The early church grew almost entirely off of the preaching of individual believers. Today, a sermon is a polished, 40 minute talk given by an educated professional member of the clergy. In the New Testament, it was a bold declaration by all kinds of common Christians that Christ was the risen Lord. To “proselytize” or preach in order to convert someone is looked down upon in today’s world. But what does a commitment to sharing the good news of Jesus look like for us in Portland? The word “witness” helps us see that the gospel goes forward through preaching and actual lived demonstration of God’s grace.
