Geoffrey R. Kirkland
Christ Fellowship Bible Church
At Christ Fellowship Bible Church, we believe that part of our mission is to evangelize the lost. The joyful privilege and God-given duty that rests upon every single Christian includes the proclamation of the saving message of Jesus Christ with the lost.
1. Our evangelistic endeavors must be just that -- evangelistic. This means that when we go out to proclaim the saving message of Jesus Christ, that we actually proclaim the saving message. We believe in helping people, serving the needy, feeding the hungry, clothing the destitute, but our primary focus that undergirds all of our acts of mercy must be the saving of the sinner’s soul through the proclamation of Christ crucified for sinners, buried, and raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. We cannot allow our evangelism outings to be superseded by acts of kindness alone. They are not opposed to one another and neither should we neglect to care for our neighbors. But the greatest way we can serve them is to evangelize their souls and summon them to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ alone.
2. Our evangelistic endeavors must be faithful in gospel proclamation. When we proclaim the gospel, we must ensure that we declare the faithful and full gospel. Of course, not every conversation or outing will allow for a lengthy gospel dialogue, but we must proclaim Christ’s substitutionary death, His resurrection, man’s sin, God’s coming judgment, and the absolute necessity for sinners to repent and believe the gospel. This may be spoken verbally, or through a tract, or a gospel sign, or a letter. But we endeavor to faithfully convey the gospel and not fall into a message that omits the call to repentance or a message that downplays divine wrath. Rather, we resolve to remain faithful to God, His Word and the gospel & proclaim the full message and invite sinners to embrace Christ and be saved!
3. Our evangelistic endeavors must be submissive to governing authorities. Wherever we go, we bear witness to the Lord Jesus Christ and His gospel. Thus, we want to humbly obey our governing authorities. If, for example, a law enforcement officer asks us to move from one location to another spot twenty feet away, we want to comply with those who are in governing authority over us. We will obey and submit to our authorities unless they demand that we stop preaching Jesus Christ or if they demand that we sin. Then, we must obey God rather than men. But, as is most often the case, when the authorities come our way and engage us, we must engage them humbly, respectfully, lawfully and submissively.
4. Our evangelistic endeavors must be trusting God to sovereignly grant regeneration. When we proclaim the gospel, we cannot and we will not turn to manmade ploys to manipulate people into making a decision. Rather, we will proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and believe that no one can say “Jesus Christ is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit. We believe that men are saved through hearing the Word as the Lord sovereignly saves them. This takes the pressure off of us to try to convert the sinner or say the right thing to get them to believe. Rather, our trust rests wholly in the sovereign hand of God who promises to save all of His elect. So, we confidently and joyfully proclaim the gospel trusting God to work through us for His glory.
5. Our evangelistic endeavors must be bathed in prayer. Though we believe in the absolute sovereignty of God to save sinners, we still go and urge sinners to embrace Christ and turn from sin to be saved from divine judgment. And all of our evangelistic efforts must be bathed in prayer. How utterly foolish to think we could preach, or converse, or speak biblical truth with power in our own strength apart from the working of the Holy Spirit! So we must pray! We must seek the Lord in prayer! We must beg Him by asking, and seeking, and knocking that God will save His people. We must urge God and press our needs upon Him and seek the Lord of the harvest to bring many into His kingdom! Prayer must undergird our efforts.
6. Our evangelistic endeavors should be both formally and informally planned. There are occasions where we have formal and planned outings to proclaim the gospel to the lost. But these must not be the only times we share the gospel. The Lord graciously and providentially brings across our path opportunities and people every single day that we can evangelize -- at an intersection, at a restaurant, a child, a neighbor, a stranger walking by. We must be ready to proclaim the gospel when we’re out with the church family and when we’re by ourselves and the Lord grants a gospel-proclaiming moment.
7. Our evangelistic endeavors must be aimed at the glory of God. The ultimate purpose of all our evangelistic efforts must be for the glory of God. The great joy of God and renowned of His name is our ambition. We want God to save His elect and for Christ to be worshiped and praised by multitudes of saved sinners! The primary purpose of sharing the gospel is not to feel better about ourselves, or gain a sense of super-spiritual Christianity. Further, our primary purpose is not simply to grow the church and get more people in the doors. Our aim in evangelism must first and foremost be the ultimate glory of God. He is worthy of worship and praise. And for this reason, we go out so that He may use His Word, as it is faithfully conveyed, to save His people, all for His glory. We evangelize for the exaltation of God! This is our chief aim.
More at our CFBC website.
