In this series of texts from the book? Deliberately Church? (Faithful Editor), we will take a closer look at what evangelization is and what it is not:
Some evangelistic strategies seek to make the gospel more attractive to unbelievers by presenting all the benefits and leaving the cost for later. Do they promise you? experienced? More satisfaction, less stress, a better sense of community, and a growing sense of life? and it will be? prepared for eternity! ? if you’re just making the decision for Christ now. All of these things can be very close to the unbelieving listener. But what is this “evangelization” for? with the biblical gospel? It makes the gospel seem to focus on me, on improving my life and making me happier. AND? It is true that we are the beneficiaries and God the benefactor. We are not the ones “doing God a favor” by becoming Christians. However, the gospel does not focus on me. The gospel is? God who reveals his holiness and mercy is the sovereign day. The gospel is? the glory of God and his work of gathering worshipers for himself, people who will worship him in spirit and in truth. The gospel focuses on satisfying the holiness of God by putting Christ to death for the sins of all who repent and believe. This gospel and what? God making a name for himself, gathering a people and separating them for himself, in order to spread his fame among the nations.
- Is evangelism beneficial?Does it fill our churches with people we learn to expect everything to happen?But Jesus promised persecution to those who follow Him; He did not promise material privileges (Jn 15:18-16.
- 4; see 2 Tim 3.
- 12).
- Do we want to build churches and coats of arms.
- Those who persevere in the midst of affliction.
- Those who want to suffer.
- Be persecuted and die for the gospel of Christ.
- Because they value the glory of God more than the temporal benefits of Do we want people to become Christians because that will reduce them?We want them to become Christians because they know they must repent of their sins.
- Believe in Jesus Christ.
- Take their cross with joy.
- And follow Him in the glory of God.
There are truly wonderful benefits in the Christian life; However, being theocentric in evangelization, focusing less on temporal benefits and more on God’s face and plan helps more Christians willing to suffer and more churches motivated by God’s glory.
Text of the book Church Deliberately, chapter 3 “Evangelization with Responsibility”, excerpt “Focusing on God?(p. 69 and 70).
Authors: Mark Dever and Paul Alexander
From the original 😕 The deliberate Church? (p. 54-57).
Translation: Francisco Wellington Ferreira