What is God’s preferred method of delivering his truth (the Gospel) to the world? 

The Bible is clear that Jesus Christ is the hope of the world. The Church has been entrusted with the task of representing God and being witnesses for Him – I think most evangelical Christians would agree on this point. Where I believe much more of the divergence occurs though is in the area of methods – not so much about what the message is, but how are we to get the message out? How is it to be delivered? Does the Bible speak to this subject?

Some think the best way is through legislation – If we can change the laws of the land to be favorable to Christianity, then more people will come to Christ. Some think the best way is through building relationships (lifestyle evangelism) – If we can gain people’s trust, then they are more likely to hear and believe what we have to say about Jesus. Others focus on good deeds or acts of community service – If our community sees the church as the ones who bring blessing to this city, then they are more likely to believe. Still others emphasize the church building, services, events – If we can have the absolutely best community programs and get people in the doors, then we will more effectively assimilate them into the body of Christ. So there are many methods (and I am not in any way shape or form saying those activities are wrong. I believe all of the ones I just mentioned are good and to one degree or another should be done), but the specific question I want to answer is, “What is the Biblical method of evangelism?” How did the men of God in Scripture get the Gospel to the world? Are there any specific commands to us about how to deliver the message? I am going to present a quick survey of the New Testament, which demonstrates clearly that God’s preferred method is that of…preaching.   

Mark 1:1 “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” The word gospel simply means good news, however the word has a very rich history. Consider the following description: The term εὐαγγέλιον (gospel) was used at the time of the Roman Empire to herald the good news of the arrival of a kingdom – the reign of a king that brought war to an end, so that all people of the world who surrendered and pledged allegiance to this king would be granted salvation from destruction. This term “gospel” was applied to the birth of Caesar Augustus, who was labeled as a “god,” who reigned as “Lord,” and who arrived to bring “salvation” to people. This can be found on the Priene Calendar Inscription. The simple fact that the message we are given to bring to the world is called a “gospel” tells us much about the method. It is a message of grand proportions, a world shaking message, one that is to be proclaimed throughout the earth – the announcement of a new, special emperor who has come to bring in an age of peace and righteousness. It is similar to the news of a new President winning the election, but just greater. It is news that must be published everywhere, now! It is not a message to slowly, carefully, cautiously weave into the lives of friends or family members, but rather to be announced, right now, with great joy! It is not a message that we are to slowly, strategically dovetail into our culture, but rather a bold message, to call our nation, cities, culture, families, schools, businesses, entertainment industry – everything and everyone – now, to bow to the Lordship of Jesus Christ!  

How did Jesus get the gospel to His world? Mark 1:14-15 says, “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” The first thing we see Jesus doing in his ministry is publicly preaching the Gospel. In this passage, do we find Jesus building relationships, priming them for his message of repentance? Was he striving in the Sanhedrin to pass new legislation? What was Jesus’ preferred method of evangelism? Preaching. If it was good enough for Jesus…

Notice that Jesus says, “the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand.” The message Jesus proclaimed was urgent. There was no time for delay – everyone needed to hear, now. It is no different today. People’s souls are in the balance, death comes unexpectedly, and their hope is to hear a call for repentance and faith in the Gospel. Jesus said in another place, “Today is the day of salvation.” If to day is the day of salvation – then the appropriate time to bring forth the call of repentance and salvation is today. 

What does it communicate to people if we wait a long time before sharing the gospel with them? Say you have coworkers that you have labored with side by side for months or years, and all of a sudden you begin to tell them the gospel message: “My friend, you are in a grave situation before God, in danger of Hell, and you have been since the day that I met you. If you had died since the time I met you, you would be in Hell right now. But Jesus did die for you and you can be totally forgiven today if you will call upon him.” Doesn’t that actually appear very offensive – even more offensive than sharing the Gospel with them right off the bat? You knew that they were lost, and how they could be found, but you never told them??? The most appropriate time to deliver the gospel to every sector of your life is…today. Another thing is, this may be your last opportunity to share the Gospel with this person – they could die, you could die.    

Luke 8:1 says, “And it came to pass afterward, that he (Jesus) went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him.” Along with Jesus going about the nation preaching the Gospel, he sent out his disciples to do the same. Among the instructions he gave them was this, Matthew 10:27 “What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.” Jesus instructed them how to deliver the message – preach it from the housetops! The message was urgent and universal; they were to be bold, loud and thorough. 

As Jesus left this earth, he commissioned his followers with a very specific task. Mark 16:15, 20 says,  “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature…And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.” The Church should feed the poor, live holy lives, seek legislation that accords with Scripture, be a blessing to the community, do everything with excellence, etc. However, the Great Commission: the thing that should be infused in everything that we do; the thing that at all costs should not go without being done, is to preach the gospel to every creature. Every other method of evangelism, or means we use to bring people to Christ, must fall underneath the plain proclamation of the Gospel. Other methods must be accessories to this main task. 

