Five Aims for the Church to Glorify God
Pastor Tim Gresham
Aim Number One: Evangelize the Nations
Scripture Text: Matthew 28:18-20 February 1, 2004
I. What Is Evangelism
“Go ye therefore and TEACH…”
A. Evangelism is making disciples or enlisting disciples.
The word TEACH means to “make disciples.”
While the word “Evangelism or Evangelize” is not in this passage, it is certainly implied.
B. We enlist disciples through preaching the Gospel
Turn to Romans 10:15, “And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel [euaggelizo] of peace, and bring glad tidings [euaggelizo] of good things!”
euaggelizo – good news
eu – good
aggelizo – messenger or message; news
C. So what is Evangelism?
It is the proclamation of the Good News that Jesus came, died by crucifixion, was buried, and rose again the third day so that sinners may be saved.
Cp 1 Corinthians 15:2-4, “By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached [euaggelizo] unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”
By the way, Evangelism is NOT implied but is clearly stated in Mark’s record of the Great Commission and, therefore, becomes another direct order.
Cp Mark 16:15, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel [euaggelion] to every creature.”
II. Where Do We Evangelize
“…ALL nations…”
Turn to Acts 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.”
III. Whom Do We Evangelize
“…all NATIONS…”
The word “nations” is translated from the Greek word “ethnos”.
This word is generally translated as Gentiles in the KJV and is, therefore, referring to any nation or nationality not Jewish. But as you can tell from the pronunciation of the Greek word, it sounds a lot like “ethnic or ethnicity.”
Webster 1828
Ethnic - Heathen; pagan; pertaining to the gentiles or nations not converted to Christianity; opposed to Jewish and Christian.
The American Heritage College Dictionary
Ethnic – 1. Of or relating to sizable groups of people with a common, distinctive racial, national, religious, linguistic, or cultural heritage. 2. Relating to a people not Christian or Jewish.
If we are to take the Gospel to the “ethnos,” then the basic message of the Gospel must be cross-cultural.
The methods and programs to proclaim the gospel may be different. But the message of the gospel; the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus; remains the same.
IV. How Do We Evangelize
“GO YE, therefore…”
The phrase “Go ye…” means “As you are going.”
Cp Matthew 10:7, “And as ye go [poreuomai – por-yoo’-om-ahee], preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Going into the world to preach the Gospel, then, becomes a way of life and not merely a church program.
A. We carry this out through church programs.
Confrontational Evangelism
· Door-to-door evangelism
· Special events such as Revival; Youth Rallies
· Local and State Missions
· National Missions
· Foreign Missions
B. It is a philosophy of life; a way of life.
Lifestyle Evangelism
“As you are going” about your daily lives…make disciples of all ethnic groups and nations.
