Acts 2 Evangelism

By Pastor Dwight Nelson

I have noticed that often the topic of evangelism will come up i a committee meeting, men's Bible study, or in a conversation among church members. The main point is, How can we become a church that see more people from our community coming to faith in Christ? Someone might also ask, "How can we become more connected with the people in the community that surrounds our church, and with our neighbors in the areas in which we live?"

Often the answer is to try a successful program that is found in other churches, or to do more marketing or advertising. These are often good ideas, and our Outreach committee spends time considering each one. But the Outreach committee is made up of few people, and sometimes the agenda of its meetings gets long. It can feel like a bottleneck. How can we spread this interest in evangelism more broadly in the church?

One idea is to follow the pattern of how evangelism was carried out in the New Testament church. Acts chapter 2 gives us a view of how evangelism was the natural result of a church that devoted itself to worship, the study of God's Word, fellowship, and care for the poor. Evangelism took place in every area of the life of the church. Everything they did contributed to the result that people were saved and added to their number daily.

"They devoted themselves to the Apostles' teaching . . ."

We would say they had a good Sunday school and plenty of Bible studies. The whole church was involved in the study of God's Word.

". . .and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread."

They had something like our Wednesday evening dinners, Sunday potlucks and picnics. The breaking of bread may also refer to the celebration of the Lord's Supper, done with joy and reverence.

"Many miraculous signs were done by the apostles."

People's lives were deeply impacted by the Gospel, and many were healed. We too have seen God work in strong ways in people's lives, bringing healing and renewal.

"All believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need."

This spirit of generosity is evident at our Parking Lot sale, the Benevolent Fund, the bringing of meals to people who are recovering from surgery, our Covenant World Relief offering, and our involvement with Love, INC. and PADS.

"Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts."

Worship is important to us, and we are aware of the many people who contribute to our worship times: choir, worship team, sanctuary brass, organists, pianists, ushers, and sound team. We also may wonder if the church in Acts had to take a turn sweeping and cleaning the temple courts. We have custodians, trustees, and work days to care for our "courts."

"They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts."

We get together in our homes in potluck groups, progressive dinners, and as we extend hospitality. Sometimes we break bread outside our homes, as the Fireside Dinner Fellowship does each month.

"Praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people."

This is true "one-another" fellowship, which we all seek to live out.

Notice what happened as each part of the church did its work with devotion and glad and sincere hearts.

"The Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

So evangelism is not a task given to one small committee, nor is it a matter of clever marketing, nor is it doing the programs that work well in other places. Evangelism is working together in worship, Bible study, fellowship, maintenance of property, and individually practicing hospitality and generosity. Evangelism is a result of being devoted to loving God and loving one another. The whole church can be active in evangelism, and we all can understand how every part of the church shares in Jesus' command to go and make disciples.

We each have our part to play, but all of us hold the Lord's Great Commission together. Pray for a renewed commitment for the kind of devotion to God's Word and to the fellowship that becomes contagious. We too can see the Lord add to our number those who are being saved.