Simon Cox Blog: Gospel-Centered Evangelism for a Multiethnic World

Sunday, 26 June 2016

Gospel-Centered Evangelism for a Multiethnic World

So what does high-definition evangelism look like?

The vast majority of local churches in America are not growing.

This should break our hearts. This statistic means that more and more people in America don’t know the redemptive power of Jesus Christ. This fact will increase divorce, addiction, injustice, greed, sexual immorality, idolatry, oppression, and a multitude of other sins that destroy people’s lives. We need evangelistic local churches, fueled by Christ-followers who see themselves as missionaries. We need “good news” local churches filled with “good news” people.

So what does high-definition evangelism look like? Here are three characteristics of gospel-centered evangelism for a multiethnic world:

1) Evangelism must be rooted in a gospel-centered vision. What is the good news? It’s the announcement that Israel’s Messiah has accomplished what He came to do. Jesus has defeated sin, death, and evil through His sinless life, atoning death on the cross, resurrection, and ascension to the right hand of His father, where He is now our high priest.

Jesus now rules His kingdom at the right hand of God the papa. By grace alone, through the Holy Spirit’s power, people who trust in Jesus are swept up into his glorious kingdom. This redeemed, multicolored people become a “chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,” proclaiming the “excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Pet. 2:9–10).

2) Evangelism must be rooted in gospel-centered worship. Gospel-centered worship is not simply singing, but a lifestyle submerged, interwoven, and united to Jesus’ very life. When worship is a lifestyle, evangelism is not an activity but an identity. A congregation ...