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| An Evangelistic Effort By Roger A. Scully, Jr |
- There are several things that frustrate me as a gospel preacher as pertaining to my own ability: 1)
the inability to fully understand, hence fully explain the horrors of hell; 2) the inability to fully understand,
hence fully explain the beauties of heaven; and 3) the inability to fully understand, hence fully explain the
value of the soul. J. W. McGarvey stated that he would give up all else, if only he could properly understand
and emphasize these things to others so that they too could understand them. Nonetheless, the Bible does, in
fact, place great emphasis on the soul of man, particularly in view of eternity.
In Genesis 1:26-27, Zechariah 12:1 and Ecclesiastes 12:7 we read that the soul has been given by God,
thus expressing its value. God is the greatest of beings, and for Him to give us our existence, in His own
image, is nothing less than an expression of how valuable we are. Its value is again shown in Jn 3:16 and
Philippians 2:5-8: since Jesus was willing to leave eternity and equality with the Father to come to this earth to
die the death of a slave in order to save the soul, then the soul must be viewed as valuable. Jesus again
expressed its value when He said, “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his
own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt 16:26).
In connection with the soul’s value, attention should be called to the concept of eternal punishment. The
time of eternity cannot be explained, because eternity has no time, yet in order to help us try to understand it
we would do well to think of that which has no end. In fact, hell is described as an “everlasting
punishment” (Matt 25:46), and as a place where “the fire shall never be quenched” (Mrk 9:43-48). Paul
describes it as a place where one will be separated from God for time without end (2 Thess 1:8, 9).
Because of the soul’s value, and the severity of the punishment brought to bear upon the soul away from
God, Jesus said, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is
baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mrk 16:15, 16). Hence, God has chosen
for man to communicate with man for the salvation of man, and that which is to be communicated is the
message of the gospel (1 Cor 1:17, 21), the “whole counsel of God” (Ac 20:27). Yet, many Christians have
come to view evangelism improperly. Some think it is something that is to be done from the pulpit (1 Cor 14);
others, that it is simply enough to invite people to church. Few are willing to go out and actually teach, actually
set up Bible studies, and express to people the importance of being a part of the church of Christ (Rom 16:16;
Ac 20:28; 2:41, 47).
We do not desire for the church to grow so that we can have larger assemblies, nicer facilities, or to
boast of our size. Rather, we are concerned about church growth because when the church grows souls are
being saved. Luke wrote, “and the Lord added to the church daily, those who were being saved” (Ac 2:47).
Paul wrote that Jesus is the head of the body, which is the church (Eph 1:22, 23), that there is one body (4:4),
and that the Lord is the Savior of that one body (5:23). Thus, it is properly understood that when the church
grows, the number of potential residents for heaven has increased.
Let us now look to the manner in which the early church evangelized and learn from their methods.
Going (without people going, no one will be saved)
Evangelism involves Christians actually getting out in the community, for Jesus said, “Go ye into all the
world.” That is the command; now let us look to how the command is obeyed. In Acts 13:2-4 we read that in
order for the gospel to be spread men were to be “separated,” were “sent forth” and “departed,” all of which
involves leaving the pews, and something that takes effort, hence it is called by the Holy Spirit, “the work” (v.
2). The work is not our work, but the Lord’s work, which he afore ordained that we should walk in (Eph 2:8-
10). We need not be hearers of the word, but doers of the work (Jms 1:21-25), because only then will we be
blessed for our deeds (cf. 1 Pet 1:17).
Teaching (without the gospel being taught, no one will be saved)
After Jesus told His disciples to “Go” he added the purpose of going, “and preach the gospel to every
creature.” That is the command; now let us look to the example of it being obeyed. In Acts 13 and 14 we read
that when they were “separated,” were “sent forth” and “departed,” they “preached the word” (v.5), taught the
“doctrine of the Lord” (v.12), called the people to “give audience” (v.16), preached the “word of this salvation”
(v.26), “declared glad tidings” (v.32), “preached the forgiveness of sins” (v.38) “published the word of the
Lord” (v.49), “spake” (14:1), spake “boldly in the Lord” (v.3), “preached the gospel” (v.7), the people “heard
Paul speak” (v.9), they offered “these sayings” to persuade the people (v.18), “preached the gospel” (v.21)
and “preached the word” (v.25). Because of their constant teaching we read that the Lord “had opened the
door of faith” (14:27). The door was not miraculously opened, but it was opened when the gospel was
preached. Notice, brethren, they did not just invite people and expect evangelism to be done from the pulpit,
but they went out and taught the word of God to all those with whom they came in contact (cf. Ac 8).
Discouragement (everything will not always go perfectly)
Going and preaching does not mean that everyone will gladly receive that which we have to say. In fact,
in the text we have been examining, Acts 13-14, we read that as soon as Paul and Barnabas had begun to
evangelize they were faced with confrontation from one Elymas the sorcerer (13:8). However, Paul was “set
for the defense of the gospel” (Phil 1:17) and continued to teach, hence Sergius Paulus “believed, being
astonished at the doctrine of the Lord” (v.12).
Another discouragement came in the form of one quitting. We read, “John departing from them returned
to Jerusalem” (13:13). While it is true that some will quit, and their quitting affects us all, we cannot let that be
an excuse for us to quit as well. Instead of quitting Paul and Barnabas “waxed bold” (v.46) and “many were
ordained to eternal life” (v.48). Imagine had they given up!
Overcoming (if we overcome the things we face, good things will happen)
Despite all that was faced we read, “for the work which they fulfilled” (14:26). There is nothing more
valuable that the soul of man. Sadly, thousands of souls are perishing every moment. Let us not sit idly by,
but let us be active fulfilling the work of the Lord. --RS
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