Selwyn summarises the discussion on the fact that ‘the first Church was a growing Church to which converts were added in ever increasing numbers.’
He introduces today’s study by bringing together the three primary reasons for the expansion of the Early Church:
- ‘The presence of the supernatural,
- the powerful teaching of the apostles,
- and the daily witness of the believers in their homes.’
He goes on to say: “In today’s passage [Acts 8:1-8, the main verse being verse 6, 'When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said.'], we read how Philip, one of those who served with Stephen (Acts 6:5), conducted a mass evangelism crusade in Samaria, during which, crowds came to listen to him and paid close attention to what he said. Here we see why God allowed persecution to hit the Church in Jerusalem. It was not because the believers were failing to extend the Church there but because the message now needed to be heard ‘in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth’.
Scripture does not connect the unity of Christ’s people and evangelism, but history and experience have shown us that the most powerful and successful evangelistic efforts are those made by a church that knows true koinonia (fellowship) and real spiritual unity. That kind of evangelism never fails.”
It’s my view that the Church today lacks both unity and true fellowship. There would be exceptions but, in general, I see disunity and isolated pockets of fellowship – is it any wonder that the Church in the western world is struggling in its evangelistic efforts – what do you think?
Original-style evangelism
Selwyn summarises the discussion on the fact that ‘the first Church was a growing Church to which converts were added in ever increasing numbers.’
He introduces today’s study by bringing together the three primary reasons for the expansion of the Early Church:
He goes on to say: “In today’s passage [Acts 8:1-8, the main verse being verse 6, 'When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said.'], we read how Philip, one of those who served with Stephen (Acts 6:5), conducted a mass evangelism crusade in Samaria, during which, crowds came to listen to him and paid close attention to what he said. Here we see why God allowed persecution to hit the Church in Jerusalem. It was not because the believers were failing to extend the Church there but because the message now needed to be heard ‘in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth’.
Scripture does not connect the unity of Christ’s people and evangelism, but history and experience have shown us that the most powerful and successful evangelistic efforts are those made by a church that knows true koinonia (fellowship) and real spiritual unity. That kind of evangelism never fails.”
It’s my view that the Church today lacks both unity and true fellowship. There would be exceptions but, in general, I see disunity and isolated pockets of fellowship – is it any wonder that the Church in the western world is struggling in its evangelistic efforts – what do you think?