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Evangelism & Discipleship

New Testament Evangelism Conversations

August 31, 2024 ⏱ 9 min read · MN 5060 Evangelism and Discipleship · Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary draft

Regarding evangelism and its Message, Charles Spurgeon declared, "If a man is to be used as a winner of souls, he must have spiritual life to a high degree… When the Holy Spirit dwells within a living child of God, He later rises out of the very midst of Him as a fountain or a river, so that others may come and participate in the Spirit's gracious influences." Spurgeon's declaration is best noticed in the life of Jesus, who possesses this spiritual life to the utmost degree and "serves as a model evangelist." Furthermore, the latter part of Spurgeon's quote demonstrates the perpetuation of the Gospel in that Jesus personally evangelized His disciples first to save them and then to make them "fishers of men." These followers, empowered by the Holy Spirit they received at Pentecost, are mimickers of Christ's evangelistic endeavors insofar that they would go on to evangelize the entire world.

Evangelism in the New Testament

Regarding evangelism and its Message, Charles Spurgeon declared, “If a man is to be used as a winner of souls, he must have spiritual life to a high degree… When the Holy Spirit dwells within a living child of God, He later rises out of the very midst of Him as a fountain or a river, so that others may come and participate in the Spirit’s gracious influences.”1 Spurgeon’s declaration is best noticed in the life of Jesus, who possesses this spiritual life to the utmost degree2 and “serves as a model evangelist.”3 Furthermore, the latter part of Spurgeon’s quote demonstrates the perpetuation of the Gospel4 in that Jesus personally evangelized His disciples first to save them and then to make them “fishers of men.”5 These followers, empowered by the Holy Spirit they received at Pentecost,6 are mimickers of Christ’s evangelistic endeavors insofar that they would go on to evangelize the entire world.7 Of the fifty-five evangelistic conversations in the Gospels and Acts, Jesus engaged in thirty-six while His disciples fulfilled the rest.8 Therefore, this brief essay will examine these instances in summary through several questions to demonstrate the task of biblical evangelism.

Upon examination of the instances of evangelism found in the Gospels and Acts, it is evident that the Gospel was proclaimed relationally between two individuals,9 declared in teams,10 and preached to multitudes.11 Jesus participated in thirty,12 zero,13 and six instances,14 respectively. Regarding evangelism between two individuals, Andrew, the Apostle Philip, Philip the Evangelist, Ananias, Peter, and Paul each fulfilled one instance.15 Regarding team evangelism, Peter and John accomplished two cases, Paul and Barnabas one, Paul, Silas, and Timothy two, and Priscilla and Aquila one.16 Seven total instances of Jesus’ disciples preaching to multiple people simultaneously can be found in the work of John the Baptist and Paul, each accomplishing the task four and three times, respectively.17

Now that the various categories are established, the first question to be answered is, “What are the differences between these three forms?” Examining these categories, evangelism between two individuals, team evangelism, and evangelism to the multitudes, demonstrates their differences. The former two categories are more conversational than the latter. For instance, in John 4:1-42, Jesus participates in an in-depth conversation with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s Well before the woman and many others confess their faith in Him.18 On the other hand, evangelism to the multitudes requires an approach focused more on preaching than conversation. For example, in Acts 17, though not included in Thomas P. Johnston’s chart, Paul preaches in the Areopagus of Athens about the unknown god, commands the Greeks to repent, and warns them of the coming judgment.19 Because of Paul’s evangelism to the multitudes some believed, yet others did not.20 These two sections of Scripture demonstrate that evangelism is done differently depending on the audience, but the content of evangelism is constant.

Another question regarding evangelism must be answered: “Is evangelism initiated by the contact or the evangelist?” The Great Commission seems to imply that the disciples will “go” and, therefore, be the ones who initiate evangelism,21 but examining the fifty-five instances of evangelism in the Gospels and Acts presents an exciting alternative. Both evangelists and contacts initiate evangelism. The two categories are almost equal in frequency in the Gospel and Acts: the evangelist initiated nineteen instances,22 while the contact initiated twenty-five.23 This reality of both the contact and evangelist seeking Gospel conversations is encouraging, for it means that once God has given individuals an interest in the Gospel, they may reach out for the saving truth through contacting the evangelist. However, evangelists should not assume this is the norm. They must also go out to the nations and the lost people of the world to preach the Message to those who do not have any idea of the Gospel. Ultimately, evangelism will be initiated by these two, but it can also be initiated by other means: third parties,24 judicial systems,25 and God Himself.26

Evangelism is to be done with strangers and those who have previously been acquainted with the evangelist. Of the fifty-five evangelism conversations in the Gospels and Acts, thirty-nine are between strangers,27 six are between those previously acquainted,28 and the prior relationship of ten encounters is unknown.29 Therefore, today, evangelism must be practiced in the same measure. Christians must evangelize strangers, acquaintances, friends, family members, and everyone they meet.

Another question that should be asked concerning these New Testament evangelism conversations is, “How is the Gospel presented?” Forty-seven out of fifty-five conversations are focused on the person of Christ, His work, and faith in Him, while the rest focus on things that relate to Him, such as the Word of God.30 Therefore, evangelism today should be as Christocentric as it was for the authors of the New Testament. Without Christ and His Gospel, there is no salvation and no need to evangelize.

