The Evangelizing Church

A church that is focused on exalting God and on building up believers in the knowledge of God's Word will overflow into the world with the Good News.

By Greg Laurie, Op-ed contributor Friday, February 17, 2006

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. —Matthew 28:19

A church that is focused on exalting God and on building up believers in the knowledge of God's Word will overflow into the world with the Good News. That's the commission Jesus gave us when He said,

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19–20)

Every church is called to evangelism. But that comes as the overflow of being a church that exalts God and builds up believers. When we are glorifying God and fulfilling the purpose for which He put us here, when we are being built up as believers, then we will want to go and share our faith. Healthy, well-fed believers will reproduce themselves.

And that builds a healthy church. You show me a church that does not have a constant flow of new believers coming in, and I will show you a church that is dying on the vine, a church that is stagnating. New believers bring energy and excitement back into the congregation.

So the church has to have balance. We need worship. We need teaching. And we need outreach. All of these principles must be emphasized on a regular basis to keep a church strong and healthy. And as we continue in the apostles' doctrine, in the breaking of bread and in prayers, the Lord will add daily to the church those who are being saved (Acts 2:42, 47).

Used with Permission