Today’s Bible Study, Authored by Arthur
Cincotti. 6/5/2022
Listen to our Bible
Study Discussion at: Who’s an Evangelist? Podcast
Or watch the Video Zoom Session of our Study on YouTube: Bible Study Video on YouTube
Who’s an Evangelist?
“And He Himself gave
some to be apostles, some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and
teachers, “Eph. 4:11
Some sectors of the
church like to call this short list, “the five fold ministry” while others say
that “pastors and teachers” is hyphenated, “pastor-teachers”.
We even disagree about hyphens. Shame on us!
Today we are focusing on
the office, or title of “evangelist”
Strong’s defines this as, “a preacher of the gospel”
Vine’s Expository says, “lit. ‘a messenger of good’”
Notice the word, “angel”
tucked in the middle.
Angels are God’s direct,
supernatural messengers, who often bring good news, but also bring warnings of
wrath and destruction.
Lk. 1:19 records, “And
the angel answered and said to him, ‘I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence
of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings.’”
Let’s look at four very
unlikely human evangelists (two from the OT
and two from the NT) who brought good news, divinely inspired, and let’s see if we can find a pattern.
1. Naomi, from the book of
Ruth
Naomi
is perhaps the worst evangelist ever, and I wouldn’t advise patterning our
evangelical style after her. She and her husband Elimelich flee Bethlehem of
Judah because of a famine and go to the country of Moab for ten years. While
there her husband dies and also her two sons, who had taken Moabite wives. Upon deciding to return to Judah, Naomi pleads
with her daughter in laws to remain behind in their country of Moab. Orpah
reluctantly agrees, but Ruth is determined to cling to Naomi. Naomi and Ruth
return to Bethlehem with their sad story. She says, “Do not call me Naomi;
call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me”.
Not a great testimony of
victory!!!
What unfolds is a
beautiful portrait of redemption. Good news!
Naomi leads one
person to the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob through life style
evangelism. Ruth. 1:16,17
2. II Kings 7:3 begins
with “Now there were four leprous men…”
Very unlikely
evangelists. They were unclean, isolated to “the entrance of the gate”
where they no doubt begged for food.
They risk their lives –
not really a big sacrifice considering the circumstances – and make a great
discovery that they shared with the besieged city of Samaria,
bringing deliverance. Good news!
3. Lk. 2:8, “Now there
were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over
their flocks by night.”
Good news!
4. Mk. 16:1,2 “Now when
the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salmone
bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. Very early in the morning,
on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen”.
Good news!
All these humble
examples shared “good news”, the gospel!
Read I Cor. 1:18-31 to see the pattern.
There are two sorts of
“lifestyle evangelism”. One who shares the gospel through their changed life,
and one who makes sharing the gospel their lifestyle. Only requirement is a
changed life.
“But we have this
treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and
not of us. II Cor. 4:7
—–Join us for
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Encouragement for the Path of Christian Discipleship
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