1. Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Featured What Is an Evangelist?

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by John of Japan, Nov 22, 2016.

  1. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2012
    Messages:
    52,624
    Likes Received:
    2,742
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Good point how 2 distinctive Evangelists, as onedoes get used to come in and revive, such as a Whitefielf/Graham, wile oters stay in area and teachand raise up spirtal leadership...
     
  2. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2005
    Messages:
    19,638
    Likes Received:
    1,834
    Faith:
    Baptist
    You actually think I would ignore Mark 16:15 throughout my 46 years preaching and 33 years as a missionary?? On the contrary, I hold to all five statements of the Great Commission (do you?), and have done detailed studies on all of them.

    But that is not the question. The question is, what is your view of the Biblical evangelist? In particular, how do you find a Biblical distinction between a lay and pro evangelist?
     
  3. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2010
    Messages:
    10,285
    Likes Received:
    163
    Faith:
    Baptist
    I do the work of evangelism as outlined in Mark 16:15. I do not hold the office of evangelist.
     
  4. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2005
    Messages:
    19,638
    Likes Received:
    1,834
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Okay, you're doing better, now that you've referenced the book of Timothy. Let's talk about doing the work of an evangelist as per how Paul exhorted Timothy. What would that include? Shouldn't that be cross-referenced to Eph. 4?

    (Have to go. I'll be back Monday.)
     
  5. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2010
    Messages:
    10,285
    Likes Received:
    163
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Witnessing to lost people is a part of the duties.
     
  6. Don

    Don Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2000
    Messages:
    11,048
    Likes Received:
    321
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Evangelist - JoJ is working through a bible study with us. Work with him. At the end of it, whether you two, or any of us, end up agreeing or not, YOU will be better educated, prepared, and sharpened for the things God has planned for you.

    He asked about Ephesians 4 with regards to evangelists. What do you think?
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
    • Like Like x 1
  7. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2005
    Messages:
    19,638
    Likes Received:
    1,834
    Faith:
    Baptist
    That's pretty plain. But that is for all believers, not just evangelists. I note that Mark's target audience for his Great Commission statement is simply "the eleven." They are not even called apostles or disciples as in other GC statements. I believe this is because they are backslidden at this point, doubting the resurrection.

    Having said that, you said, "Witnessing to lost people," but the Markan GC says to give the Gospel. To witness is to simply tell your story (cf. Luke's GC in 24:48). In Mark's GC you must give the Gospel, which of course is defined carefully by Paul (1 Cor. 15:1-8).

    But back to the topic of evangelist. What else must an evangelist do, referencing especially Eph. 4:11-12)?
     
    #27 John of Japan, Nov 28, 2016
    Last edited: Nov 28, 2016
  8. JonShaff

    JonShaff Fellow Servant
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2015
    Messages:
    2,954
    Likes Received:
    425
    Faith:
    Baptist
    11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

    We see here that an Evangelist plays an integral part in the Local Church Assembly. He, as well as the Pastor, Equips the Saints for the Work of the Ministry, that is Spreading the Gospel, Making Disciples. He also Builds up the Body of Christ by Teaching, Encouraging, Rebuking and giving Admonition when he is given the opportunity to do so. He Plays an integral part in the maturation of the believer/s. He promotes Godly living, as mapped out through the Rest of the Letter. He Encourages people to Love and Share the Love of God through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In my personal view, the Evangelist may speak to certain areas of the Church that needs to be addressed (out of season) when the Pastor hasn't had the spiritual insight to do so (for whatever reason).

    I believe Evangelists' primary calling is to Call the Sinner to repentance and the Saint to a deeper walk with Christ (during a limited time frame).

    I believe the Pastor is to "Do the work of an evangelist" (call the sinner to repentance by Preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ) as well as Feeding the Sheep a steady diet, Week after week, of the Word of God, both milk and meat.

    Edited to Add:

    Personally, i believe a major difference of an Apostle, Evangelist and Pastor is the Time Spent with the Congregation (for the most part).

    Apostles Started and Established Churches, Evangelists visit to add and strengthen, and Pastors Stay Long term to Feed.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agree Agree x 1
  9. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2005
    Messages:
    19,638
    Likes Received:
    1,834
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Great post from Jon. Thank you!

    This is a strong point, even if edited in, and I agree.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  10. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2005
    Messages:
    19,638
    Likes Received:
    1,834
    Faith:
    Baptist
    The only book I know of (there must be others) that completely delineates the role of the evangelist is The Evangelist, by John R. Rice (1968, Sword of the Lord). It can be bought second hand on Amazon.

    He writes: "Evangelists are intended to edify and build up the body of Christ, to prepare the saints for service. This is to the end that souls will be saved as Christ's spiritual body, the church, is taught and edified and developed to increase itself by soul winning" (p. 9).
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  11. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2012
    Messages:
    52,624
    Likes Received:
    2,742
    Faith:
    Baptist
    You preach/witness to the lost in a public arena, so would you see youself called and gifted to be an Evangelist or not?
     
  12. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2010
    Messages:
    10,285
    Likes Received:
    163
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Street evangelist yes
     
  13. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2005
    Messages:
    19,638
    Likes Received:
    1,834
    Faith:
    Baptist
    We're trying to be strictly Biblical here, so please distinguish Biblically between the types of evangelists you are listing: street evangelist, pro, amateur.
     
  14. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2010
    Messages:
    10,285
    Likes Received:
    163
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Please support Biblically many of the things that IFB do and have in their churches. Youth Ministry, teetotalism, their view on music, and so on.
     
  15. TCassidy

    TCassidy Late-Administator Emeritus
    Administrator

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2005
    Messages:
    20,080
    Likes Received:
    3,491
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Translation: "I can't honestly answer your question because I make this stuff up as I go along." :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:
     
  16. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2006
    Messages:
    52,030
    Likes Received:
    3,657
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Can't do it can ya
     
  17. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    May 30, 2006
    Messages:
    20,914
    Likes Received:
    706
    But you have used Scripture to support your stance on evangelism in the past and said to people that they ignore Scripture when you speak of it. Now you say that it can't be supported by Scripture? We are speaking of evangelism. The Bible speaks clearly of the subject.
     
  18. InTheLight

    InTheLight Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2010
    Messages:
    24,988
    Likes Received:
    2,268
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Why? The subject matter is "What is an Evangelist?"

    Sent from my Motorola Droid Turbo
     
  19. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2005
    Messages:
    19,638
    Likes Received:
    1,834
    Faith:
    Baptist
    You appear to be trying to derail the thread. I can't remember when I've seen a more irrelevant answer to a post of mine.

    Personally, I think a discussion about the Biblical role of the evangelist is very profitable. I'm hoping you'll take a deep interest in the subject of this thread, and learn and grow.

    Let me try again.

    1. Biblically, what other roles than "witnessing" as per Mark's GC does an evangelist have?

    2. Biblically, are there distinctions between various kinds of evangelists such as "pro," "amateur," "street," and so forth?
     
  20. evangelist6589

    evangelist6589 Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2010
    Messages:
    10,285
    Likes Received:
    163
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Let me get back with you. It may take a few days.
     
Loading...