The History of Evangelism by David Parks

INTRODUCTION:
For nearly two thousand years man has looked back to the
growth of the first century church with envy and tried to duplicate it.
The Catholics of the dark ages tried it by political and military force.
The Pentecostals by supposed miracles and super power.
And we with our film strips.
But how was it done in the first century?  What steps were taken?
DISCUSSION:	
Preparation
Describe preparation of the apostles, Moses and surgeon.
Many of our churches experienced a burst of growth in the
middle 70's which they couldn't sustain because they had not
prepared for it. They just went out and bought some buses
and filled them with unprepared people.
Conviction
They believed the message they carried.
They believed that people are lost.  Straight preaching.
City at night. 
Matthew 23:37   "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who
kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How
often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers
her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 
Training and knowledge were not as vital as conviction.
Ex. - people argue about things they don't understand,
such as:  space, budget, deficit spending, bombing of the dikes.
Their conviction was so great that it left them no other
choice but to preach.  
Acts 4:20   "For we cannot but speak the things which
we have seen and heard." 
They were not only convinced that man was lost but that
it was necessary for them to preach the good news as their
only way to obtain salvation.
They believed the good news so much that when they were
scattered abroad, 
Acts 8:4   Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere
preaching the word. 
They couldn't hold it in.  They didn't set in the synagogue,
but went house to house.
Love.
Without love their efforts would have been useless. 
1 Corinthians 13:1   Though I speak with the tongues of
men and of angels, but have not love, I have become as
sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
This love was manifested in fellowship.
An early pagan writer commented about Christians, "See
how they love one another."
Acts 2:46-47  Every day they continued to meet together
in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and
ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God
and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added
to their number daily those who were being saved.
Apply this principle to pro-actively greeting visitors.
Apply this principle to teen agers and younger ones actively
communicating their love to visitors in their Bible Classes.
Enthusiasm.
Enthusiasm is God in us. Galatians 2:20   "I have been
crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives
in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith
in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 
Christ lives in us and knowing it compels us to go out and
teach as he did.
Philippians 4:13  I can do everything through him who
gives me strength.
Philippians 4:19  And my God will meet all your needs
according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Knowledge.
Knowledge is essential.
The Israelites had a zeal without knowledge.
Some claim the miracles converted people.
This is not so.
2 Corinthians 12:12   Truly the signs of an apostle were
accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs
and wonders and mighty deeds. 
2 Corinthians 9:1-2  Now concerning the ministering to
the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you; (2) for I
know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the
Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your
zeal has stirred up the majority. 
The miracles merely attracted the interest of the people,
and proved they were apostles.
Acts 8:12   But when they believed Philip as he preached the
things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus
Christ, both men and women were baptized. 
But even then the implanted word saved souls, and God
used preaching to save.  (Acts 2).  
1 Corinthians 1:21   For since, in the wisdom of God, the
world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through
the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 
It was the knowledge of the word that saved them.
Those who were faithful Christians taught others.
2 Timothy 2:2   And the things that you have heard from me
among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will
be able to teach others also.  The Greek is antropos (people)
not anear (man).
Dedication.
We See their dedication in their deeds. 
They Sold their goods.
Acts 2:44-45  All the believers were together and had everything
in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they
gave to anyone as he had need.
They Presented Christ the Living Word through the Bible
the written word.  
Acts 17:2   Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them,
and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 
Studying, teaching and reading the Bible.
Became a house to house church.  
Acts 20:20   "and how I kept back nothing that was helpful,
but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from
house to house, 
They invited their friends into their house to be taught.
Acts 10:24   And the following day they entered Caesarea.
Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together
his relatives and close friends. 
Invite your friends in; I'll teach them.
Followed up.
Titus 1:5   For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should
set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in
every city as I commanded you; 
Eph. 4:11-19.
They grew up to become like Christ.
They had the mind of Christ in them.  Luke 19:10   "for the Son
of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." 
Paul's second journey was for follow up.
Led not only the apostles but everyone to following up.
Paul our example.
His talking with the mob in Jerusalem.
Romans 9:1-4   I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my
conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, 2 that
I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. 3 For I could
wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my
kinsmen according to the flesh, 4 who are Israelites, to whom
pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving
of the law, the service of God, and the promises; 
Joy.  Philippians 4:4   Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will
say, rejoice! 
Why?
1 John 5:13   These things I have written to you who believe
in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you
have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the
name of the Son of God. 
Ill.  the boy looking at the mule and deciding he must be a
preacher.  Ill.  the little boy in church.
Their aim was to be analytical no hypercritical!!
They were at peace with themselves.
Acts 2:  didn't say: and they went from house to house daily
spreading the latest gossip.  
Rather they bore one another's burdens.
They were too busy searching out the lost to fight among themselves. 
Ill.  Ruel Lemons converting the Baptist and Methodist preachers
and the people there fighting among themselves.
Ill.  The preacher talking to the Baptist preacher in a debate.
Now all we have to do is to reproduce their message.
The time is ripe.
  
Sermon History:
02-27-94-AM-Waterford, MI