My notes from John Dickson’s talk in the eighth session at EMA (Evangelical Ministry Assembly)…
Three Dimensions of Proclaiming the Gospel
How and when does the Lord expect us to speak up for him? Three answers to the question. Without all three operating our evangelism will be a little flat.
A) ‘Some to be evangelists’
1. ‘Evangelist’ means ‘gospeler’ (Ephesians 4:11; 2 Timothy 4:5; Acts 21:8).
People with special task to announce good news.
2. Local and district evangelists (2 Corinthians 8:18; Philippians 4:2-4; Colossians 1:7, 4:12-13; Acts 21:8).
Some think of evangelists as travelling preachers. But think locally, train people to specialise in evangelism.
3. Only some Christians are evangelists (Ephesians 4:8-12).
4. Tips for identifying evangelists.
Evangelists will have a keen desire to tell the gospel to others – common sense. Unusually keen in sharing the gospel.
Evangelists will relate well to unbelievers – common sense. No different to way we pick youth leaders.
Evangelists will be able to explain the gospel clearly – main predictor.
Evangelists will be intelligent – wild speculation. Average unbeliever is sophisticated, larger group of weapons against the gospel that need to be disarmed.
B) All to ‘declare His praises’
1. Praise as proclamation in biblical Judaism (Psalm 57:9, 96:3-8, 105:1, 117:1).
Gathered praise of God’s people had a secondary function of announcing to unbelievers the glory of God. Gathered public worship of God had evangelistic orientation (not a Jewish seeker service though).
2. Peter’s call to evangelistic ‘praise’ (1 Peter 2:9).
Heartfelt praise more compelling than they realised.
Tim Keller on ‘doxological evangelism’: “Calvin’s refusal to chose between the glory of God and edification lays the groundwork for what Edmund Clowney calls ‘doxological evangelism’…Israel was called to make God known to unbelieving nations by singing his praises…God is to be praised before all nations, and as he is praised by his people, the nations are summoned and called to join in song. This pattern does not essentially change in the New Testament, where Peter tells a Gentile church to ‘declare the praises’ of him who called us out of darkness. The term cannot merely refer to preaching but must also refer to gathered worship…Despite these biblical exhortations, preachers and other leaders typically lead in congregational worship as if no non-Christians are present.”
3. Paul and the ‘visitor’ in church (1 Corinthians 14:23-26).
Paul expects non-Christians to be present. Regular speaking in church can have evangelistic effects. Most significant factor in whether or not you’ll have visitors is the quality of the service which means the degree to which believers revel in the Sunday experience. The number of our visitors will be proportionate to the level of enthusiasm felt by our regulars. Get the church service right – gospel focussed, heartfelt and intelligible.
C) Each to ‘give an answer’
Each believer to step up to plate and give an answer whenever the opportunity arises (1 Peter 3:13-16; Colossians 4:2-6).
1. All believers share in the privilege of speaking for Jesus.
What bold proclamation is to the apostle can be daily conversations to the believer.
Dick Lucas: “Just as there is an ‘ought’ about the apostle’s speaking, so there is an ‘ought’ about theirs…We may describe this difference by saying that while the apostle looks for many opportunities for direct evangelism and teaching, the typical Christian in Colossae is to look for many opportunities for responsive evangelism. If this distinction is a correct one, it immediately commends itself by its sanity and realism.”
2. Allegiance to Jesus is the basis of speaking.
First part of 1 Peter 3:15. Telling them in sermon to evangelise may not work. Instead woo them to the Lordship of Christ because that is the motivation. Out of heart they will give an answer. The antidote to Christian coyness (worry about association with nutty evangelicals or shy or with doubts) is setting apart Jesus Christ as Lord. Reminding yourself who owns the room you are in.
3. The manner of speaking is as important as the content.
Not much is said in these passages about what to say. Emphasis is on how to say it – gracious speech. The manner of speaking is critical. The preacher is the model on how to do this. You are the model your people pick up.
Even the little things our people do to step up for Christ can have a powerful effect, and can be a big think because God is the evangelist.
More on this topic can be found in John Dickson’s book ‘Promoting the Gospel’ (chapters 8-10). Available to buy HERE.
