Many members of the church have the wrong idea that the term “evangelist” only refers to the preacher or to a formal office in the church. However, when we look at the example of the early church we see that every member was an evangelist. They all proclaimed the gospel of Christ whenever and wherever they had opportunity.
In this lesson we examine several scriptural reasons for every member of the church to be an evangelist. Watch the video to the right and let me know what you think. I’m looking forward to your feedback, comments and questions.
Why Be An Evangelist? from Norm Fields on Vimeo.
Brother Norm, I am so happy that I came across your videos on youtube and now subscribe to them as well as the weekly digest. How wonderful and refreshing to listen to a man who rightly divides the truth- the infallible word of God! Brother, I was raised in the Church of Christ. My mother took me each sunday and wednesday from the time I was born. Her father was my greatest influence and also a minister at the Church of Christ, as was his father in law and his youngest son. I feel that sometimes I have been given an unfair advantage over many folks because of my upbringing. I myself have now had the opportunity to bring the gospel message to several congregations in West Virginia, Illinois, and Indiana where I currently reside. I’m guilty of being selfish of many things in the past and I am also guilty of making financial decisions that were not sound as well. I will most likely be laid off from my job next week, and though financially it will create a burden for my family, I look forward to having more time to study Gods word. I will have the option to go to school to train for a different occupation than my current one as a machinist due to nafta and trade adjustment allowance. Now, in times past I would jump at the opportunity to learn a new trade that would possibly be more stable than the last job, or that would be better financially for my family. But at this juncture in my life, I finally have come to the decision that I will not take the easy road, and I will no longer seek out the former things. I now wish only to be able to communicate the good news of the gospel to others. Not for my own glory but for His. I’m not saying that I don’t care about being a provider of necessities for my family, scripturally I must. But I am seeking a way learn more than I do about His word. I believe that a person doesn’t necessarily need to go to college to be a good preacher, I have heard many great ones that had less than an elementary education. (He makes wise the simple) But if you have any suggestions to help me to help others I certainly would appreciate it. I love your notes and videos and I do study the word before making such statements. God bless you Brother and I pray for the prosperity of ALL His TRUE Churches, Lord knows that we need much help in these days of decaying morality. Thank you for spreading the truth.
Brett,
Thanks so much for your kind words. It means so much to me to hear that my work for the Lord is helping and encouraging others to faithfully serve him. The preacher who did the wedding for my parents was named Ken Maynard and I believe he was from your area. He was preaching at the Edgewood congregation in Columbus, GA at the time. From the way you describe your influence and background in the church, it would not surprise me to learn that this good man was among them.
I pray that you will continue to find the web sites both useful and edifying to God’s glory. I pray that you will find a way to both provide for your family and serve Christ. That doesn’t necessarily mean being a full-time preacher. I must say, it is getting more and more difficult, as our society moves further and further away from righteousness, to find a congregation able to support a faithful preacher. The larger congregations tend to move with the standard of what is considered “main stream,” and that standard gets looser and looser every day. I don’t mean to make a blanket statement that all of the larger congregations are liberal, they are not, but the number of good sound congregations seems to be ever decreasing. It makes me wonder sometimes about Christ’s words in Luke 18:8, will there be any faithful left on earth when he comes? So, my suggestion would be to take this opportunity to learn a new trade and continue to study and serve Christ as a self-supported servant.
I have plans to expand the Productive Preacher web site into a resource for men like you, who want to preach and serve in your local congregations. I am in the process of putting together notes for a series of posts on expository preaching. If there are any specific subjects that you would like to study please let me know and I’ll work on getting it online for you.
Thank you again and may God bless you and keep you in his grace and power.
I would like to be able to create a lesson on the 7 churches in Asia. I have many folks in my family that sadly think that proves denominational worship and therefore ok to be a baptist, cogic, or whatever else. So far I have been able to reply that denominations are what destroys truth and unity. Truth in worship, as well as doctrine. And then I proceed to tell them that indeed there were 7 churches, and only ONE was right in the eyes of the Lord. The other 6 outside of Philadelphia were commanded to repent of their ways or be removed.
thanks again and God bless.
