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Church Focus on Missions and Evangelism in Scripture

The church's focus on missions and evangelism is rooted in the biblical mandate to spread the "Good News" of Christ. This mission is not merely an optional activity but a core aspect of the church's identity and purpose, stemming from Christ's own commission to his followers [9].

The concept of "evangelion" (good message) was central to early Christian preaching, with those who proclaimed it being called "evangelistai" (evangelists) [6]. The Apostle Paul exemplified this, stating that he had "fully preached the Good News of Christ" from Jerusalem all the way to Illyricum, often accompanied by "signs and wonders" and the "power of God’s Spirit" [1]. The evangelistic speeches recorded in the book of Acts consistently focus on Jesus as the crucified and risen Lord, calling people to repentance and faith in Him as the promised Messiah and divine Judge [8]. This message of peace with God through Jesus Christ is presented as being for both Israel and the Gentile world [8].

The Great Commission, as recorded in Matthew 28:19-20, instructs believers to "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" [9]. Charles Hodge emphasizes that this commission outlines the church's ongoing duty, which should not be delayed or performed half-heartedly [9]. The promise of Christ to be with His church until the end of the world underscores the perpetual nature of this mission [9].

Beyond initial evangelism, the church is also tasked with edification, which involves building up believers in their faith [3]. This process is described in Ephesians 4:12-16, where the ministerial office and spiritual gifts are given for the "edification of the body of Christ" [3]. The church itself is understood as the "body of Christ" and His "fulness," with Christ as the head from whom the whole body grows [5, 10]. John Calvin highlights that the communion of Christ's flesh and blood is essential for those who seek heavenly life, emphasizing the church's role in nurturing spiritual growth [10].

The foundation of the church is built upon the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone [2, 5]. God has appointed various offices within the church to facilitate its mission, including apostles, who were directly sent by Christ with the power to work miracles to confirm their ministry [11]. These roles contribute to the overall health and expansion of the church.

The Anglican Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion include "Mission and Evangelism" as a significant aspect of the church's concerns, alongside other vital areas like social justice and the unity of the church [7]. This demonstrates a confessional recognition of the importance of these activities.

The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in empowering both evangelism and edification. The Scriptures teach that the Spirit of God dwells not only in the church collectively but also in individual believers, making each Christian a "temple of the Holy Ghost" [12]. This indwelling enables believers to walk in the Spirit and resist the desires of the flesh [12]. The Gospel of John, written later than the other Gospels, was specifically addressed to Christians to cultivate their spiritual life and deepen their relationship with the divine Savior [4]. This suggests a dual focus of the church: reaching out to the unreached and nurturing those who have already believed.

Sources

  1. Romans “in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of God’s Spirit; so that from Jerusalem, and around as far as to Illyricum, I have fully preached the Good News of Christ; -- Romans 15:19”
  2. Ephesians “Ephesians 2:20 (BSB) — built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Edification — Described -- Eph 4:12-16. Is the object of The ministerial office. -- Eph 4:11,12. Ministerial gifts. -- 1Co 14:3-5,12. Ministerial authority. -- 2Co 10:8; 13:10. The Church's union in Christ. -- Eph 4:16. The gospel, the instrument of -- Ac 20:32. Love leads to -- 1Co 8:1. Exhortation to -- Jude 1:20,21. Mutual, commanded -- Ro 14:19; 1Th 5:11. All to be done to -- 2Co 12:19; Eph 4:29. Use self-denial to promote, in others -- 1Co 10:23,33. The peace of the Church favours -- Ac 9:31. Foolish questions opposed to -- 1Ti 1:4.”
  4. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: John, Gospel Of — This Gospel was probably written at Ephesus about A.D. 78. (Canon Cook places it toward the close of John's life, A.D. 90-100.--ED.) The Gospel was obviously addressed primarily to Christians, not to heathen. There can be little doubt that the main object of St. John, who wrote after the other evangelists, is to supplement their narratives, which were almost confined to our Lord's life in Galilee. (It was the Gospel for the Church, to cultivate and cherish the spiritual life of Christians, and bring them into the closest relations to the divine Savio”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Church, The — Belongs to God -- 1Ti 3:15. The body of Christ -- Eph 1:23; Col 1:24. Christ, the foundation-stone of -- 1Co 3:11; Eph 2:20; 1Pe 2:4,5. Christ, the head of -- Eph 1:22; 5:23. Loved by Christ -- Song 7:10; Eph 5:25. Purchased by the blood of Christ -- Ac 20:28; Eph 5:25; Heb 9:12. Sanctified and cleansed by Christ -- 1Co 6:11; Eph 5:26,27. Subject to Christ -- Ro 7:4; Eph 5:24. The object of the grace of God -- Isa 27:3; 2Co 8:1. Displays the wisdom of God -- Eph 3:10. Shows forth the praises of God -- Isa 60:6. God defends -- Ps 89:18; Isa 4:5; 49:25; M”
  6. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Gospels — The central fact of Christian preaching was the intelligence that the Saviour had come into the world (Matt. 4:23; Rom. 10:15); and the first Christian preachers who called their account of the person and mission of Christ by the term evangelion_ (= good message) were called _evangelistai (= evangelists) (Eph. 4:11; Acts 21:8). There are four historical accounts of the person and work of Christ: "the first by Matthew, announcing the Redeemer as the promised King of the kingdom of God; the second by Mark, declaring him a prophet, mighty in deed and word'; th”
  7. Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican) “Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican, 1571), For the Sovereign: For the Sovereign Harvest Thanksgiving In Time of Trouble Mission and Evangelism Rogation Days Social Justice and Responsibility The Guidance of the Holy Spirit The Peace of the World The Unity of the Church Holy Week and Easter”
  8. Acts (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Acts 3:12: 3:12-26 The evangelistic speeches in the book of Acts focus on Jesus, the crucified and risen Lord. They call people to repentance and faith in Jesus as the promised Messiah and the divinely appointed Judge (2:38; 3:19; 11:18; 17:30; 26:20). They also offer the same Good News for the people of Israel and the Gentile world—“there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all” (10:36).”
  9. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 87: the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” ( Matt. xxviii. 19, 20 .) In Mark xvi. 15 , the commission reads thus: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” This commission prescribes the present duty of the Church; one that is not to be deferred or languidly performed until a new and more effective dispensation be inaugurated. The promise of Christ to be with his Church, as then commissioned, to the end of th”
  10. CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 99: rich and inexhaustible fountain, which transfuses into us the life flowing forth from the Godhead into itself. Now, who sees not that the communion of the flesh and blood of Christ is necessary to all who aspire to the heavenly life? Hence those passages of the apostle: The Church is the “body” of Christ; his “fulness.” He is “the head,” “from whence the whole body fitly joined together, and compacted by that which every joint supplieth,” “maketh increase of the body” ( Eph. 1:23 ; 4:15,16). Our bodies are the “members of Christ” (”
  11. 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 12:28: And God hath set some in the church,.... As before the apostle gives an account of the various different gifts of the Spirit, qualifying men for service in the church of Christ, here he enumerates the several offices and officers: first apostles; as were the twelve disciples, and Paul the apostle; men that were immediately sent by Christ himself, and had their commission and doctrine directly from him; and a power of working miracles, to confirm the truth of their mission and ministry; they were sent into all the world to preach the Gospel, to plant churches”
  12. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 31: Galatians v. 16-26 . Another passage of like import is Galatians v. 16-26 , “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not full the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would,” etc., etc. The Scriptures teach that the Spirit of God dwells in his people, not only collectively as the Church, but individually in every believer, so that of every Christian it may be said, he is a temple of the Holy Ghost. God is”
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