Evangelism
Author: J. Mack Stiles
Written: 2014
“Evangelism is teaching (heralding, proclaiming, preaching) the gospel (the message from God that leads us to salvation) to persuade (convince, convert).”
Hello Ordinary Readers,
Stiles's short book Evangelism is more about building a culture of evangelism rather than a book on how to ‘do’ evangelism. Stiles focuses on the importance of the centrality of the gospel in everything your church teaches. Everything your church does and teaches should be centered on the gospel. Stiles is pushing back a little because we see so many churches focus on doing big events and other things to draw people to the church to hopefully hear the gospel taught or preached. But some churches will have many people who do not see it as their responsibility to share the gospel, it is the responsibility of the staff right, that’s why we pay them? But the great commission is all of our responsibility.
Stiles says that a culture of evangelism is often grassroots, if a church staff focuses on biblical preaching, teaching, and ecclesiology then those coming will desire to share the Word of God. Stiles gives us six platforms we ought to be prepared to share the gospel;
Prepare our hearts, mind, and feet
Understand a gospel-shaped way of life
Slay your assumptions
See evangelism as a discipline
Pray
When possible, give leadership in evangelism
I think this is a short book all believers should read. First pastors and leaders should read this to understand how we can build a culture of evangelism. Then all members should read this to understand more clearly what their responsibility is when it comes to sharing the gospel.
Happy Reading!
Quotes
“And though we may disagree with the evangelistic practices of individuals, ministries, or churches, we must also recognize that when people develop good-hearted commitments to evangelism, God can produce true fruit.”
“Most important, even though people come to Jesus through various means, the Bible never uses results to guide or justify evangelistic practice.”
“They long for their churches to be loving communities committed to sharing the gospel as part of an ongoing way of life, not by the occasional evangelistic raid event”
“I long for a church that understands that it-the local church-is the chosen and best method of evangelism.”
“But a culture of evangelism is grassroots, not top-down.”
“In a culture of evangelism, people who love Jesus work together as instruments in the grand symphony of God’s work.”