Overall, there is much to be learned from Scripture’s evangelistic conversations. It is evident that evangelism involves individual discussions, teams, and preaching and is to be engaged with strangers and those familiar to Christians. While the methods and audiences may change, the message is always Christocentric, either focusing on the Person of Christ, His work, or things that directly connect to Him, such as the Word of God, the resurrection of the dead, and judgment. A good reminder when evangelizing is that “the [G]ospel is a message about [the] Person and work of Christ. When sharing the Gospel [Christians] must first give [H]is credentials and then [H]is message. [They] show people who [H]e is and then what [He] has done.”31 Truly, this is the way evangelism was done in the New Testament, and Christians today would be wise to follow these examples. Christ, His work, and the response to it, faith and repentance, are what Christians must declare when engaging in evangelism.

Footnotes

  1. Charles H. Spurgeon, The Soulwinner (New Kensington: Whitaker House, 1995), 43. Spurgeon also speaks of the Holy Spirit and quotes the words of Christ: “He that believeth on [M]e, as the [S]cripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water (John 7:38).” ↩

  2. John 5:26. ↩

  3. Timothy K. Beougher, Invitation to Evangelism: Sharing the Gospel with Compassion and Conviction (Grand Rapids: Kregel Academic, 2021), 60. ↩

  4. Ibid., 16. ↩

  5. Matt. 4:19; Mark 1:17. ↩

  6. Acts 2:1-4. ↩

  7. Beougher, 61. ↩

  8. Thomas P. Johnston, Evangelizology, 879-885. ↩

  9. Thirty-six instances: John 1:40-42, 43, 44-51; 3:1-21; 4:4-26, 39-42, 46-54, Matt. 8:1-4 (Mark 1:40-45; Luke 5:12-16), 5-13 (Luke 7:1-10), 19-20 (Luke 9:57-58); Luke 9:59-60 (Matt. 8:21-22), 61-62; Mark 2:1-12 (Matt. 9:1-8; Luke 5:17-26); Mark 5:1-20 (Matt. 8:28-34; Luke 8:26-39); Matt. 9:9-13; Mark 5:21-24, 35-43 (Matt. 9:18-19, 23-26; Luke 8:40-42, 49-56), 25-34 (Matt. 9:20-22; Luke 8:43-48); Matt. 9:32-34; 12:9-14 (Mark 3:1-6; Luke 6:6-11), Luke 7:11-17, 36-50; John 5:1-15; Matt. 15:21-28 (Mark 7:24-30); Mark 8:22-26; 9:14-29 (Matt. 17:14-21; Luke 9:37-43a), Luke 13:10-17; John 9:1-41; Matt. 19:16-30 (Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30); Luke 19:1-10; 23:1-7 (Matt. 27:11-26; Mark 15:1-15); John 18:28-19:16, Luke 23:6-12, 15, 39-43; Acts 8:26-40; 9:1-22; 10:1-48; 24:1-26. ↩

  10. Six instances: Acts 3:1-10; 8:9-24; 13:6-12; 16:13-16, 40, 23-40; 18:24-28. ↩

  11. Thirteen instances: Luke 3:10-11, 12-13, 14; John 1:35-39; Matt. 4:18-20 (Mark 1:16-19), 21-23 (Mark 1:20); 9:27-31; Luke 17:11-19; John 11:17-44; Matt. 20:29-34 (Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:35-43); Acts 19:1-10; 24:24-26; 25:23-26:32. ↩

  12. John 1:43; 3:1-21; 4:4-26, 39-42, 46-54; Matt. 8:1-4 (Mark 1:40-45; Luke 5:12-16), 5-13 (Luke 7:1-10), 19-20 (Luke 9:57-58); Luke 9:59-60 (Matt. 8:21-22), 61-62; Mark 2:1-12 (Matt. 9:1-8; Luke 5:17-26); 5:1-20 (Matt. 8:28-34; Luke 8:26-39); Matt. 9:9-13; Mark 5:21-24, 35-43 (Matt. 9:18-19, 23-26; Luke 8:40-42, 49-56), 25-34 (Matt. 9:20-22; Luke 8:43-48); Matt. 9:32-34; 12:9-14 (Mark 3:1-6; Luke 6:6-11); Luke 7:11-17, 36-50; John 5:1-15; Matt. 15:21-28 (Mark 7:24-30); Mark 8:22-26; 9:14-29 (Matt. 17:14-21; Luke 9:37-43a); Luke 13:10-17; John 9:1-41; Matt. 19:16-30 (Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30); Luke 19:1-10; 23:1-7 (Matt. 27:11-26; Mark 15:1-15); John 18:28-19:16; Luke 23:6-12, 15, 39-43. ↩

  13. It is interesting that the Scriptures do not provide an instance of Jesus evangelizing in a team with His disciples. Perhaps it is because He was still preparing them and they had not received the Holy Spirit yet. ↩

