The Opening
Overview
Creedal Statement
Coming soon.
Key Elements
- Key Passage - Preview
- Scripture Memory - And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” Mark 16:15
- Catechism - Q: What work does God call his people to? A: Witness.
Introduction
Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth.
The chief end, for which the Church ought to exist—the chief end, for which individual church-members ought to live, is the evangelization or conversion of the world.
God calls us to testify to others that our lives have been transformed by Christ! Evangelism is the natural outflow of conversion. For believers in Jesus, we have experienced the overwhelming love of God in the forgiveness of our sin. In evangelism, we want to tell the whole world how they too can experience this freedom from sin and condemnation. Through faith in Christ, disciples receive the promise of eternal life. Secure in an everlasting future, disciples want more people to enter into this inheritance of unending life. When believers surrender their lives to Jesus, they become citizens of God’s righteous kingdom. Moved by their own satisfaction in Christ, Christians announce the kingdom of God to all the residents of earth. Feasting on the promises of God—promises of enduring peace, secure protection, deep joy, and lasting fulfillment—Christians bear witness to others, telling them the source of these life blessings.
In this way, communicating the gospel with others is more than sharing about a particular ideology, offering a religious opinion, or persuading people to join a social club of shared interests. While the Christian faith rests on certain ideas, involves personal faith, and offers community life, Christians are not unified by these commonalities alone. It is the living and risen Jesus, the Savior of the world, around whom all believers gather and testify. At its core, evangelism means to bear witness to the good news of salvation in Jesus. Christian witness is an announcement to the world that the kingdom has come because the King has come. Jesus came to earth to remove people from the sinful and destructive kingdom of darkness and invite them into the just and life-giving kingdom of light.
This call to tell others about Jesus is woven into the very fabric of a disciple’s life. It is not an optional work. All believers are called to testify about Jesus to the surrounding world. In fact, bearing witness to Jesus gives evidence that our faith is genuine. God does not ask us to testify about something that we have not personally experienced. In its simplest form, evangelism involves sharing with others about how Jesus forgives sin, removes shame, absolves guilt, and grants eternal life. Christians can speak authoritatively (and thus boldly) about these truths because they have experienced these glorious realities in their own life.
When Christians talk to others about Jesus, they are telling people about who Jesus is and what he has done. The gospel is historical in that Jesus came to earth, ministered to people, suffered at the hands of sinful people, died on the cross, and rose again from the dead. This highlights the work Jesus has done: accomplishing salvation by become a substitute and sacrifice for sin. The gospel is also personal, highlighting the work Jesus does in our lives. Because Jesus is alive today, the work he accomplished historically on the cross can bring transformation in the lives of people today when people place their faith and trust in him. This emphasizes the work Jesus does: saving people from their sin when they entrust their lives to Jesus as Savior and Lord. The good news of the gospel is hopeful. While we enjoy God’s saving work in our present lives, we await a future in which God will complete his work of redemption and remove all that is broken and painful in this world. This speaks about the work Jesus will do: one day Jesus will return to earth and bring full and final restoration to his people.
Even though evangelism is a core part of our Christian life, many believers struggle to participate in the work. Fear of rejection and surrender to our insecurities can cause people to be reserved about sharing their faith with others. The verbal nature of evangelism causes apprehension among people who feel ill-equipped at speaking. Many believers live in a context that is hostile to the Christian faith. To invite others to follow Jesus means their own lives are at risk. Still others are simply unaware or uninformed about the work. Part of Christian maturity involves becoming an active and engaged witness for Christ. In fact, a disciple cannot grow to full maturity if they do not participate in this work. In an effort to build solid foundations in the faith and lead others to Christ, this study outlines biblical teaching on evangelism.
In this study, we will turn to twelve key biblical narratives to instruct, train, and mobilize us to Christian witness. The first and final narratives focus on two Old Testament leaders: Jonah and Moses. Through their ministry callings and personal reservations, we come to understand God’s heart for mission and we honestly assess our own hesitations. Additionally, bracketing the whole study with these two narratives from the Old Testament shows that the New Testament call to Christian evangelism has continuity with God’s great work of witness throughout the ages. After the Jonah narrative, we will study six biblical passages from the Gospels. This will be followed by four key narratives from the book of Acts. Dividing the narratives in this way allows us to learn from (and see the continuity between) the ministry of Jesus and the apostles.
