Critical Issues

Evangelistic Character

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Evangelistic Character

True Biblical Character for Evangelists (Evangelistic Character)

1Thess 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

Paul wrote this epistle focusing in part on their work and character among the Thessalonians when they were evangelizing them. What is amazing is that apparently Paul was with them for a short month, and yet he left a vibrant church. This high effectiveness has to be explained by the Holy Spirit working among them, yet at the same time, it is that evidence of the Holy Spirit working through their moral character and life as the Thessalonians saw them.

This epistle reveals that Paul was worried about his own ministry, specifically that he was doing it correctly before God. The assurance that he was doing it correctly is in the gospel he gave, and his own personal testimony. This was reflected in the results of his ministry, specifically the fruit of his ministry as seen in the life of the church at Thessalonica.

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Where should Mission Dollars go to?

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Where should Mission Dollars go to?

Let’s start with a definition of what is a missionary. A missionary is very simply a man of God who has the charge from God to carry the gospel message into a land where the gospel is not present, or is not abundant, and he organizes the converts of his evangelism into local churches which continue the work of the Lord after he is gone.

We do not find the work “missionary” in the Bible, but the concept is correctly identified in persons such as Paul, Barnabas, Luke, Mark, Titus, Timothy, and others. Technically missionaries have to be sent out from a group, and there are no “home missionaries” per se. Home missionaries confuse completely the concept of missionaries. Should those who are home missionaries now cease their ministries? No. They should be understood as being a part of a church in their area.

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Destruction of a Good Preacher

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By Pastor David Cox

What about the destruction of a Good Preacher? Let’s say for a moment that you preach the messages that God gives you, and that you do it in a very excellent manner. In other words, you “get through to” people with those messages. People’s lives change, but also very important, you are being effective for the Lord. Just suppose for a moment that this happens occasionally and then more often. How does Satan destroy you? Because he will not give up opposing what you are doing, so he will tempt you with temptation, but you resist. He will imply that you sin (which you do sin) but that doesn’t derail your ministry. What next?

Criticism, the weapon which is a sword with two edges.

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