1. Preach the gospel to every creature
Mark 16:15
Preach the gospel to every creature

2. References
The Bible Exposition Commentary, New Testament, Volume 1, Wiersbe
Selected Scriptures reprinted from the Holy Bible, New King James Version
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Abingdon Press, 1986
Way of the Master, various resources for evangelism, Ray Comfort
Bible Doctrine, Essential Teachings of the Christian Faith, Wayne Grudem, 1999

3. The Great Commission
And he said unto them, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” – Mark 16:15
“Go ye therefore and teach all nations…teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you…” – Matthew 28:19-20
“…that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations…” – Luke 24:57
“Follow me.” – John 20:19
“…and you shall be my witnesses unto me…unto the uttermost part of the earth.” – Acts 1:8

4. It’s all Greek to me! Preach = kēryssō The gospel = euangelion
To proclaim after the manner of a herald with the suggestion of formality, gravity and authority which must be listened to and obeyed
The gospel = euangelion
The glad tidings of salvation through Christ
Creature = ktisis
Anything created

5. Evangelism
To proclaim with authority the good news of Jesus Christ who has ushered in salvation by repentance and faith through his death, burial and resurrection from the dead
Evangelism requires
Preparation
Proclamation
Personal Witness

6. Preparation Before a herald can proclaim a message, he must know
Who is to receive it
What the message is
When it is to be delivered
Where he must go to proclaim
Why the message is important
How it is to be presented

7. Preparation Who is to receive it What the message is
Every creature
What the message is
Repent from sin
Faith in Jesus Christ
When it is to be delivered
Today is the day of salvation
Every creature
-For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God – Rom 3:23
-For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoseoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life – John 3:16
-3For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. – 1 Tim 2:3-6
-The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. – 2 Pe 3:9
Repent from sin
-Repent: Gr 3340 – to change one’s thinking to the degree that it alters one’s will and hence action
-5 That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols. 6 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations. – Eze 14:5-6
-In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. – Matt 3:1-3
-16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? 17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. – Mark 2:16-17
-38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. – Ac 2:38
Faith in Jesus Christ
-faith = Strong’s 4102 (persuasion, conviction, reliance)
-believe = Heb 539 (to trust, to be certain), Gr 4100 (to have faith, to entrust)
-Abraham: 5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.6 And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.7 And he said unto him, I am the Lord that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it. – Gen 15:5-7
-Paul: 20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house,
21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. – Ac 20:20-21
-Paul: Rom 3: Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Today is the day of Salvation
2 Cor 5:19-6:2
Heb 9:27

8. God’s plan of salvation?
Preparation
Where we must go
At home and abroad
Why the message is important
Power of God unto salvation
How it is to be presented
A verbal presentation
Be ready always
Where we must go
At home and abroad (Acts 1:8)
Harvest – Huntsville – Holly Pond – Haiti
Others are called to go internationally; what are we to do? Hold the rope – prayer, support, local evangelism – close the gap
Not all are called to be evangelists, but all are called to evangelize
Why the message is important
Power of God unto salvation – Rom 1:15-17
How it is to be presented
Be ready always – 1 Peter 3:15-16
How does preaching fit within
God’s plan of salvation?

9. Proclamation
Election – the express will of the Father in eternity past
Gospel Call – the summons of God through the preaching of the gospel
Regeneration – creation of a new heart that can repent and believe
Conversion – the total change of emotion, mind and will: repentance and faith
Election – the express will of the Father in eternity past (Eph 1:4)
Gospel Call – the summons of God through the preaching of the gospel (2 Thes 2:14)
Regeneration – creation of a new heart that can repent and believe (Eze 36:26-27 & 1 Pet 1:3)
Conversion – the total change of emotion, mind and will: repentance and faith (Matt 11:28-29, Isa 55:6-7, Heb 6:1)
Faith comprises knowledge, approval, and trust
Repentance comprises godly sorrow over sin and abandonment of sin

10. Proclamation
Justification – the work of Christ on the cross, now applied to the believer
Adoption – becoming part of God’s family
Sanctification – growth in holiness
Perseverance – being kept by God
Glorification – the ultimate state of the elect in God’s eternal presence
Justification – the work of Christ on the cross, now applied to the believer (2 Cor 5:21)
Adoption – becoming part of God’s family (John 1:12, Romans 8:14-17)
Sanctification – growth in holiness: a progressive work between God and man that makes us more free of sin and more like Christ (Rom 6)
Perseverance – being kept by God’s power to persevere as Christians until death – only those who are saved persevere (John 10:27-28)
Death – the final outcome of our existence in a fallen world; a temporary state of the body; present with the Lord (1 Cor 15:26, 54-55; 2 Cor 5:8; Php 1:23)
Glorification – the ultimate state of the elect in God’s eternal presence; the reunification of the believer’s body and soul in a state of true perfection – fit for eternity in God’s presence and to perform his eternal will (1 Cor 15:12-28)

11. Proclamation
Without a public square and in the face of social media, the internet, entertainment ‘ad nauseam’, and a tolerance of sin, how can we engage people in a dialogue on spiritual matters?
Actively engage people on spiritual matters
Transition from the natural to the spiritual
Why is verbal engagement required? Can’t we just live a lifestyle that points to Christ? Show lifestyle evangelism in the Bible: it doesn’t exist there. The Christian lifestyle is verbally articulating the gospel.
How do I make opportunities? No one discusses spiritual matters publicly.
Phone – customer service
Door-to-door salesman
The gospel tract
Tragedy & Prayer
Service to others – Tell story of changing a tire
Services you’ve paid for – trees cut up; driveway resurfaced

12. Proclamation W – would you consider yourself a good person?
D – do you believe you have kept the ten commandments?
J – judgment – if God were to judge you by the ten commandments, would you be innocent or guilty?
D – destiny – would you go to heaven or hell?

