After returning from Panama, its time to continue developing our working definition of Evangelism.
The definition of Evangelism I use:
What we share is all about the good news of God’s sovereign love. In the Christian circles I run in, most of us would agree this refers to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the solution for our separation from God.
Joyfully sharing the good news of the sovereign love of God, and calling people to repentance, to personal faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, to active membership in the church, and to obedient service in the world.(Definition adopted by the 202nd General Assembly of the PCUSA, 1990).
What is Evangelism – Part 3 focused on the activity of sharing, while today’s focus on is on the content of what we are sharing: the good news of the sovereign love of God.
But the good news is more than that fact. So often we neglect the sovereignty of God.
- God’s sovereign love pursues us before we ever know Him.
- God’s sovereign activity makes us aware of our need for the salvation he provides.
- God’s sovereign love provides the solution and enables us to receive that offer.
- God’s sovereign love continues to pursue us as we walk on the path of discipleship.
Sovereign over the process as well
Since evangelism is a process that occurs over time, it’s the sovereignty of God that gives me comfort in the fact that I’m just one part of God’s pursuit.
Every conversation I have is part of God’s process in the life of the person I share with. I might have the part of planting a seed, watering what someone else has sown, or harvesting what others of planted, watered, and sown.
Whether with a stranger on the street, or a long term friend, any conversation prompted by the Holy Spirit is one conversation in the process of God’s work.
Some presentations want to do all three parts (plant, water, and harvest) all at one time, and guilt driven methodologies make the evangelist feel responsible for lack of response, mistake in the script, or even lack of a complete presentation.
But God’s sovereignty frees us from that guilt.
- It’s God’s sovereignty that
- draws people to faith,
- awakens their spirit, and
- helps one to respond to the offer of grace.
We are simply a tool in the proclamation.
Let me ask you this:
What role do you see about God’s sovereignty in evangelism?
For more in our series “What is evangelism?”
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