The Church: Evangelist (Part 18)

Note: We are testing out some new equipment in this episode so please forgive some of the audio and video issue at the beginning. The audio clears up around 28:00. Thanks! Dr. Will Ryan and Dr. Matt are joined by their friend Sam D'Alie, a CTS student, in this episode to talk about evangelism in the 5 fold giftings. Eph 4:11-13 Recap • These are functions and not offices. They are gifts not “roles” • The scope of this text is about the equipping of the body. It is zoomed in on gifts that equip but not elevating them over others. • Everyone has an aspect of all these gifts within them but most are strong in one of these areas. • The goal is for the body of Christ to be whole and mature, to be united in faith, and full of the knowledge of God. • This entire chapter focuses on unity in the body of Christ. The gift of evangelism. • The evangelical church gets this one right in some respects. They don’t see it as an office where some see other parts of the 5-fold as an office (pastor and teacher, sometimes apostle). Why do we pick and choose which are offices and which are not here? In reality they are all giftings. • Also all are plural in the text, so we should have many operating in all of these in every church body. The evangelical church gets this right in that it expresses that the church at large should evangelize… yet it wants a single senior pastor. What is an evangelist? o Essentially the recruiter, carrier, and communicator/storytellers of the gospel message (Jesus is king) o The truth teller to unbelievers o They call for a response to Jesus’ kingship Their focus/core tasks o Concern for those outside the kingdom o Making clear the offer to come into the kingdom so people can respond in allegiance o Recruit for the cause/“brand ambassadors” for the kingdom Impact on the body when Evangelism is “the main thing” (monopolization and imbalance) o When the gift of evangelism is the central thing in the church there tends to be a narrow vision o Lack of communal heath with the focus on the outside rather than care on the inside of the church o Narrow perspective of faith (lack of discipleship- AKA simple gospel views) Overview o The great commission connects preaching the gospel (evangelism) with the necessity of discipleship- we can’t divorce the two. The 4 American gospel we looked at all divorce evangelism and discipleship but they are 2 sides of the same coin. o OT Evangelism was communal (if there even was evangelism to the nations)- the community evangelizes by their life together that reflects Jesus. This was mainly evangelism/discipleship of each other. We don’t see evangelists sent out to the nations in the OT but rather that the nations would flow into Zion by their “light”. o NT Evangelism always resulted in community and discipleship as well. Jesus called people to “follow him”. The Apostles planted churches and formed Jesus cultures for the evangelist to invite people into and experience the life of Jesus. What is being offered in the NT is not an “eternal destination” but a community around Jesus. o “Conversion” doesn’t result from saying a prayer but that could be the start. It is costly according to Jesus. Not some simple statement but a pledge of allegiance to a way of life that could lead to your martyrdom. Most evangelism today leaves people still connected to the ways and systems of the world and makes it “easy” by front loading benefits and downplaying the commitment to the cross and the way of Jesus. o Evangelize through relationship- who will you invite to your table/community?