13. Proclamation C – Concern C – Christ R – Repentance A – And F – Faith
T – Truth – Read the Bible; seek out a local church for teaching and instruction in righteousness.

14. Proclamation
Are there people who will really respond to our gospel presentation?
Jesus time and again assures us
Matthew 9:35-37
Acts 18:1-11
Jesus came to seek and to save the lost
Seek: zēteō, to seek after
Save: sōzō, rescue from danger
Lost: apollymi, headed for ruin & destruction
Our job is to proclaim
What does Jesus mean the harvest is plenty? Talk about the garden and the blueberry bushes.
Are there people who will really respond to our gospel presentation?
Jesus time and again assures us
Matthew 9:35-37
Acts 18:1-11
Jesus came to seek and to save the lost
Seek: zēteō, to seek after
Save: sōzō, rescue from danger
Lost: apollymi, headed for ruin & destruction
So, if Jesus is the one who saves, what is our job? Our job is to proclaim.

15. Personal Witness
Our lives must be a substantiating witness to Christ and the power of the gospel
Overheard at work: “I couldn’t believe it at the funeral – he cursed like sailor, but the preacher claimed he was saved!”
We must live a holy life
Philippians 4:8
1 Peter 1:13-16
Galatians 5:19-24
Matthew 7: Jesus preaches on the strait gate, grapes from thorns & figs from thistles, good tree-good fruit & corrupt tree-evil fruit, “Lord, Lord”
Paul Washer - Let’s imagine that I show up late and I run up here on the platform, and all the leaders are angry with me and say, “Brother Paul, don’t you appreciate the fact you’re given an opportunity to speak here and you come late?” And I’d say, “Brothers, you have to forgive me.” “Well, why?” “Well, I was out here on the highway, and I was driving and I had a flat tire and I got out to change the tire, and when I was changing the tire, the lug nut fell off, and I wasn’t paying attention that I was on the highway and I ran out and I grabbed the lug nut, and as soon as I picked it up in the middle of the highway, I stood up and there was a 30-ton logging truck going 120 miles an hour about ten yards in front of me, and it ran me over and that’s why I’m late.” Now, there would only be two I know no one studies logic anymore, but there would only be two logical conclusions. One, I’m a liar or, two, I’m a madman. You would say, “Brother Paul, it’s absolutely absurd. It is impossible, Brother Paul, to have an encounter with something as large as a logging truck and not be changed.” And then my question would be to you–What is larger? A logging truck or God? How is it that so many people today profess to have had an encounter with Jesus Christ, and, yet, they are not permanently changed?
-Paul: 2 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

16. Evangelism Preach the gospel to every creature at home and abroad
To proclaim with authority the good news of Jesus Christ who has ushered in salvation by repentance and faith through his death, burial and resurrection from the dead
Evangelism requires
Preparation
Proclamation
Personal Witness
Preach the gospel to every creature
at home and abroad

17. Questions to Ponder Are you prepared? Will you proclaim the gospel?
Study the Scriptures
Fast & pray
Will you proclaim the gospel?
Speak to others specifically about Christ
Is your lifestyle evangelical?
Live so differently from the world that people notice and aren’t surprised you claim Christ
OR –
They are surprised because they’ve never met so devoted a Christian who has directly evangelized
Evangelism from the root word meaning “good news.” Do our lives show how the good news has changed us?

18. Go and preach! Conclusion
“And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them… Amen.” – Mark 16:20
Go and preach!

19. The Early Church At Home & Abroad
Philip:
Jerusalem to Samaria
Mediterranean Sea coast to Caesarea
Peter: Joppa to Caesarea
Barnabas: Jerusalem to Antioch
Paul & Barnabas:
Cyprus and southern Turkey
Philippi, Athens, and Corinth
Western Turkey, esp. Ephesus
Crete, Sicily, and Rome
Philip:
Jerusalem to Samaria – Acts 8
Mediterranean Sea coast to Caesarea – Acts 8
Peter: Joppa to Caesarea – Acts 10
Barnabas: Jerusalem to Antioch – Acts 11
Paul & Barnabas:
Cyprus and southern Turkey – Acts 13-14
Philippi, Athens, and Corinth – Acts 15-18
Western Turkey, esp. Ephesus – Acts 18-21
Crete, Sicily, and Rome – Acts 18-21
With ground travel to HSV = 16 miles, it’s about the same distance.
Jerusalem to Rome = 1434 miles
Huntsville to Port-au-Prince = 1418 miles*