The twelve selected stories serve as a firm foundation for understanding and embracing Christian evangelism. While these are not the only biblical passages about this important topic, they do serve as a helpful orientation.The narrative of Jonah 1:1-4:11, teaches us that God is a missionary God with a heart for the whole world. The ministry of John the Baptist recorded in John 1:1-51 instructs us about the basic work and core motivations of Christian witness. When Jesus called his first disciples in Luke 5:1-32, we learn how mission is a fundamental part of Christian discipleship. The sending of the twelve apostles in Matthew 9:35-11:1 clarifies the nature and experience our mission assignment. Jesus told three parables about seeds in Mark 4:1-34 which help us understand how people come to genuine faith in Christ and how the kingdom grows across human history. The threefold set of parables in Luke 15:1-32 emphasize the responsibility to seek after unbelievers like those who are lost.
The parable of the Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37 highlights the role of love, compassion, and good works in Christian evangelism. Acts 3:1-4:31 records the bold and courageous ministry of Peter and John in Jerusalem, teaching us about miracles, the gospel message, and prayer. The important narrative in Acts 6:1-8:4 shows the collective witness of the Christian church as they met the needs of community members. It also chronicles the ministry and martyrdom of Stephen, alerting us to the sacrifice and persecution disciples face as they bear witness to Jesus. Paul’s ministry in Athens is recorded in Acts 17:16-34. This biblical story focuses on how Christians can engage with people from other worldview perspectives. Specifically, it teaches us about gospel preaching, preevangelism, contextualization, and anticipated responses to Christian witness. As an example of apologetics (defending the rationality of the faith), Paul’s speech before Agrippa in Acts 26:1-32 gives us insight into how we can show the credibility of the Christian faith. Last, we read the call of Moses recorded in Exodus 3:1-4:17. As we study about Moses’ reservations to accept his call to ministry, we can evaluate our own hesitations about evangelism and seek God’s strength to fully engage the work with faith and courage.
God has placed you in a specific sphere of influence. While some may travel far and wide in efforts to spread the gospel, others may remain in their local areas. Regardless of the scope of one’s ministry sphere, the basic duty of Christian witness is a responsibility that all Christians bear. While this study will seek to help you understanding the basics of evangelism, it will also assist you in exploring the specific ways God wants you to bear witness in your spheres of influence. Ultimately, God’s call on your life to follow Jesus is interwoven with God’s call on your life to represent Jesus to others.
Like any process of maturity, exploring the work of evangelism is not easy. This exploration will cause us to evaluate our hearts, appraise our thinking, and assess our devotion about the Christian faith. For those active in the evangelistic work, this study can help sure up the foundations in your ongoing witness. For others who are essentially uninvolved in evangelism, these twelve passages of Scripture can help mobilize you to the work. More than a burdensome duty or a joyless obligation, the work of evangelism can be (and is) a work of deep delight. For what greater privilege and what better honor is there than to represent our King and Savior to the world. Equipped by the strength of God’s power, readied by memory of our faith testimony, and united together with believers across the generations and the globe, we have been given the right and responsibility to announce to the world that the kingdom has come. Our invitation to the world is to submit to King Jesus in faith and find a glorious entrance and inheritance as citizens of the kingdom of God. In this narrative journey of Christian witness, may you, your family, and your church see and embrace this missional vision of a disciple’s life.
Book Overview: Surveying the Landscape
Discipleship is a process of establishing believers in the essentials of the Christian faith. In this section, explore the core content, consider the key idea, and articulate particular areas of interest in this study.
Core Content
An outline of Christian teaching is like a map for the journey of faith. Survey the twelve scriptural passages and associated themes that will set the itinerary for your upcoming study.
| Session | Focus |
|---|---|
| Session 1: The Mission (Jonah 1:1–4:11) |
The prophet Jonah reluctantly accepts his missionary call and learns about God’s missionary heart. |
| Session 2: The Work (John 1:1–51) |
John the Baptist and other early disciples tell others about Jesus. |
| Session 3: The Call (Luke 5:1–32) |
Jesus calls his first followers to a life of discipleship and mission. |
| Session 4: The Harvest (Matthew 9:35–11:1) |
Jesus models ministry and then sends out the twelve apostles on a missionary journey. |
| Session 5: The Soils (Mark 4:1–34) |
Jesus tells parables that teach about genuine faith and the growth of God’s kingdom. |
| Session 6: The Lost (Luke 15:1–32) |
Jesus emphasizes the importance of seeking after the lost. |
| Session 7: The Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37) |
Jesus teaches about the importance of deeds of mercy through the example of the Good Samaritan. |
| Session 8: The Encounter (Acts 3:1–4:31) |
Peter and John heal a beggar and preach the gospel with boldness. |
| Session 9: The Stones (Acts 6:1–8:4) |
The early church and Stephen model the practice of good works and sacrificial witness in the face of persecution. |
| Session 10: The Forum (Acts 17:16–34) |
Paul addresses pressing worldview concerns to his audience in Athens. |
| Session 11: The Speech (Acts 26:1–32) |
Paul offers a public defense of the faith before King Agrippa. |
| Session 12: The Bush (Exodus 3:1–4:17) |
God calls Moses to ministry during a personal encounter on Mount Horeb. |
Key Idea
Faithful disciples plant firm roots in the soil of biblical principles. Review the main idea of this study. Discuss how the individual narratives and corresponding themes relate to this overarching theme.
