Evangelism

JESUS CHRIST commissioned His followers to:
“Go into the world and preach the Good News.”
Matthew 28 verses 19 -20

What is the Good News?

• That GOD created us and goes on loving us, even though we are often selfish and not living as He created us to live.

• That GOD, at a particular moment in history, came to the earth in the person as Jesus Christ to bring salvation to us in a sinful world. His life served as an example. His death on the cross, as a sacrifice for sin, is the means by which humankind can be reconciled to God.

• That we need to recognize the truth of this and turn back to God seeking forgiveness and desiring to live in a way that pleases Him, recognizing and seeking the help of His Holy Spirit to come alongside us and lead us closer to God the Father.

• The Early Christian Church as recorded in the New Testament, believed this and, empowered by the Holy Spirit, sought to share this Good News of salvation found in the person of Christ. His resurrection from the dead is proof of His living presence – giving hope.

What is mission?

It is to be sent out.

What is Evangelism?

It is to tell the Good News of Jesus Christ.

• The early Christian saints (see Reredos) continued this witness. With courage and faith ‘The Good News’ came to Britain; firstly through Roman soldiers, notably Alban: then Augustine of Canterbury coming to the South from Rome. Columba came from the North with Celtic Christianity from Ireland. Paulinus, one of Augustine’s team, who it is said, brought Christianity to Dewsbury, is a challenging figure to the church today as a Missionary Bishop!

• The Church of England formed through King Henry VIII ‘s political needs, uses a ‘parish’ system to cover every area of the country with pastoral care. This is one element that has created a church, which finds it difficult to adapt to rapid changes in society. The Industrial Revolution, two World Wars, Materialism, Rationalism, Secularism, Scientific skepticism and what may seem as a multi-faith society, have all provided the Church with a great challenge to communicate the Christian Faith in a relevant way.