The Evangelism Handbook
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The B's of Evangelism
Alongside the A's of the Apostles' application come the B's of the basic characteristics of evangelism.
BLOSSOMING
When any organism is alive, you expect growth. So it is with the church. "Many of them believed his message and were baptized, and about three thousand people were added to the group that day" (1). "For God's promise was made to you and your children, and to all who are far away - all whom the Lord our God calls to himself" (2). In Southern Ontario, the spring corn is renowned for its rapid development. Initially, it shows as a pale green carpet, but it soon springs up to over six feet high in a few short weeks!
BIBLICAL
Make sure your evangelism is Biblical and not your own version. "..this is what the prophet Joel spoke about..." (3). David said about him, "I saw the Lord before me at all times, he is near me, and I will not be troubled" (4). One minister, the Rev. James King, often paraphrased a Biblical passage instead of quoting the King James version. Then he would smile and say, "That's the James King version." The moral of this story?
BINDING
God's covenant with humans was made binding at Calvary. Through the commitment Christ made at the cross our salvation was secured. "All the people of Israel, then, are to know for sure that this Jesus, whom you crucified, is the one that God has made Lord and Messiah" (5)."David saw what God was going to do in the future, and so he spoke about the resurrection of the Messiah..."(6) A binding covenant is often sealed in the East with salt. It is a pledge, a promise of fidelity. "If I come to your house," writes Bishop Pillai, "and eat with you food that has been seasoned with salt, I can never betray you or do you harm. Even if you commit a crime and I am asked to testify I cannot do it because I have eaten your salt."
BLEEDING
Evangelism must always be interlaced with the death and resurrection of Jesus. "God has raised this very Jesus from death, and we are all witnesses to this fact (7). ... you will not allow your faithful servant to rot in the grave" (8). "See from his head, his hands, his feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down! Did ever such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?"
Notes
(1) Acts 2:41 (2) Acts 2:39 (3) Acts 2:16 (4) Acts 2:25 (5) Acts 2:36 (6) Acts 2:31 (7) Acts 2:32 (8) Acts 2:27
"Practical Christian Outreach in the Local Church"
