There are three directions of the church: look UP in worship, look WITHIN for Edification, and look WITHOUT in Evangelism. If either one of these cases, the health of the church will be jeopardized, and the life of the church hindered. The church must worship, the church must edify, and the church must evangelize. To neglect even one of these is to hinder the growth of the church.
The church is commissioned to make disciples, to edify, and to evangelize in order to make sinners worshippers of God.
- Personal Evangelism – Evangelism that takes place by individual Christians throughout the course of their everyday lives.
- Corporate Evangelism – Evangelism that takes place in a formal sense by the collective church. This is often referred to as outreach or missions—thus, it’s local and foreign.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.”
Matthew 5:14-15 ESV
Collectively, the church is described as a city on a hill. Personally, each member is described as light. Our Savior exhorts everyone to let their light shine before men.
Three Considerations
- Helps to Assist
- Mistakes to Avoid
- Motives to Encourage
1. Helps to Assist
A. Be holy
It means to be consistent to adorn the gospel (or shine as light) in every area of life.
We have to view all of these areas (extended family members, neighborhoods, classmates, and coworkers) as our own personal mission field, in which we are to shine as lights.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:16 ESV
By “good works” is meant our acts and/or deeds—to let our light shine refers to a holy and loving life leading to the conversion of the unsaved toward the glorification of God. The light of our “good works” adorn the gospel. But our good works do not save; we should proclaim the true gospel.
Works verify words
Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds (Mt. 11:19). Tell our neighbors about the need to be born again and show it to them. We must tell them about Christ and our works should follow.
Works beautify words
not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.
Tit 2:10 ESV
Our works reveal the beauty of the gospel. It does not mean that the gospel is not beautiful. The gospel is beautiful but our works help others to behold the beauty that is natively there.
“God cannot be sincerely called upon by others than those to whom, through the preaching of the gospel, his kindness and gentle dealings have become known.”
John Calvin
B. Be friendly
We must focus on those people with who we frequently come into contact. Obviously, not all of us are as effective in this area. But we are called to be missionaries of sorts. We are called to serve as lights in this dark world. Get to know them. Ask them about themselves, their families, especially their children. And then after the third or fourth time, ask what you can pray for them.
The primary point of friendship. We must view the places we frequently go to as our own divinely given mission field. There are all given to us by God’s providence.
C. Be transparent
Be genuine or yourself. We are also sinners. We do not pretend to be superhumans. Christians have struggle as well. We have to let them know that being a Christian does not exempt us from enduring pain and sorrow. They need to see how we respond to the various trials that we endure.
2. Mistakes to Avoid
Isolation
The mindset that says, “We must stay as far from the world as possible.” As Christian, we have been saved to shine our light into darkness. This cannot be done in isolation. We have to aggressively and intentionally take the light into the darkness.
Imitation
The mindset that says, “We have to live like the world in order to win the world.” But we must remember that the world does not need more darkness but LIGHT. As our culture becomes increasingly dark, it becomes easier to allow our lights to shine before men.
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
Matthew 5:13 ESV
Indifference
This is the greatest of all hindrances where we are simply too busy with other things. We are caught up in all of our many responsibilities. The primary reason is an unhealthy frame of mind. We must keep our hearts healthy and our lights shining bright so that we will be concerned with those around us.
3. Motives to Encourage
The Condition of the world
We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
1 John 5:19 ESV
they are villains because they are wicked. They are victims in that they are enslaved to Satan. They deserve to be pitied. And most of all they have souls.
The purpose of the church
Reminder: the church is the only light of the world. This is the reason why we are still here. He saved us to be light in this dark world. The church is the only light of this world.
The example of our savior
Our Savior came into this dark world to bring light.
I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. John 12:46 ESV
When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. Mark 6:34 ESV
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10 ESV
The Power of the Holy Spirit
We must remember, it’s ultimately the Spirit of God who saves sinners. Without a doubt, one of the greatest hindrances of evangelism is fear. Fear of not knowing what to say. The power does not rest in our ability to argue but in the personal ministry of the Holy Spirit.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 1:8 ESV
The glory of the Father
This is the ultimate goal of all true evangelism.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:16 ESV
These are the reasons why we should evangelize. But these come through prayer. We must pray that God may grant us hearts, compassionate enough to go out and preach the gospel to this dark world. Obedience should drive us out of our comfort zone. As one of our brethren says, living holy is not enough, we must proclaim the gospel for it is the power of God unto salvation of everyone who believes.
It should be the desire of every believer. Spurgeon once says, “Have you no desire for others to be saved? Then you are not saved yourself. Be sure of that.”
SOLI DEO GLORIA!
Note: This blog is based on our pastor’s lecture on Church Membership class part 5.
HERALD OF GRACE COVENANT BIBLE CHURCH OF CAVITE 