MEMORY SCRIPTURE
And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
Romans 10:15
Paul was a man with exceptional evangelism and missionary graces, even as an apostle of Christ.
DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READINGS
Mon. 3: Missionary In The House Of Naaman (2 Kgs. 5:1-5)
Tue. 4: Missionary In King Ahasuerus’s House (Est. 2:1-8)
Wed. 5: Missionaries Aquila And Priscilla In Ephesus (Acts 18: 1ff)
Thur. 6: Missionary/Evangelism From House To House (Acts 5:42)
Fri. 7: Missionaries In Babylon (Dan. 1:1ff)
Sat. 8: Missionary And Evangelism With Jesus (Jn. 4:5-42)
DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READINGS
Evangelism and missionary gifts are propellers for soul-winning.
INTRODUCTION
TEXTUAL SOURCE: JOHN 1:40-49; ACTS 2:16FF; 8:4; 10:9-15; 13:2-3; 16:6FF; ROMANS 10:14-15; EPHESIANS 4:11; 2 TIMOTHY
We appreciate our heavenly Father for the previous lesson that revealed His mind on the Gift of Apostleship which involves
moving from the security of the local assembly to the unknown frontiers of the world with the Gospel message. The gift instils evangelism and missionary zeal in those who would go where the gospel is foreign. This leads us to this week’s lesson: EVANGELISM AND MISSIONARY GRACES. The essential duty of evangelism and missions is to teach people about Jesus’ doctrine; an activity that significantly attracts God’s blessings. In evangelism, the main goal is to lead others toward the path of
salvation through faith in Christ. It is the responsibility of believers to share their faith with others to help them join His Kingdom. In Jesus’ name, may God pour forth His Spirit to inspire and grant us the confidence to proclaim the good news to others in our everyday lives. Amen.
LESSON OUTLINE
- THE GIFT OFANEVANGELIST
- THE GIFTOFAMISSIONARY
LESSON EXPOSITION
THE GIFT OF AN EVANGELIST (Jn. 1:40-49; Acts 2:16ff; Eph. 4:11; 2 Tim. 4:5)
But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry.
2 Timothy 4:5
A) Eph. 4:11: Evangelism (from Grk. euangelion [‘gospel’] ) is the act of proclaiming the good news ofJesus Christ. It is labelled in the Bible as a spiritual gift. Paul includes it among the gifts listed here.
B) Grk. euaggelistes (evangelist) meaning “one who brings good news,” is only found in Eph. 4:11, Acts 21:8 and 2 Tim. 4:5. The believer is commissioned to evangelise (Matt. 28:18ff; Acts 1:8). Yet, there is the gift of an evangelist (cf. Acts 21:8) that must be used, both publicly and privately (2 Tim. 4:5).
C) Evangelism is the capacity to persuasively share Christ’s Gospel with those who have never heard it before, or with those who have not yet made a decision for Him, in such a way that they will choose to accept Him as their LORD and Saviour.
D) 2 Tim. 4:5: The words of Paul here show that there is the work of an evangelist buttressing the idea that God gives the Church evangelists who spread the Gospel and point others to Jesus, promoting Church growth.
E) Jn. 1:40-49: Those with this gift are passionate (burdened) about explaining the Gospel to others, especially the yet unsaved. They comfortably seek chances to relate to unbelievers with the intention of sharing the Faith (Isa. 52:7; Acts 8:9-13).
F) Acts 2:16ff: At Pentecost, having received the Spirit’s baptism, Peter remarkably demonstrated this gift. It continues in the Church.
THE GIFT OF A MISSIONARY (Acts 8:4; 10:9-15; 13:2-3; 16:6ff; Rom. 10:14-15)
Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.
Acts 8:4
A) “Missionary” comes from Lat. missio (“sending”). Jesus has given a missionary a mandate to preach the gospel to everyone, in every culture, in all nations (Matt. 28: 18ff; Mk. 16:15).
B) Acts 8:4: The missionary’s gift is the grace God grants to believers to use their other spiritual gifts in a foreign culture. This is what those who were scattered from Jerusalem were exercising as they went everywhere preaching the word.
C) Rom. 10:14-15: Those with this gift are sent to preach the gospel of peace, bringing glad tidings of good things to people far and near (Isa. 52:7).
D) Acts 10:9-15: Missionary gifts drive the carrier beyond barriers to deliver, or liberate condemned souls from the dangers of hell.
E) 13:2-3: God had deposited this gift in Barnabas and Saul. He discovered them at the right time and sent them off to work. God specifically told Paul, …I will send you far from here to the Gentiles (22:21).
F) 16:6ff: Paul was a gifted missionary who was so passionate about the work (1 Cor. 9:19-23) that he didn’t joke with the call, Come over to Macedonia and help us.
LESSON DERIVED
- Jesus values a soul higher than the whole value of all the world’s resources, hence the gifts of evangelist and missionary in His body.
- The earthly joy of the sower and the harvester is found in evangelism and missionary work. Those rescued souls serve as the joy, or crown of celebration for those who laboriously sowed.
QUESTION
- Are the gifts of evangelists and missionaries still relevant in Christianity today?
- Who is qualified to Evangelise and go for Missionary work?
