The Christian Life

  Lesson 5.

Evangelism

Now that I am child of God – a Christian – a member of Christ’s church, I have a great concern and interest in the church that Jesus built. For each local congregation (church) is overseen by a group of men know as elders, bishops, or pastors, whose guidance is limited to the congregation in which they serve. It is part of the work of these men to see that teaching offered is according to the New Testament and that the practices of the church meet the Bible pattern.

Read:  Acts 20:28

It is the work- mission- of the church to preach the gospel of Christ, God’s power to save.

Read:  Romans 1:16

No congregation (local church) is obeying Christ unless it is concerned about the preaching to people who are lost in sin- wherever they may be! A congregation of the Lord’s people must be interested in helping save lost souls who live nearby or far away.

We must preach the gospel of Christ all over the world. As a Christian- a child of God- I am to do my part so that the local church, where I am a member, can do its God-given work.

Read:  Mark 16:15-16

This means that I must not only support the teaching and preaching work of the local congregation, but I must also give money to help spread the message of Christ. Elders and preachers must be sure that the work of teaching is done. But, as an individual, I too, must do everything I can to personally influence my friends, relatives, and other people I know to understand the gospel of Christ and obey it.

The New Testament teaches us that all members of the church must spread the gospel. The first church (local congregation) was in the city of Jerusalem. When the members of the church in Jerusalem were persecuted for Christ’s sake, they were “scattered abroad,” but the New Testament says: “They therefore that were scattered abroad went about preaching the word” (Acts 8:4).

Read:  Timothy 4:2-5

But though there were evangelist who preached the Word of God publicly and in local churches, this did not mean that other members were excused from teaching the gospel of Christ in less public ways. 

Read:  Colossians 1:17-19