The Bible teaches that every Christian should evangelise and share the good news of Jesus Christ with others. Here are some scriptures that support this idea:
• The Great Commission: In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus commands his disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
• Mark 16:15: Jesus said to his disciples, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”
• Acts 1:8: Jesus tells his disciples, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
• Romans 10:14-15: “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'”
These and other scriptures demonstrate that evangelism is a crucial aspect of the Christian faith and that every believer is called to share the gospel with others.
You cannot evangelise, do soul winning or be a witness of Jesus Christ if you are not yet identified with Him in every way.
Identifying with Christ Jesus means confessing our faith in him as Lord and Saviour and striving to live by his teachings. The Bible teaches that identifying with Christ Jesus is essential for salvation and honouring God. Here are some relevant Bible verses that support identifying with Christ Jesus:
• “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” – Romans 10:9
This verse emphasises the importance of confessing our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord to be saved. This confession should genuinely express our belief in him as the Son of God and our commitment to follow him.
• “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” – 2 Corinthians 5:17
This verse indicates that when we identify with Christ Jesus, we become new creations in him. This means that our old ways of life, characterised by sin and disobedience, are replaced by a new way of living, characterised by righteousness and obedience to God’s will.
• “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” – Matthew 16:24
This verse highlights the cost of identifying with Christ Jesus, which involves denying ourselves and taking up our cross to follow him. This means that we must be willing to sacrifice our desires and interests to live a life that honours God and reflects his love for others.
Identifying with Christ Jesus is essential for salvation and honouring God. By confessing our faith in Him and striving to live our lives by His teachings, we can experience the joy and peace that comes from knowing Him and being in a relationship with Him.
You cannot truly evangelise, preach the good news, do soul-winning or be a witness of Jesus Christ if you deny Him:
Denying Jesus Christ means rejecting him as the world’s Son of God and Saviour. The Bible teaches that there are serious consequences for denying Jesus Christ. Here are some relevant Bible verses that explain what will happen if we deny Jesus Christ:
• “But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.” – Matthew 10:33
This verse indicates that if we deny Jesus Christ before others, he will disown us before God the Father. This means we will not have a relationship with God or be saved from our sins.
• “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” – John 3:36
This verse explains that those who reject Jesus Christ will not have eternal life and will experience God’s wrath. This means that they will be separated from God for eternity and will not experience the joys of heaven.
• “For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their harm and holding him up to contempt.” – Hebrews 6:4-6
• This verse suggests that if someone has experienced the gospel’s truth and denies Jesus Christ, they can’t repent and be saved again. This is because they are rejecting the only way to salvation and are crucifying Jesus Christ again.
Denying Jesus Christ has serious consequences in this life and the afterlife. Therefore, confessing our faith in Jesus Christ and continuing to follow him in all areas of our lives is important.
Lifestyle Evangelism
Understanding the importance of Evangelism, identifying with Christ and not denying Him in any way are the foundations for a genuine lifestyle evangelism. Even the name that those that are for Christ are called “Christians” was borne out of lifestyle evangelism mainly.
The term “Christian” was first used to describe the followers of Jesus Christ in Antioch in the early days of Christianity. The book of Acts in the Bible explains that the disciples were first called “Christians” in Antioch (Acts 11:26).
It is believed that the disciples were called Christians in Antioch because they were preaching about Jesus Christ and his teachings to the people of that city. The name “Christian” is derived from the Greek word “Christos,” which means “anointed one” or “Messiah.”
The disciples’ teachings and way of life differed from the prevailing religious beliefs and practices in Antioch, a cosmopolitan city with a diverse population. Nevertheless, the disciples’ message of salvation and hope attracted many people, and they began to be known as “Christians” or “followers of Christ.”
The term “Christian” quickly spread beyond Antioch and became a common way to refer to the followers of Jesus Christ. Today, it is estimated that there are over 2 billion Christians worldwide.
Lifestyle evangelism can and should happen everywhere, anywhere and every time, whether you are attending church on-ground or online:
Lifestyle evangelism would involve sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ through their daily lives and online interactions. Here are some relevant Bible verses that demonstrate how to practice lifestyle evangelism:
• “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:16
This verse encourages Christians to live their lives in a way that shines the light of Christ on others. Online Church members can do this by sharing positive messages and living out their faith in their online interactions.
• “Always be prepared to answer everyone who asks you to give the reason for your hope. But do this with gentleness and respect.” – 1 Peter 3:15
This verse encourages Christians to be prepared to share their faith when asked about it. Online Church members can do this by sharing their stories of faith and engaging in online discussions about faith and spirituality.
• “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” – Matthew 28:19-20
This verse, known as the Great Commission, encourages Christians to spread the gospel to others. Online Church members can share Christian content and invite others to church events and online Bible studies.
Lifestyle evangelism would involve sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ through how they live online. Here are some practical ways that Christians can practice lifestyle evangelism:
1. Consistently demonstrate the love of Christ through their interactions online. This could include being kind, patient, and respectful when engaging with others online.
2. Share their personal stories of faith online. This could include posting about how their faith has impacted their life, sharing testimonies, and discussing how their relationship with God has helped them overcome challenges.
3. Use social media to promote positive messages and share Christian content. This could include sharing uplifting Bible verses, posting about church events, and sharing encouraging messages with their online community.
4. Participate in online discussions about faith and spirituality. This could include engaging with others in online Bible studies, joining online prayer groups, and sharing their knowledge and experiences with others.
5. Live a life that reflects their Christian values and beliefs. This could include being honest, generous, and compassionate online and living a life centred around serving and loving others.
Overall, lifestyle evangelism for online Church members involves living out their faith in a way that is authentic, consistent, and inspiring to others. By sharing their faith through online interactions, Church members can help others discover the love and hope in a relationship with Jesus Christ.
The Message Bearer, Cornelius Bella
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