Grace Baptist Church, Nokomis, IL.

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I assumed last week that we all knew it was part of the responsibility of every believer to witness. But some may point out that there is such a thing as the gift of evangelism. Ephesians 4:11 says that some are called to be evangelists, implying that others are not. 2 Timothy 4:5 tells pastors to do the work of an evangelist. We’re going to consider the question, “Are we all called to be evangelists?”

I think the biblical answer might surprise you. In order to answer that question, we need to understand what an evangelist is. An evangelist is a believer who has the gift of evangelism. An evangelist is one who shares the gospel on a larger scale. He may travel many places. Or he may stay in one place, speaking with a group or groups of people for many years. An evangelist is one who makes evangelism his primary function in the life of the church.

Not all believers with the gift of evangelism become evangelists. Not all pastors, even though they should all do the work of an evangelist, have the gift. With these things in mind, we should note that no, we are not all called to be evangelists.

Though pastors are called to do the work of an evangelist, we are not evangelists. Though many in the church have the gift of evangelism, and are to use that gift both in the church and outside of it, they are not all called to be evangelists.

Though we may not all have the gift, and though we may not all be called to be evangelists, we are all called to be witnesses. The Great Commission was not given to the apostles only, but to all the disciples present. Furthermore, Acts 1:8 is clear that the gospel was to spread to all parts of the world. If the command was only for the apostles, the gospel would never have gotten here. No, the command was and is for all believers in Christ.

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.” (1Pe 2:9-12 ESV)

If not all of us are called to be evangelists, and not all of us have the gift of evangelism, do we have any hope that our witness will be effective? Yes! The Word of God will not return void, but will accomplish the purpose God has for it (Isaiah 55:11). God’s Word is powerful! And we can have full confidence in it.

We can also be confident in God’s appointing us (v. 9). We are a chosen race. We are a royal priesthood. We are a holy nation. We are a people for God’s own possession.

Our witness must take two forms. 1) We are all called to have a verbal witness. 2) We are all called to have a non-verbal witness.

I would like to address our non-verbal witness first briefly, because it seems to be the one we have less trouble implementing. However, I think we can still benefit from some encouragement in this area. Our lives ought to be exemplary (v. 11-12). In the way we conduct ourselves. In the things that we do or don’t do. In our relationships with others. But we ought not be hypocrites either. We still have sin in our lives. We are not perfect, nor will we ever be perfect in this life. We ought to serve others with a passion.

Our non-verbal witness means nothing without a verbal witness as well. Most of the rest of this sermon series will be focused on this type of witness. Our testimony is a great tool (v. 13). We should never imply through our testimony that we have found something that works for us, but is not binding on them. We present the Truth of God, freely available to all people.