That’s a great question but the real underlying question is, Why Evangelism? The answer to this question answers the first. So, here are 10 reasons why…
- Jesus commands it: “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19,20 (NLT)
- Evangelism connects sinners with Jesus who desires to save all from sin. This is the message of 2 Corinthians 5:19, 20: “For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And He gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making His appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” (NLT)
- Evangelism changes the lives of God’s followers. Evangelism doesn’t just positively affect those being evangelised but also those who are doing evangelism. I would go even so far as to say that at the end of the day the ones doing the work of evangelism are ones who are the most blessed.
- Evangelism is necessary because most people live in darkness. As Jesus Himself said, “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.” John 12:46 (NIV)
- Evangelism is the reason for the existence of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Here’s how the official mission statement of the Seventh-day Adventist Church puts it: “The mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is to communicate to all peoples the everlasting gospel of God’s love…”
- If we believe that we should follow the Early Christian Church model, then evangelism is certainly going to be a priority. The Book of Acts is all about evangelism. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, the followers of Christ, at the risk and peril of their lives, went about proclaiming Jesus Christ throughout the known world.
- Evangelism must take place before Jesus returns and brings to an end this world of pain and suffering. Jesus in His sermon about end-time events makes that very clear: “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matthew 24:14 (KJV)
- Evangelism prevents a church from becoming stale and riddled with difficulties. When a church loses its reason for existing, evangelism, it eventually becomes dull and dead. A church full of problems is probably a church that is not involved in evangelism.
- Evangelism is on God’s heart. It’s been on his heart ever since the Fall of Man and was powerfully revealed at the Cross. That’s why Peter said, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 (KJV)
- Why Evangelism? Because we can’t help ourselves. Jesus in our hearts drives us to be involved in evangelism just as John and Peter expressed in Acts 4:20: “For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” (NKJV) In other words, we have to – we can’t help ourselves.
So why train? To be more effective at doing what we must do. That is why you should participate in our upcoming evangelism training.
I look forward to seeing you in January.
Yves Monnier
It Is Written
Harvest Victoria