Brett,
For someone to say that the seven churches in Revelation 2-3 shows the existence of denominations in the Bible is completely dishonest and wrong. In Romans 16:16 Paul said, “the churches of Christ greet you.” He used the term “churches,” plural, but the singular genitive “of Christ.” He was referring to the several local congregations that all belong to Christ. They were all the same “church” in function, doctrine, work and worship. But they were individual autonomous local congregations.
The word church is used in three ways in the Bible.
1) In reference to the church universal (Acts 2:47; Matt. 16:18; et. al.).
2) In reference to a specific local congregation (Acts 13:1; 1 Cor. 1:2; Rev. 2:1, 8, 12, etc.).
3) In reference to the several congregations in a geographical area (Rom. 16:16; 1 Cor. 16:19; Gal. 1:2; Rev. 1:4; et. al.).
These are not different “kinds” of churches! There is only one church of Christ (Matt. 16:18; Acts 20:28). The church universal is made up of local congregations, which are made up of individual Christians. Just like the Baptist church is made up of local Baptist congregations which is made up of individual Baptists. A Baptist church in one town is not a different “kind” of church from a congregation of the same Baptist sect in another town. Since there are no Baptists in the Bible we know that the several local congregations mentioned in the Bible were not of the Baptist “kind.” There is only one “kind” of church that Christ adds people to (Acts 2:47). And that is His church, the church of Christ. When Christ adds someone to His church, He adds them to the church universal and they identify with a local congregation of the church of Christ.
Here are some things to consider about the seven churches in Revelation 2-3:
1) They were not addressed as different “kinds” of churches. They were referred to as the “church at …,” not “The First Ephesian Pentecostal Church” or whatever. For someone to try a make these different “kinds” of churches is being totally dishonest with Scripture.
2) They all received their instruction from the same source, Christ Jesus. Unlike denominations, which receive their instructions from their individual denominational creed books.
3) Ephesus was told that they were in danger of loosing their lamp stand (Rev. 2:5). Since the lamp stands in the vision represented the church of Christ (Rev. 1:20), this means that a congregation can cease to be a congregation of the Lord’s church. A congregation that does not follow the Lord’s word is not a congregation of the church of Christ. Denominations never have been because they have never followed the Lord from their founding. But even congregations that have started out following the Lord can loose their lamp stand if they turn to man-made tradition from following the word of Christ.
4) We know that these could not have been different “kinds” of churches because there was no such things as different “kinds” until much later. Paul said that when he traveled around preaching, he preached the same thing in every church (1 Cor. 4:17). He could only do that in an environment where every church, every where, was the same “kind” of church. He couldn’t have done that if the church at Ephesus wanted one “kind” of doctrine preached and the church of “Corinth” wanted something else.
I hope this will help you answer when people try to say that “churches” in the Bible shows that there were different “kinds.” It simply is not true and they know it, or they should.
As a Christian we do need to be evangelistic. We must tell others – looking for the doors that open. God speaks against fear. Sometimes we have fear of being “too religious.” The gospel of peace is to be on our walk, the sword of the spirit, the bible, is our defense. People need to know and experience the blessings of Christ.
Women in the bring their friends to the Lord. Women in the church need to set up bible studies with their female friends. God’s will is that all Christians take the word. Living it, Loving it, and Passing the word along to our contacts in hope to save their souls. Come on church let’s spread God’s word. Women can speak about Christ and His resurrection from the dead. I say I want my friends to go to heaven, and I have to be willing to tell them. Sit down with them. Read the word. If they are willing. Lord Willing……
Peace, Mel
I am currently studying with my coworker the book of Fist Peter. She requested that we study this. When we got to First Peter 3:21 she said “I have to write this verse down and show it to my daughter.” It was the first time she had every read it.
It is such an important verse regarding entry into the Lord’s church and contacting the blood of Christ thru the imperitive place designated for washing away sins.
Our goal is to know the “whole counsel of God” as we read the scriptures.
I was in a discussion with someone about baptism and showed them that verse (i.e. 1 Pet. 3:21). They looked at it for a long time and I thought they were about to admit that they had been mistaken about the necessity of baptism. I have shown it to many people who confessed they had never read that verse, so I was expecting the same thing here. They looked up from their Bible and said, “I never realized that Noah is mentioned there.” I was astounded at how easily this person made the decision to just ignore what it says about baptism altogether. When a person has their mind made up it is not easy for them to see the truth even when it’s staring them right in the face.