Jon Gary Williams
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The Church - Lesson 9
The Church in 25 Lessons
Jon Gary Williams
Lesson 9 - The Mission
of the Church: Evangelism
The Lord's church is a divine institution with a divine mission. The primary mission of the church is evangelism. The word evangelism (from evangelist) is actually two Greek words ("eu" - good and "angelos" - messenger) meaning "a messenger of good." The church is the proclaimer of that which is good - the good news, the gospel of Christ.
I. The importance of this work
A. The universal need for salvation.
- All are guilty of sin. (Rom. 3:10,12,23
)
- All are under sin. (Gal. 3:22
)
- Man, on his own, has no hope. (Eph. 2:12
)
B. The power of God to save.
- The gospel is God's power. (Rom. 1:16
)
- What is the gospel? (I Cor. 15:1-4
)
- People are "begotten" by the gospel (word). (I Cor. 4:15) (cf. I Pet. 1:23)
- People are "called" by the gospel. (II Th. 2:14
)
- Without the gospel people remain lost. (I Pet. 4:17,18) (cf. II Cor. 4:3,4)
- "Life and immortality" brought to light by the gospel. (II Tim. 1:9-11)
II. The church - God's agency to preach the gospel
A. The church is the supporter and defender of truth. (I Tim. 3:15
)
B. The church is God's sending agency. (Acts 8:4
)
C. What are the church's marching orders? (Mt. 28:18-20) (cf. Mk. 16:15,16)
D. Wisdom is made known through the church. (Eph. 3:10,11)
E. God is to be glorified through the church. (Eph. 3:21)
III. The local church and evangelism
A. The church at Antioch. (Acts 13:1-3) (see Acts 14:27,28)
B. The church at Thessalonica. (I Th. 1:8)
C. The church at Philippi. (Php. 1:3-5; 4:15-20)
D. The churches of Macedonia. (II Cor. 11:8,9)
IV. God's plan for evangelism - from Jerusalem into all the world
A. Beginning at Jerusalem. (Acts 2:1-5
)
B. Into Judea and Samaria. (Acts 8:1
)
C. Beyond the boarders of Canaan. (Acts 13:4)
D. Into all the world. (Col. 1:6,23)