thing.
a) Our focus isn’t to be on how many people we win to Christ.
(1) It isn’t to be on how well we teach a class.
(2) Or on how many people we might help along the way.
b) Our attention and our rejoicing are to be on our savior.
(1) That changes your whole perspective doesn’t it?
(2) This makes sense if you understand what we have already looked at and what Jesus was doing when He commissioned the 12.
(3) Thank God my name is written down in Heaven and the rest of this earthly stuff pales in comparison.
2. Don’t become obsessed with the task.
a) Jesus said that the harvest is huge in Matt.9 and that we need to be praying for more harvesters.
b) But here he says “take a rest from the work”
(1) Come aside and rest a while.
(2) Isn’t that great?
(3) He knows just how many people and how much work is necessary to get the job done and He has provided all that is necessary to complete the job.
VI. Conclusion:
A. Evangelism can be a daunting task if you approach it from man’s perspective.
B. As we have seen from our passage today it is really God centered.
C. He called us.
D. He Commissions us.
E. He gives us our credentials and power.
F. He provides us with the tools and a game plan for success.
G. Then He reminds us of the most important thing.
