Jesus’ teachings on evangelism can be summarized through His commands and parables that encourage His followers to spread the Gospel, the good news of His Kingdom. Here are a few relevant Bible verses and the three main takeaways from them:
Relevant Bible Verses
- Matthew 28:19-20 (The Great Commission): “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
- Mark 16:15: “And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.'”
- Acts 1:8: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Three Main Takeaways
- Evangelism is a Command: Jesus did not present evangelism as an optional activity for His followers. The Great Commission is a clear command to go, make disciples, baptize, and teach. This underscores the importance Jesus places on the spread of the Gospel and the expansion of His Kingdom.
- Evangelism is for All Nations and Peoples: Jesus’ instructions were to reach all nations and every part of the world. This universal scope reflects God’s love for every person regardless of nationality, ethnicity, or background. Evangelism is about sharing the love and salvation offered through Jesus Christ with everyone, everywhere.
- Evangelism is Empowered by the Holy Spirit: In Acts 1:8, Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will empower His followers to be His witnesses. This indicates that evangelism is not solely based on human effort or eloquence but on the power of the Holy Spirit working through believers to testify about Jesus.
These teachings of Jesus on evangelism emphasize the imperative of spreading the Gospel, the inclusivity of God’s salvation plan, and the divine empowerment available to believers to fulfill this mission.
