Holistic Evangelism: Redeeming Works and Words (original) (raw)

A Theology of Evangelism: The Heart of the Matter

To exaggerate and oversimplify, evangelism has been reduced to forms of social action among liberals and to manipulative schemes of conversion among conservatives. In the last decade, however, the beginnings of a vital conversation have become noticeable. The argument to be made is that evangelism needs to be construed as a polymorphous ministry aimed at initiating people into the kingdom of God. To accomplish this mill require not only proclamation of the gospel but also instruction in the faith.

Evangelism as an invitation to missional discipleship in the kingdom of God

Verbum et Ecclesia

Evangelism, for various reasons, is once again back on the agenda of the church and theology. As a result of negative experiences and practices of evangelism in the past, it is now necessary to rediscover evangelism in a post-Christendom context to enable the theological recovery of evangelism. This new understanding of evangelism can then contribute to the recovery of authentic practices in spreading the good news. To achieve this, evangelism must be rediscovered as essential to mission (participation in the missio Dei). Further to this, evangelism is rediscovered as an invitation to missional discipleship in the coming of the kingdom of God (missional discipleship as participation in the coming of the kingdom). This research was based on the starting point that evangelism takes place through an integrated missional congregation as the evangelist. This implies that evangelism is not an additional extra practice by a few members but an integral part of congregational ministry. Evang...

Sermon Outline: The Four M's of Evangelism

The Four M's of Evangelism, 2009

Background: Paul was on his third missionary journey in Miletus about 48 kilometers south of Ephesus. Paul had sailed past Ephesus because he was in a hurry to get to Jerusalem before the day of Pentecost. From Miletus, he sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church and gave them a farewell speech. Believers involved in evangelism can learn a lot from Paul’s style of ministry. Evangelist [is] used in a general sense of anyone who proclaims the gospel of Jesus Christ… The evangelist… moved about in different localities, preaching the [gospel] to those who had not heard the message before. Once such had put their trust in the Lord, then the work of the pastor-teacher begun. He would remain with them, training them further in the things pertaining to Christ and building them up in the faith. [Therefore, the artistes’ work of evangelism should be supervised by guardians or pastors].