The spiritual gift of Evangelist allows a person to be the messenger of the Good News to the unbeliever. They seek out those who do not know Christ and attempt to reach them and bring them to faith. It is not the Evangelist’s job to convert the unbeliever (that’s the Holy Spirit) but to bring the message to them. Their calling is outside of the “structured” church.
“Incidentally, the evangelist in his proclamation may teach and to the work of a pastor, but his primary message centers in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, His coming again, and the need for all men everywhere to repent and believe.” (Graham, 181)
Makes way for the Pastor
Once the Evangelist proclaims the Good News and unbelievers accept it, Shepherds/Pastors/Teachers are sent in their place. This illustrates the key difference in the preaching and teaching of someone with the gift of evangelism. Their message is to lead others to Christ, while those with the gift of shepherd or teacher exhorts and instructs those who are already of faith. The evangelist’s message is very different and so is the gift.
An evangelist may call upon their own conversion story or other faith experiences in order to bring people to faith. They may have had extraordinary incidents or very difficult circumstances that gives them common ground to speak to those outside the faith. Think of Paul’s conversion as recorded in Acts 9:1-19.
Martin Luther on the Spiritual Gift of Evangelism
Martin Luther, the German theologian and leader of the Protestant Reformation, placed a high value on the spiritual gift of evangelism. He believed that the primary mission of the church was to proclaim the gospel to the world and to bring people to faith in Jesus Christ.
Luther saw the gift of evangelism as a special ability given by the Holy Spirit to certain believers, enabling them to effectively communicate the gospel message to others and to lead them to a saving faith in Christ. He believed that evangelism was not limited to a select group of people, but was the responsibility of all believers to some degree.
Luther emphasized the importance of both preaching and personal witness in evangelism. He believed that the proclamation of the gospel through preaching and teaching was an essential part of the church’s mission, and that believers should be trained and equipped to effectively communicate the message of salvation to others. At the same time, he saw personal witness as an important means of evangelism, as believers shared their faith and their lives with those around them.
Overall, Luther viewed the gift of evangelism as a vital part of the life of the church, and believed that all believers should strive to share the good news of the gospel with others in their own unique ways.
John Wesley on the Spiritual Gift of Evangelism
John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, placed a high value on the spiritual gift of evangelism. He believed that the primary mission of the church was to spread the gospel message and to make disciples of all nations.
Wesley emphasized the importance of both personal witness and public preaching in evangelism. He believed that Christians should live in such a way as to be a witness to the love and grace of God. They also should actively seek opportunities to share their faith with others. He also believed that public preaching was an important means of evangelism, and that preachers should be trained and equipped to effectively communicate the message of salvation to large groups of people.
Wesley’s view of evangelism was closely tied to his emphasis on the need for personal conversion and the importance of a personal relationship with God. He believed that evangelism was not just about getting people to join a particular church or adopt a particular set of beliefs, but was about leading them to a genuine encounter with the living God.
Overall, John Wesley saw the gift of evangelism as a vital part of the life of the church, and believed that all believers should seek to share their faith with others in a way that was authentic, compassionate, and effective.
The Catholic Church view on the Spiritual Gift of Evangelism
The Catholic Church teaches that the spiritual gift of evangelism is a charism, or a special grace given by the Holy Spirit to certain believers to enable them to effectively communicate the gospel message to others. This gift is seen as an essential part of the mission of the church, which is to bring the good news of salvation to all people.
The Catholic Church places a strong emphasis on the role of the laity in evangelism, recognizing that all believers have a responsibility to share their faith with others. The Church encourages lay people to be active witnesses to the gospel in their daily lives, and to use their talents and gifts to effectively communicate the message of salvation to those around them.
At the same time, the Catholic Church also recognizes the importance of public preaching and teaching in evangelism. The Church encourages the formation of well-trained and equipped preachers and evangelists who can effectively communicate the message of salvation to large groups of people.
People with this Gift:
- Strong sense of sacrifice and empathy for those that are not following Christ.
- A messenger of the Good News to the unbelievers; led by the spirit to seek out unbelievers
- Evangelists speak to the will of someone to believe and their intelligence; may nor may not produce emotion (Graham, 181)
- Not tied to one place
- Possesses great courage, powered by an exceptionally strong gift of Faith
- Under attack frequently by Satan and the world view; in need of constant prayer for protection
- Thick skinned
Bible References
| Acts 9:1-19 | Paul’s conversion |
| Acts 14:7-21 | Paul and Barnabas evangelize |
| Acts 21:8 | Mention of Philip the evangelist |
| 1 Corinthians 1:17 | Paul’s mission |
| 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 | Paul’s words come from the Spirit |
| 2 Corinthians 3:7-18 | Paul talks about how within the Spirit of the Lord there is freedom |
| 2 Timothy 4:3-5 | People will turn away from the truth |
| Ephesians 3:1-13 | Paul’s mission is to preach to the Gentiles |
| Ephesians 4:11 | Evangelism is noted as a greater gift |
| Colossians 4:2-16 | Paul’s instructions; pray that “God may open a door for our message” |
| 1 Thessalonians 2:1-6 | We speak to please God, not the people |
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- Graham, 180-184
- Hodge, 224-226
- Zondervan, 443-444
Other Greater Gifts
- Spiritual Gift of Apostle
- Spiritual Gift of Prophet
- Spiritual Gift of Shepherd/Pastor
- Spiritual Gift of Teacher
