Effective Evangelism

Matthew's Gospel ends with Jesus' final words of commissioning for the disciples and for future Christians to go and to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that Jesus has commanded them (Matt. 28:18-20; see also Mark 16:15-16).  This is one of the most direct references that Jesus made in reference to His commandment for Christians to evangelize.

Many believers never take their Christianity outside the doors of their church.  This is not what Jesus asks of us.  If we Jesus' commissioning seriously, then we will evangelize.  More directly, if we do not evangelize, we are acting in disobedience because those who wish to belong to Jesus must adhere to His commandments (John 15).

But what does this mean in regards to evangelism?  Many devout believers respond to Jesus call to evangelism with an air of derision or a tinge of doubt.  The question then to ask is what stands at the irreducible core of evangelism: love, more specifically, the love of God through Jesus.  Evangelism is all about transmitting the love of God, supremely expressed in the life and work of Jesus, to unbelievers.

Because evangelism is truly about love, proselytizing requires sincere relationship.  Evangelism takes more than simply handing out tracts and explaining the gospel.  Instead, investing in relationships with love and sincerity overtime to build up relational equity and credibility stands at the heart of evangelism.

The truth is that all believers are required to evangelize, meaning that all of us our called to express the love of Jesus to people.  Living the love of God out is the key to affective evangelism; however, at some point our actions have to be met with sincere preaching the Word of God, which is Christ crucified.  The preaching of the Word is paramount to evangelism.  If we do not vocalize the love that we express, the connection between the two might be overlooked or wholly neglected.  Let us then press on the walk the walk and to talk the talk of evangelism!