Church-Centered Evangelism

Spring 2023

One of the first books I read as a young believer was God-Centered Evangelism by R.B. Kuiper. It was a transformative experience to understand that our evangelistic efforts were being used for the glory of God as we worked in the power of God. As I have grown in grace, I have also seen that it would be beneficial to have a companion volume entitled, “Church-Centered Evangelism.”

Considering the work of the Spirit recorded in the book of Acts, we see the centrality of the local church. The early converts immediately organized themselves into a community of the redeemed. “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Act 2:42). As the work of God continued, the newest believers were added to the church. “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Act 2:47). The church becomes the fulcrum of the life of the Christian. It is the place where they come to worship. It is the place where they are discipled in the doctrines and ethics of the faith. It is the place where prayer took place for God’s blessing on the work of the gospel. It is the church that is the sending body for the earliest missionaries (Acts 13:1–3). The church shares the gospel and strengthens the saints. Evangelism arises in the church, and is performed by the church for the growth of the church.

One of the marks of the modern evangelical church is immaturity of thought regarding the church. Many Christians think that they can enjoy many of the features of local church life without being committed to a local church. They can receive Bible teaching online and can interact with Christians in a local coffee shop. They can share the gospel without any accountability to a church oversight. These things are not wrong in and of themselves, but they are symptoms of an undervaluing of God's gift of the local church. Christ instituted the church, and His church finds expression on earth in locally organized assemblies. We should delight in Christ’s will and commit ourselves to a local church.

It is my prayer that this issue of Current inflames your love for the church. You can read of God’s work of reviving the church and delight in God’s blessings to the churches in Florida, Dominican Republic, and Canada.

From the past:

“A mighty enterprise was begun. It was an audacious thought! The missionaries might well have been overpowered by what lay before them— by the power of a world empire, by the prestige of a brilliant civilization. How insignificant were their own weapons! Would they ever even gain a hearing? But though the enterprise was begun in weakness, it was begun in faith. At their departure from Antioch the missionaries were committed to the grace of God” (J. Gresham Machen, The Literature and History of New Testament Times, commenting on Acts 13:3).

“And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.”