Thursday, August 23, 2012

Evangelism is paramount for growing a church


Paramount: As an adjective, the word means, “Chief in importance or impact; supreme, preeminent; a point of paramount significance.”  It also has to do with being “above others in rank or authority; superior in power;” therefore we think of evangelism in the church as paramount.
Evangelism is the supreme, dominant factor in growing a true New Testament church.  It is chief and principal in all that we do as God’s people; the overriding thing in the vision and focus of the church; vital for life now and the days to come.
Let me introduce you to the priority purposes of the church, before we look at this one, chief purpose.  In his book entitled, The Purpose Driven Church, author and Pastor Rick Warren, lays out for us the purposes of the church in chapter five, “Defining Your Purposes. “ On page 103, he begins giving the definition of these purposes, as he names them off one by one: Worship, Ministry, Evangelism, Fellowship, and Discipleship.
Some have said that these are new, and exciting insights into the purpose of the purpose of the church.  Yet, as we look into the book of Acts, we see that the First Century Church put them into practice immediately on and after the Day of Pentecost.  The scripture we find to make a foundation for this belief is found in Acts 2:
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Acts 2:37-47 (KJV)
In the preceding verses you see that the purposes listed from The Purpose Driven Church, as right there, active in the First Century Church.  They are in fellowship with each other, sharing the message of Christ, worshipping the One Holy True God, ministering to each other, and growing in the teaching and the doctrine.  What a wonderful thing we see, as it is made alive for us in that text.
Let there be real harmony so that there won’t be splits in the church…Be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. (1 Corinthians 1:10 Living Bible)
When Jesus spoke to His disciples, we have recorded for us in Matthew 28, those last few verses what we have grown to know as the Great Commission.  Read with me the words:
All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
(Matthew 28:18-20 KJV)
If this verse is true-which I whole heartedly believe to be nothing more and nothing less than the inspired Word of God-then we are commanded to be about the business of evangelism.  As ambassadors of Christ our mission is to communicate the Good News that Jesus came to “seek and save that which was lost.”  We seek Peter doing just that in the earlier part of Acts 2.
The scripture tells us that after the events of Pentecost, as the Spirit came to rest on them, and empowering them, Peter stood, under the inspiration and the direction of God to preach and preach he did!  What a sermon.  He led them through the history of the nations, told them that Jesus-the Messiah-had come and they had nailed Him to an old wooden Cross, and He died for the sins of the people.  But Jesus came back from the dead and now lives among His people, empowering them to serve with Him in the building of the Kingdom.
When Peter finished preaching, three thousand people came to know Jesus as Savior of their lives.  WOW!  In our churches today this would present some real problems and constant headaches for the leadership.  We would have seating problems, parking problems, nursery problems, restroom problems, and problems on top of problems.  Would not that be the greatest thing to ever happen in some of our churches?
Evangelism is so paramount to the growth and vitality of the church, that Jesus gave not just one Great Commission, but five-YES FIVE!  There is one in each of the gospels, and one in the Book of Acts.  We have recorded and you have already read the one we know so well, but…
Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
(Mark 16:15 KJV)
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
(Luke 24:47-49 KJV)
Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
(John 20:21 KJV)
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
(Acts 1:8 KJV)
We are to tell the world about Jesus!  We are to carry the message of grace and mercy to all peoples, to every tongue, to the ends of the earth, and not rest until all have heard the message of life and hope found in Christ Jesus.  It is more than a responsibility, it is a privilege.  We have been invited to be a part of the greatest act of a Christians life, “telling another beggar where to find bread.”  The church must be actively involved in the task of reaching people if it is to grow and continue to remain a viable ministry in this world.
During a testimony time one Sunday evening, as several stood and shared how wonderful it was to know Jesus, to share Him with others and to be a part of the work of carrying to the message to ends of the world, the matron saint (well maybe it would be better to just say the Church Matron) slowly stood to her feet.  The words from her mouth were as cold water being poured on the back of someone whose clothes were on fire.  She stated matter-of-factly, “Well love our small church and we are thankful for the little congregation, and we want it to stay that way.”
As she sat down something hit me, and it was not cold water, it was a thought; one which was both startling and convicting.  If that little church had the answer to cancer, would it share that message with others?  Say someone in the congregation had the cure, they were sure that it was the answer for the millions of people who were affected by the most difficult and disheartening thing in the world, would they make it available for the whole world?  Would they risk being involved in making a difference in the lives of individuals and families?  Would they take the risk of having to build and add ministries and expend money so others might know of their findings?
The answer came quickly and quietly.  It took my breathe away and caused great sorrow.  The answer was “No they would no.  Not at all.  Because they were a ‘small church…little congregation,’ and those who had the say-so liked it that way.”  (A month later I was no longer afflicted…no I mean affiliated with that ‘small church….little congregation.”)
Warren writes, “You’ve been given the Gospel of eternal life to share, which is the greatest news of all!  As long as there is one person in the world who does not know Christ, the church has a mandate to keep growing.  Growth is not optional; it is commanded by Jesus.  We should not seek church growth for our own benefit, but because Jesus wants people saved.”
Some church folks think that since they are giving money to support missions in some other part of the world, they have done the job-have fulfilled the Great Commission.  Still others think that there money pays the preacher to do the work and he will take care of things; there is not need for them to GO.  Then others say, they have done their part, it is time for someone else to step up and take charge of sharing the gospel.
We are to support missions, we are to pay the preacher, and we are to work in the Kingdom in such a way that we lead others to take over and go further in the work.  But none of these should make us think we are not to serve in sharing the gospel of Christ with the world.
Through our life and through all areas of our involvement within the church and without, we are to be witnesses of the Good News.  Through word and deed, we make a difference and give others an opportunity to seek Christ. (Acts 7:22; James 1:21)  This gives the name of Christ proclamation, and invites the Holy Spirit to work in the life of individuals we come in contact with, so He might draw them into His embrace and lead to them to the church-the Family of God.
Evangelism is paramount for church growth.  As we unite ourselves together, serve each other and the Lord, we are allowing the Holy Spirit to use us in the Kingdom.    

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