  14. Matt. 4:18-20 (Mark 1:16-19), 21-23 (Mark 1:20); 9:27-31; Luke 17:11-19; John 11:17-44; Matt. 20:29-34 (Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:35-43). The instances of John 11:17-44 and Matt. 20:29-34 (Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:35-43) were directed at Martha and the blind Bartimaeus respectively, yet others were also present. ↩

  15. Andrew: John 1:40-42, The Apostle Philip: John 1:44-51, Philip the Evangelist: Acts 8:26-40, Ananias: Acts 9:1-22, Peter: Acts 10:1-48, and Paul: Acts 24:1-26. ↩

  16. Peter and John: Acts 3:1-10; 8:9-24, Paul and Barnabas: Acts 13:6-12, Paul, Silas, and Timothy: Acts 16:13-16, 40, 23-40, and Priscilla and Aquila: Acts 18:24-28. ↩

  17. John the Baptist: Luke 3:10-11, 12-13, 14; John 1:35-39, and Paul: Acts 19:1-10; 24:24-26; 25:23-26:32. ↩

  18. Beougher, 35-37. ↩

  19. Acts 17:16-34. ↩

  20. Acts 17:32-34. ↩

  21. Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:45-49; John 20:21; Acts 1:8. ↩

  22. John 1:35-39, 40-42, 43, 44-51; 4:4-26, 39-42; Matt. 4:18-20 (Mark 1:16-19), 21-23 (Mark 1:20); Luke 9:59-60 (Matt. 8:21-22); Matt. 9:9-13; 12:9-14 (Mark 3:1-6; Luke 6:6-11); Luke 7:11-17; John 5:1-15; Luke 13:10-17; John 9:1-41; Acts 3:1-10; 8:26-40; 16:13-16; 40; 18:24-28; 19:1-10. ↩

  23. Luke 3:10-11, 12-13, 14; John 3:1-21; 4:46-54; Matt. 8:1-4 (Mark 1:40-45; Luke 5:12-16), 5-13 (Luke 7:1-10), 19-20 (Luke 9:57-58); Luke 9:61-62; Mark 5:1-20 (Matt. 8:28-34; Luke 8:26-39), 21-24, 35-43 (Matt. 9:18-19, 23-26; Luke 8:40-42, 49-56), 25-34 (Matt. 9:20-22; Luke 8:43-48); Matt. 8:27-31; Luke 7:36-50; Matt. 15:21-28 (Mark 7:24-30); Mark 9:14-29 (Matt. 17:14-21; Luke 9:37-43a); Luke 17:11-19; Matt. 19:16-30 (Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30); John 11:17-24; Matt. 20:29-34 (Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:35-43); Luke 19:1-10; 23:39-43; Acts 8:9-24; 13:6-12; 16:23-40. ↩

  24. Three instances: Mark 2:1-12 (Matt. 9:1-8; Luke 5:17-26); Matt. 9:32-34; Mark 8:22-26. ↩

  25. Six instances: Luke 23:1-7 (Matt. 27:11-26; Mark 15:1-15); John 18:28-19:16; Luke 23:6-12, 15; Acts 24:1-26, 24-26; 25:23-26:32. ↩

  26. Two instances: Acts 9:1-22; 10:1-38. It is important to note that all evangelism is initiated by God in the Holy Spirit. ↩

  27. Luke 3:10-11, 12-13, 14; John 1:43; 3:1-21; 4:4-26, 39-42, 46-54; Matt. 8:1-4 (Mark 1:40-45; Luke 5:12-16), 5-13 (Luke 7:1-10), 19-20 (Luke 9:57-58); Mark 5:1-20 (Matt. 8:28-34; Luke 8:26-39), 25-34 (Matt. 9:20-22; Luke 8:43-48); Matt. 9:27-31, 32-34; John 5:1-15; Matt. 15:21-28 (Mark 7:24-30); Mark 8:22-26; 9:14-29 (Matt. 17:14-21; Luke 9:37-43a); Luke 13:10-17; 17:11-19; John 9:1-41; Matt. 19:16-30 (Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30); 20:29-34 (Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:35-43); Luke 19:1-10; 23:1-7 (Matt. 27:11-26; Mark 15:1-15), 6-12, 15, 39-43; Acts 3:1-10; 8:9-24, 26-40; 9:1-22; 10:1-48; 13:6-12; 16:13-16, 40, 23-40; 18:24-28; 19:1-10; 24:1-26; 25:23-26:32. ↩

  28. John 1:35-39, 40-42, 44-51; 11:17-44; 18:28-19:16; Acts 24:24-26. ↩

  29. Matt. 4:18-20 (Mark 1:16-19), 21-23 (Mark 1:20); Luke 9:59-60 (Matt. 8:21-22), 61-62; Mark 2:1-12 (Matt. 9:1-8; Luke 5:17-26); Matt. 9:9-13; Mark 5:21-24, 35-43 (Matt. 9:18-19, 23-26; Luke 8:40-42, 49-56); Matt. 12:9-14 (Mark 3:1-6; Luke 6:6-11); Luke 7:11-17, 36-50. ↩

  30. Thomas P. Johnston, Evangelizology, 885. ↩

  31. Beougher, 107. ↩

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