Our Evangelism

The most basic way to describe what has happened when we have evangelized someone is simply to say that we have given them good news. “Ev” in evangelism means “good.” In some other words, “ev” is replaced by “eu” and means the same thing, because there was a time in the development of the English language when it had not yet been decided how to use the letters u and v. The confusion still exists, as evidenced in the letter w, which is called “double-u,” not “double-v.” “Eu” in Eugene and eulogy means “good.”

“Angel” in the word “evangelize” means “message” or “messenger.” Ev-angelism, then, means a good message or a good messenger. Good news. We like to make rules and laws, and make everyone obey them. We bring this weakness to the way we share the Gospel (“good news”). The “Roman Road,” the “4 Spiritual Laws,” “how to be saved,” all are rulings on how to be born of God. A problem is evident in the fact that they disagree with each other. The problem is further exposed by the fact that not many people testify to the same process happening when they describe their conversion experiences.

Jesus is Good News in Person. He just invited people, “Follow Me.” If we teach people to follow and love Him, He might be free to work out their submission to Himself as both Savior and King. It would be bad to settle for one or the other. He’s so awesome at both!

After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee, preaching the good news of God: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe in the good news!”

As He was passing along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, Simon’s brother. They were casting a net into the sea, since they were fishermen.

“Follow Me,” Jesus told them, “and I will make you fish for people!” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in their boat mending their nets. Immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed Him. (Mark 1:14-20 Holman Christian Standard Bible ®©)