In Evangelism / Missions

In this part of the sermon: The second manifestation is introduced: a Christ-centered, church-based theology and practice of evangelism and missions. Martin clarifies his use of 'evangelism' and 'missions'…

Uses Acts 1:8 (Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, uttermost parts) to distinguish between evangelism (immediate geographical/cultural setting) and missions (crossing cultural/linguistic barriers).

And generally speaking, when people use the word evangelism, they are referring to efforts to bring the gospel to those in our more immediate geographical and cultural setting. And we generally think of evangelism. Now the idea here with the Holy Spirit is that when the local church has an available context, in Which we do not measure up our headers, or we set a knower base, we areGrand Flag Elizabeth as the local church in a given area seeking to bring the gospel to its own Jerusalem and Judea. That is, bringing the gospel into a geographical, cultural and often linguistic framework, in which...

10:35 - 11:16 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin explicitly rejects various man-made evangelistic methods (gospel rock, magic, independent boards) that bypass the church. He champions the conviction that the church is…

Describes literature promoting 'gospel rock stars' and 'half-stoned worldlings' as examples of defiling evangelistic methods that the church refuses to adopt.

So-and-so gospel group. And there's someone that looks surprisingly. Like some half-stoned worldling with hair all over the place or a gal looking like a sex pot. You're told to bring your young people.

40:32 - 40:49 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin explicitly rejects various man-made evangelistic methods (gospel rock, magic, independent boards) that bypass the church. He champions the conviction that the church is…

Mentions the 'Billy Graham juggernaut' and other big evangelistic endeavors as examples of man-made structures that the church rejects in favor of church-based ministry.

They'll sneak in the gospel while they're there banging their feet and blowing their minds on multi-decibel junk music. All in the name of evangelism. The Billy Graham juggernaut is coming into our area. Hardly a week passes but when I don't get some information.

40:49 - 41:09 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin explicitly rejects various man-made evangelistic methods (gospel rock, magic, independent boards) that bypass the church. He champions the conviction that the church is…

Cites 'gospel puppeteers' and a man offering 'gospel magic' as further examples of unbiblical, end-justifies-the-means approaches to evangelism.

Of some big evangelistic endeavor being held by this group and that group and this specialist. And we say no. We will not defile the noble task by giving it over to so-called rock groups and gospel puppeteers. And I got one the other day from a man in the area offering his services to do gospel magic.

41:09 - 41:34 Read in full sermon

Driving home: The church. The church is equipped to do all her Lord has commanded her to do. And if she cannot do it, either her Lord has not commanded her or it isn't his time to do it.

Quotes and describes the argument of Southern Presbyterian theologian Thornwell, who passionately defended the church's inherent competence to do all her Lord commands, including missions, against the creation of independent mission boards.

We came to the conviction expressed eloquently, defended, I think, unanswerably by the great southern preacher and theologian by the name of Thornwell. When he stood in his own. Today, when the Presbyterian church was saying, well, the church ought to do the work of evangelism and in particular missions. But the church does not have the wherewithal to do that work.

43:01 - 43:29 Read in full sermon

The point: Judge whether your life for a month would confirm the church's unique place in God's saving purpose.

Compares praying for blessing on man-made evangelistic structures to making one's own god and asking God to bless the creation of one's hands, highlighting the absurdity of such a practice.

It's like making your own God and asking God to bless the creation of your hands.

47:13 - 47:18 Read in full sermon