Church Matters: Evangelism: Sharing the Good News

Christians have long known that evangelism is important.

And yet, debate rages over evangelistic principles and practices. Some say big events, others say no events. Some say altar calls, others say no offer at all. Some say evangelism is an individual’s game, others say it’s a team sport. How do we make sense of so many diverging views? This issue of Church Matters will consider what the Bible says about evangelism as well as pastoral principles for how churches may best approach the task at hand.

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Table of Contents

Editor's Note by Jonathan Leeman

What Is Evangelism?
A Biblical Understanding of Evangelism by Mark Dever
The Whole Commission: Why Making Disciples Includes More Than Evangelism by John Sarver
Must Every Christian Evangelize? by Tim Beougher
They Will Listen: Evangelistic Confidence in a Cynical Age by Paul Billings

Evangelism and the Church
Connecting Evangelism and Church by Jonathan Leeman
Evangelistic Expository Preaching by Mark Dever
Addressing Nonbelievers in Corporate Worship by Jamie Southcombe
How to Equip the Church for Evangelism by Brad Wheeler
Three Ingredients for an Evangelistic Church Culture by Mike McKinley
Five Ways for Pastors to Cultivate Their Own Evangelism by Matt Merker
Reaching the “Converted” by Bob Johnson
Building a Culture of Evangelism Takes Time, So Be Patient and Get to Work by Sam Emadi and Caleb Greggsen
Why People in Your Church Don’t Do Evangelism—and One Really Important Thing to Do About It by Isaac Adams
Evangelism in Children’s and Youth Ministry by Mitch Kimbrell
Evangelism Without an Altar Call by Aaron Menikoff
Fisherman or Fishermen? Considering the Church’s Corporate Mission by Matt Sliger
Evangelistic Programs or the Alternative? by Mack Stiles

Growing in Evangelism
Commend the One You Cherish: Learning Evangelism from John Piper by David Mathis
Pre-Evangelism: Building Relational Trenches by Paul Billings
What If I’m Discouraged in My Evangelism? by Zach Schlegel
Five Reasons We Don’t Evangelize by Mike McKinley
What Place Do Gospel Tracts Have in Evangelism Today? by Alberto Puente

Evangelism on the Ground
The Gospel for a Gay Friend by Garrett Kell
Evangelism in a Post-Christian Culture by Elliot Clark
Evangelism as a Community Project by Joel Kurz
Evangelism in the Workplace by Ashok Nachnani
Evangelizing Prosperity Gospel Disciples by Godwin Sathianathan
How to Evangelize Cross Culturally by John Folmar
Evangelism Across Economic Boundaries by Mike McKinley
How Hospitality Helps Evangelism by Sam Crites
Evangelizing the Nations at Home by Andy Johnson
Reaching Our Neighbors with the Gospel by Allen Duty

Evangelism Stories
How Spurgeon Got His Congregation by Geoff Chang
Tim Keller on Apologetics as Evangelism by Collin Hansen
Japanese Student Finds Life in Switzerland and Takes It Back Home by Christian Schmid