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What Is Evangelism?

Dwight Zscheile

+What Comes to Mind?

What words, phrases, or images come to mind when you think of “evangelism”?

+Roots

Greek euangelizomai= to proclaim (good news)

Common in NT; eclipsed in Middle Ages

In European Christendom: “mission”=activity outside geographical bounds “evangelism”=activity within (calling back to faith)

Modern missions movement: “Evangelization of the world in this generation”

+Definitions

“Evangelism is the proclamation of salvation in Christ to those who do not believe in him, calling them to repentance and conversion, announcing forgiveness of sin, and inviting them to become living members of Christ’s earthly community and to begin a life of service to others in the power of the Holy Spirit.”

--David Bosch, Transforming Mission, p. 11

+Evangelism…

Is the heart of mission (though mission is bigger than evangelism)

Seeks to bring people into visible community of believers

Involves witnessing to what God has done, is doing and will do

Is invitation, not coaxing or threat (evangelist is witness, not judge!)

+Evangelism, cont.…

Is possible only when community that evangelizes is radiant manifestation of Christian faith/lifestyle

Involves risk taking

Primary purpose is not imparting assurance of eternal bliss

Is calling people to discipleship.--David Bosch, “Evangelism: Theological Currents and Cross-Currents Today”

+Initiation into Reign of God

“Evangelism is that set of intentional activities which is governed by the goal of initiating people in the Kingdom of God for the first time.”

--William Abraham, The Logic of Evangelism, p. 95.

“Evangelism is simply the initial formation of genuine disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

--William Abraham, “A Theology of Evangelism: The Heart of the Matter”

+To Bring Good News of Salvation…

Implies bearing witness to a liberating and a searching God

Is to interpret Christ’s saving work in the light of the struggles of humankind

Is to call for a commitment to Jesus Christ.--Orlando Costas, “Evangelism and the Gospel of Salvation”

+Lutheran Laryngitis?

Stumbling blocks: an aversion to conversion?

Whose work?

Repentance (metanoia) and faith

+A Personal Story

Capitola, California

+Religious Adherence, Santa Cruz County, CA

Unclaimed85%

Other2%

Catholic7%

Mainline2%

Evangelical4%

Year 2009Source: Social Explorer

+Inhabiting a Predominant Story

You are what you earn/achieve

It’s all up to us

We’re on our own to create meaning, identity, purpose

Community must be constructed but isunreliable

Forgiveness?

+Turning Point: Encountering ChristOutside ‘Church’ Lived witness: ‘little Christ’

“I am the resurrection and the life… Do you believe this?”

An alternative story

They came to me

Discovering Christian community

+Embodied Witness

We are commissioned “to bring the forgiveness of God to actual men and women in their concrete situations in the only way that it can be done so long as we are in the flesh—by the word and act and gesture of another human being.”--Lesslie Newbigin, The Open Secret, p. 48

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