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Exploring Christian Mission and Evangelism

May 4, 2025

GCSE Religious Studies: Christian Practices

Lecturer: Ben Wardle

Topic: Mission, Evangelism, and Church Growth

Overview

  • Focus on Christian practices related to Mission, Evangelism, and Church Growth.
  • Discussion on Jesus’s Great Commission to make disciples of all nations.
  • Historical growth of Christianity from the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus to over 2 billion followers today.

Key Terms

  1. Mission
    • Meaning: Sent out.
    • Duty of Christians to spread the gospel (good news of Jesus).
  2. Evangelism
    • Practice of preaching the gospel to convert people.
    • Methods of Evangelism: Public preaching, distribution of written material, social media outreach, Alpha courses.

Important Quotes

  • Jesus’s Great Commission (Matthew 28):
    • "Make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit."
  • Saint Paul:
    • "I am not ashamed of the Gospel..." (Power of God for Salvation).
  • Jesus’s Teachings:
    • "I am the way, the truth, and the life."
    • "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel."
  • Saint Paul on Christ:
    • "Christ died for our sins."
  • Book of Acts:
    • "Salvation is found in nobody else."

Methods of Evangelism

  • Distributing leaflets and free Bibles (e.g., Gideons).
  • Hosting Alpha courses.
  • Social media and televangelism (e.g., TBN).

Reasons for Evangelism

  1. Commission from Jesus:
    • Fulfilling Jesus's command to spread the Gospel.
  2. Salvation:
    • Belief that faith in Jesus leads to salvation.
  3. Church Growth:
    • Expanding the Christian community.

Criticisms of Evangelism

  • Methods: Some tactics seen as pressuring or discriminatory.
  • Perception: Can be viewed as arrogant, suggesting other religions are wrong.
  • Focus: Advocacy for actions (good works) over conversion.

Church Growth Timeline

  1. Origins:
    • Jesus appointed Saint Peter; Great Commission given.
  2. Pentecost:
    • Holy Spirit descends on disciples; early preaching begins.
  3. Saint Paul’s Conversion:
    • From persecutor to evangelist.
  4. Development Over 2000 Years:
    • Emergence of denominations and spread through the British Empire.
  5. Current Status:
    • 2.6 billion Christians, decline in church attendance in Europe, growth in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

Importance of Evangelism

  • Key Christian Task: Following Jesus’s Great Commission.
  • Salvation Focus: Ensuring others know Jesus to attain salvation.
  • Debate on Priorities: Comparison with good works and love (e.g., Parable of the Sheep and Goats).

Sample Exam Question

  • "Evangelism is the most important task for Christians today."
    • Arguments For:
      • Jesus’s Commission; exclusive source of salvation.
    • Arguments Against:
      • Importance of good works; faith without works is dead.

Consolidation Questions

  1. Define evangelism.
  2. What did Jesus commission his disciples to do?
  3. Give one reason why Christians might evangelize.
  4. Provide one way Christians might evangelize.
  5. Mention a criticism of evangelism.

Full transcript