Mission, Evangelism & Church Growth
Religious Studies A: AQA GCSE Religions, topic 2.4.2
Mission, Evangelism and Church Growth
The Christian Church believes one of its primary tasks is to continue the work of the apostles.
Apostles
- When Jesus was ascending to heaven, he gave his apostles the task of continuing his mission by preaching the Gospel (Acts 1: 8).
- At the same time, he promised them the gift of the Holy Spirit to give them guidance and strength to do this work.
- Many of Jesus’ apostles and other followers then went out to areas of the Mediterranean to preach the Gospel, areas such as Greece and Rome. Some of them died as martyrs.
Mission and evangelism
- The act of going out to preach is often called the ‘mission’ from the Latin word for being sent.
- The task of preaching the Gospel is called ‘evangelism’.
Evangelism
The task of preaching the Gospel is called ‘evangelism’. 'Evangelism' comes from the Greek word for good news. 'Evangelism' spreads the good news of Jesus' teachings and salvation.
Importance of the Gospel
Spreading the Gospel is important because Christians believe Jesus is God.
Through faith in Jesus, people can find the truth about the meaning of life.
Those who do not believe in Jesus are sometimes said to be in darkness.
Knowing Jesus brings light and joy.
As the Bible says, "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light" (Isaiah 9:2 NIV).
Saving non-believers
Many Christians believe that a person must believe in Jesus to be saved by Him.
Evangelisation not only brings joy but also offers salvation and the chance of eternal life in heaven.
Like the early apostles, Christians have tried to increase the number of believers and those who can be saved (Acts 2: 40-41).
Controversy
In modern times, Christian evangelisation has become more controversial.
Some people say it does not respect different beliefs around the world, which are often strongly held.
Some Christians think that people of any faith, or even no faith, can be saved because of their good deeds, not just their belief in Jesus as God.
Multifaith Britain
Modern Britain is a diverse, multi-faith society.
Many people celebrate this diversity and worry that evangelisation could cause conflict.
This can be a dilemma for Christians who believe that faith in Jesus is a source of both truth and joy.
Test yourself on Mission, Evangelism & Church Growth
Who does the Christian Church believe it should continue the work of?
What is the act of going out to preach called?
What are the beliefs of those who are against evangelisation?
What is evangelism?