Initiative Evangelism: What Does the Bible Say?

What does the Bible say about initiative evangelism? Why should we go to people and offer them the Gospel? As we look at Scripture and the example of Jesus, we find at least five compelling reasons.
1. Jesus took the initiative to come to us. Jesus came to “seek and save” the lost We do not seek God according to Romans 3:10-12. God has always been the one pursuing us. During His life, Jesus was continually pursuing people and speaking with them about the Kingdom. Jesus also sent His disciples out two-by- two, from village to village to proclaim the kingdom. (Luke 9:1-6 & Luke 10: 1-11)
2. Jesus commanded us to go and take the gospel to all peoples. Read Mark 16:15 and John 20:21 – just as the Father sent Jesus into the world to pursue people, so He has sent us.
3. The example of the apostles and the early church. As you read through the book of Acts, it is quite clear that the apostles and other leaders in the church were continually going to people and not waiting for people to come to them – some of the many examples in Acts:

• Acts 5:42 in the temple and from house to house
• Acts 8:4-13 Phillip to Samaria
• Acts 10 Peter to the Gentiles
• Acts 13-21 Paul’s 3 missionary journeys

4. People cannot and will not hear unless we go to them. Read Romans 10:13-15. some people do not have an existing relationship with someone who can explain to them the gospel – both individuals here on campus and entire people groups overseas. The Gospel cannot spread relationally for some, because there is no relationship unless someone goes and establishes one.

5. God is preparing the hearts of people to hear the Good news. There are some who are ready and want to know, and all we have to do is be willing to be used.
ACTS 8:25-40
Take a moment to read Acts 8:25-40 below:

“When they had testified and proclaimed the word of the Lord, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road – the desert road – that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”
Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.
“How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.”

The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?”Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?” And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.”

There’s a lot thoughts and concepts in there but some of what should be observed are the following:

• Phillip was already having a successful ministry where he was.
• The Lord led Phillip to a specific place.
• He finds a person of significant influence – the first black man to hear the Gospel, treasurer in the court of the Queen.
• The eunuch’s heart is already prepared – a Jewish proselyte, reading Isaiah.
• The Spirit’s role in leading Phillip (we need to walk in the Spirit continuously and be sensitive to His leading).
• Phillip’s obedience to go up to a total stranger – why might have this been something he could have hesitated to do?
• The need for someone to explain the Gospel to him.
• Phillip “opened his mouth” – a key principle in witnessing !
• The eunuch believes at the hearing of the Word and expresses his faith.
• The Spirit takes Phillip away indicating that the Lord is going to take care of the eunuch’s follow up (usually we can follow up a person and should but sometimes we can’t and that is OK – the Lord will take care of them).
• It is believed that this eunuch was the one to take the Gospel to N. Africa to begin the church there.