as for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. [2 tim 4:5]
in this passage, there is a call to timothy the pastor to “do the work of the evangelist“. it is a role and call for every pastor – declare the gospel in your preaching and in your every day relationships – AND, as you lead the sheep, call the body to declare the gospel in their relationships. this is one of the primary roles of under-shepherds, be an evangelist, an evangelist who sets a culture of evangelism in your body.
God never meant for the pastors to be the only evangelists. evangelism was never meant to be, you and i bringing our friends to the church so the pastors could “evangelize” them. evangelism is a WE thing. WE are called as the body of Christ to declare the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the pastors’ role: lead out in example and in building that culture.
this morning spend time in these passages. as you sit in these passages, ask God to reveal to you: the beauty of his character, his heart for his creation, and his desire for you his son / daughter. enjoy his presence. remember, these are not just words. this is God’s voice to you and i! let the King’s presence encourage you! let the King’s voice lead you! let the King’s majesty and love, cause you to willingly and joyfully submit to his call. enjoy! may you and i declare the glory of his redeeming work with joyful obedience – and do the work of the evangelist.
sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. [psalm 96:2]
oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! let the redeemed of the Lord say so, [psalm 107:1-2]
you are the light of the world. a city set on a hill cannot be hidden. nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. in the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. [matthew 5:14-16]
go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that i have commanded you. and behold, i am with you always, to the end of the age. [matthew 28:19-20]
but you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. [1 peter 2:9–10]
to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. amen. [revelation 1:5-6]
~ john ryan