Key Idea: Mature Christians testify to the surrounding world that the the gospel is good news of salvation in Jesus.
Personal Interest
The essentials of the Christian faith are extremely relevant to our lives. Pick one or two biblical passages or study themes that capture your attention. Briefly discuss with your community what most interests you about these narratives and topics.
1. Which biblical narrative or study topic is most relevant to your cultural context?
2. Which biblical narrative or study topic seems most interesting or relevant to you? Why?
Faith Foundation: Exploring the Terrain
God calls his people to move beyond a superficial understanding of Christian essentials. Use the discussion questions and key quote to ponder with others how the subject area of study is of great importance in the Christian faith.
Discussion Questions
Disciples progress in the faith in the context of committed Christian community. Discuss the following questions with other believers as a means to orient your community to the subject of this study.
Coming soon.
Significant Quote
Christians learn from believers who live in different generations and cultures. Read the following quote and discuss with others what it suggests about the importance of Christian witness.
Coming soon.
Learning Plan: Charting the Course
Formative biblical interpretation fosters Christian growth as the faith community purposefully engages the scriptural text. Review the session framework and use the planning calendar to coordinate your learning for this upcoming study journey.
Session Framework
The Scriptures bear authority over every area of our lives. To deeply understand any particular passage, disciples must engage the text at various levels. In the Narrative Journey series, a common study framework is applied to each core session. This common framework helps disciples engage each biblical passage in exegetical, theological, personal, ministry, and missional ways. This dynamic hermeneutical approach (a spiraling process through five movements that serves to deepen your understanding as you engage the text multiple times) helps believers and churches faithfully engage the Scriptures for life transformation.
Review the five movements of this interpretive framework and discuss how this hermeneutical approach helps individuals and communities engage the biblical text in a way that reforms our thinking and changes our lives.
Planning Calendar
Wisdom calls believers and the community to approach an ordered process of faith development with diligence and preparation. Use the following calendar to plan out dates and teachers for the various sessions in this study.
| Biblical Passage | Teacher | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Session 1: The Mission (Jonah 1:1–4:11) |
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| Session 2: The Work (John 1:1–51) |
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| Session 3: The Call (Luke 5:1–32) |
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| Session 4: The Harvest (Matthew 9:35–11:1) |
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| Session 5: The Soils (Mark 4:1–34) |
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| Session 6: The Lost (Luke 15:1–32) |
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| Session 7: The Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37) |
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| Session 8: The Encounter (Acts 3:1–4:31) |
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| Session 9: The Stones (Acts 6:1–8:4) |
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| Session 10: The Forum (Acts 17:16–34) |
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| Session 11: The Speech (Acts 26:1–32) |
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| Session 12: The Bush (Exodus 3:1–4:17) |
Core Project: Synthesizing the Faith
Genuine disciples integrate the truth of God’s word into their personal and community life. In this section, you will preview the capstone project, view an example confessional statement, and imagine how God might want to change your life through this study.
Project Preview
Coming soon.
Example Creed
Coming soon.
Imaginative Storytelling
Believers in Jesus look forward to the future with hope and anticipation. As you consider the overarching topic of this study, think about how God wants to mature you in the faith. Specifically, imagine how your life would be different as God grows you into a mature Christian.
If I could know the truth about life, these are some things I would want to understand…
If I could grow in my understanding of the truth, this is how my life would look…
Faith Practice: Following the Way
Discipleship involves a lifetime of following Jesus in a context of Christian community. Familiarize yourself with the growth outcomes of this study, identify an area of focus, and pray for God’s transformative work in the course of the upcoming weeks.
Growth Outcomes
Setting growth goals helps to refine our Christian walk. As you look ahead to the upcoming study, read through the following outcomes to clarify ways in which God would have you grow in your faith.
As a result of this study, disciples, families, and churches will …
- establish a mature Christian understanding of the essentials of the Christian faith
- cultivate a deepening commitment to biblical truth
- demonstrate clarity and capability in articulating Christian truth
- participate in teaching basic Christian truths to others
Focused Area
Growth in the Christian life often happens one step at a time. Identify one of the above outcomes in which you want to grow. Name this specific outcome to your community, asking them to support you in prayer.
Community Prayer
We depend upon God’s power to grow each step in our Christian journeys. Pray that God would help each person in your community mature in the identified growth areas. Feel free to use the space below to write out a personal prayer or record requests from other members that you can keep in prayer throughout the course of this study.