The word “preach” used in the Great Commission and throughout the New Testament is the Greek word “kerusso,” which means “to announce, proclaim aloud, or to herald.” We are to trumpet forth the knowledge that Jesus Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. All power, or authority has been given to Him in heaven and on the earth, so therefore, Go!

After Jesus ascended, his disciples, in obedience to the Lord’s command, waited in the city of Jerusalem, until the Holy Spirit was poured out upon them. This happened at the feast of Pentecost, when the small city of Jerusalem was swelling with crowds of people. When the Holy Spirit came and filled them all, what were they prompted to do? They were compelled to go out into the open air and preach the gospel. Acts 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words…This was the first sermon preached after Jesus left. They simply continued to do exactly what Jesus had been doing while he was here. This practice continued in the early days of the church in Israel: Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. Again, what specifically did the Holy Spirit prompt them to do? Speak the word of God with boldness. Acts 5:19-20 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. Acts 5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

An important passage to highlight is Acts chapter 8. Acts 8:1 says “And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.” So the apostles stayed in Jerusalem, but everyone else left. Now, what did they do as they were scattered? Acts 8:4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. This is important, because sometimes it is said the ministry of gospel proclamation was only given to the apostles, but here we see that everyone was preaching the word. The ministry of preaching is for everyone in the church, not just the pastors, evangelists, leaders, etc. 

The latter half of the book of Acts details the conversion and ministry of the apostle Paul. Hear this scripture: Acts 9:19-20 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. What did Paul do when he was saved? Immediately he began to preach Christ! It barely even needs to be said that the entire life of Paul – through and through – was a ministry of proclamation. Paul was one of the greatest preachers, if not the greatest preacher to ever live. For the rest of this article, I want to draw scriptures from Paul’s writings which demonstrate the preeminence of preaching as the main method the church must use for evangelism…

Romans 1:14-16 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. We are debtors to the world. We have received the message that can deliver people from Hell and has the power to bring people into a personal relationship with God. We owe it to everyone to share this message with them. We should not be ashamed of our Lord. We may be ridiculed, laughed at, mocked, or even physically assaulted, but any sacrifice given to announce this message is worth it! 

Notice in this passage also – what is the power of God unto salvation? The power is contained in the message of the Gospel. “For therein the righteousness of God is revealed…” (Romans 1:17 The power to convert a sinner is not in us being a good testimony or building relationships with people. Though this may help, the power comes when someone discerns the contents of the gospel and it is applied to their lives.

Romans 10:13-14 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? The regular means by which God converts a sinner could be stated this way: God elects – The Holy Spirit, at the appropriate time begins to woo and convict the elect – a Christian is move by God to evangelize that person – the Holy Spirit speaks through the word of the gospel being presented – faith is created and the sinner is born again.

The process I just described is further confirmed a few verses later…So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. There are absolutely a thousand other ways that God may bring someone into the faith (dreams, hearing a testimony, fear of death, etc.), but the normal means, the overwhelming amount of times it happens regularly is through the preached word. It is simply what God has chosen. Let us not neglect it!

1 Corinthians 1:17-18 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. Again, what is the power of God? The preaching of the Cross. I think that many times the method of preaching is not followed because of the offense of the cross. The preaching of the cross to an unbeliever is foolishness. This is why when we evangelize, many times we are scoffed, mocked and ridiculed. Sometimes it is because the preacher is being harsh and not compassionate, but even when the gospel is being preached with love and grace, the reality is that we are telling people that they are sinful and worthy of Hell, and that only the death of Jesus on a cross can reconcile them to God. Unless they are being called by God, we are going to attract the disgust of our hearers, just as Jesus did. Paul said the apostles were the offscouring of the world. It is way more comfortable and easy to do good deeds and love on people, because it gives you a good reputation in the world. But the reality is that our good deeds do not convince people of their sins, rather the Law of God needs to be shone on people’s lives and then the cross will become powerful. Preaching is hard and intense, but it is powerful. 1 Corinthians 1:23-24 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

There is a very powerful, key verse mentioned in Titus 1:2-3, In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour.

God’s plan all along, before the foundations of the world, was that Jesus would come, die, rise again and be the Savior of the world. In God’s timing Jesus stepped into the world and accomplished the long awaited plan of God. Paul tells us how God determined that this message would be delivered to the world – through preaching. 

Finally, as the apostle Paul passed the baton on to Timothy, he gave him this parting charge; which word I will part with for this article: 2 Timothy 4:2 says simply, “Preach the Word.” 

God’s preferred method of delivering the Gospel to the world is through preaching! If you are a Christian you should be a preacher. Preach! Love preaching, encourage preaching, financially support the preaching of the gospel, pray for those who are preaching, and ever be grateful to those preachers who had beautiful feet as they came to bring the gospel to you. Freely ye have received, freely give!