The Evangelist
by Greg Walker
Who is the evangelist and what is his role in the church?
Are evangelists those whom the church prayers over, supports, and sends out to share the Gospel with the lost?
Yes, but there is much more.
It is tempting to view church offices, gifts, and roles through the lens of tradition, denominational distinction, personal experience, or modern Christian influencers, but what does the New Testament tell us about the evangelist?
The Evangelist According to Paul
Paul tells the church of Ephesus that the church is “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,” Ephesians 2:20
Christ Jesus is the cornerstone of His church and the foundation of His church, which rests upon Him, is composed of the Apostles and Prophets.
Jumping ahead in Paul’s letter, we learn that Jesus is the victorious KING over sin, death, and Satan. When Kings win on the battle field, they earn the right to gift their people the spoils of war. Jesus won the ultimate war and upon ascending “on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” Ephesians. 4:8
KING Jesus won the war and gifted His people (church) these gifts:
“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,” Eph. 4:11
So far, this is what we have learned about the composition of Christ’s church:
Jesus Christ is the Cornerstone
The foundation is the New Testament Apostles and Prophets
Built upon the foundation are gifted people whom Christ gave to His church called evangelists, shepherds and teachers.
The Role of the Evangelist
Paul then tells us why the evangelists, shepherd and teachers were gifted to the church:
“to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” Eph. 4:12-13
According to Paul, the evangelist doesn’t just have an outward focus, but also an inward. Evangelists help the shepherds and teachers to equip Christians for the work of ministry & building up the church body. Evangelists do this for the purpose of helping average believers reach the lost with the Gospel and to enhance church unity, teaching, and maturity.
The evangelist helps to selflessly lead the church by equipping believers for Gospel-centered ministry. We don’t just send evangelist out alone, we encourage them to help lead and equip all believers to faithfully and accurately proclaim the Gospel and to reflect it with their lives. This is an inward outward focus. Evangelists equip believers and then lead them out to the glory of God.
Does this change your view and understanding of the evangelist?
How is your church using evangelists?
Are YOU an Evangelist?
At this point, you may be wondering, “Do I have the spiritual gift of evangelism?” or “Am I an evangelist?”
There are two places in Scripture that provide non-exhaustive lists of spiritual gifts:
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 ESV
Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12:6-8
Notice “evangelism” is not listed. Could evangelism be a spiritual gift because these are non-exhaustive lists? Yes, but we don’t know.
Scripture makes a distinction between gifted people given to the church and spiritual gifts given to individual believers.
Along with the pastor & teacher, the evangelist is a gifted person given to the church. Each gifted evangelist may have varying spiritual gifts, but each is called to equip the church for the work of ministry (evangelism specifically). It is up the pastors/elders to disciple and mature each evangelists into their calling.
Not everyone is an evangelist, but everyone is called to share the Gospel. Look at what Paul tells Timothy, “As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:5). Timothy was not an evangelist, but was expected to do the work of one.
BIG Takeaway
Evangelists help pastors/elders to serve Christ’s church by equipping individual believers to accurately and faithfully share and reflect the Gospel.
Who are the evangelists in your church?
Are they being utilized?
Do you love talking about Jesus with people? Do you long to help others do the same? Maybe YOU are an evangelist!
Go therefore…