We’ve been discussing evangelism here at the The Battle Cry – on another post where it was not exactly on point for that post. Therefore, due to the significance of the topic, I felt it wise to devote some space specifically to the topic. After all, it’s why we who profess Christ are still on planet Earth instead of having been translated (ala Star Trek?) to the presence of the Lord immediately after the moment we truly believed the Gospel and received God’s totally unmerited and most merciful gift of salvation by grace through faith (Eph 2:8-9).

There is far too much to discuss in a single post, so I’ve decided to divide the discussion into three general areas represented by, and easily remembered by…you guessed it – three ‘M’s.  I’m not a great fan of inventing cute little memory aids, but these are already common concepts and it didn’t require any excessive use of valuable brain cells to to discover. It wouldn’t surprise me if you haven’t already realized what they represent. In case you haven’t figured them out yet (and I’m sure some of you have), we’ll use the topics of the Message, the Means, and the Method of evangelism. Further, we will discuss them in the order presented for very specific reasons:

The Message is the highest priority topic of the three. If we are to share the gospel we have to get the message right or we might as well stay home. If we have it wrong, we will do tremendous damage to the Kingdom of our Savior, not to mention trample on the honor and glory due His Name.

The Means of delivering the Message refers to the ‘mechanism’ by which the right message is transmitted to those who need to hear it, believe it, and receive the free gift of salvation for themselves, to the glory of God and to their eternal benefit.

It is important to note that both the message and the means of proper evangelism are articulated quite clearly in Scripture. We need only to have understood and believed the message and be available to transmit the message using the God appointed means.

The Method (how we deliver the message) is not as clearly defined in Scripture, however the New Testament is filled with evangelistic encounters from which we can learn and receive valuable guidance. In addition to biblical examples of Jesus, His disciples and those who followed them as the early church grew, we have the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us as we carry the only Message that contains the power to save to the lost and dying all around us.

Why do I think it’s important to approach the discussion in this fashion? Well, to a large extent across the landscape of postmodern Protestant evangelicalism, the Message has been lost in the deadly swamp of secular humanism, relegating the appointed Means to the dust bin of irrelevancy and the discussions about Methods a whole lot of wasted effort unless our gums are in need of exercise.

With that said, on to the Message!

Rom 1:16  “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” – The Apostle Paul