In Evangelism and Missions

Driving home: The Bible knows nothing of Christ-centered freelance Christian experience. It only knows Christ-centered church-based.

Martin quips that declaring 'We're determined' only requires a loud voice — the real question is whether concrete manifestations back up the claim, challenging any merely verbal commitment.

And we therefore looked at seven pivotal texts, all of which together underscore this simple reality that God has assigned to the church a unique place in the purposes of redemption. Then in our last study, several weeks ago, we began to take up in the third place, having defined the church, demonstrated its unique place in the purpose of God in redemption. Some of the plain manifestations of this determination. It's easy to say, we're determined. All you need is a loud voice to say it. We're determined.

6:00 - 6:41 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin surveys what has been at the heart of the church's evangelistic message: the proclamation of Christ crucified (1 Corinthians 2:1-2; 15:1-6), the summons to repent and…

Martin references that just the morning before the sermon, church members wept before God over their lack of compassion for the lost, pleading for greater zeal — an honest pastoral acknowledgment of spiritual inadequacy.

So that is what I mean by those terms. And I am stating, under this fourth head of the manifesto, that our efforts to maintain a Christ-centered, church-based theology and practice of evangelism and missions is a plain manifestation of our determination that we shall confirm the unique place assigned to the church in the purpose of God. Now, having explained my use of the words, I then ask, what is at the heart of our evangelistic and missionary endeavors, as weak as they may be? And as brethren yesterday morning even wept before God

12:05 - 12:49 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not use unbiblical evangelistic language like 'accept Jesus as your personal Savior.' Instead, call sinners to 'believe on the Lord Jesus Christ' — throwing the weight of their soul upon the enthroned Savior-King.

Martin points out that the phrase 'accept Jesus as personal Savior' is never found in the Bible, contrasting it with the biblical language 'believe on the Lord Jesus Christ' — a concrete example of how their evangelism is shaped by Scripture, not popular evangelicalism.

to turn away from their indifference to the law of God, and to the claims of God, and to fellowship with God. We've commanded men in the name of the God of heaven, to repent. And we have urged them to believe on the Lord, Jesus Christ. We do not even use that unbiblical terminology, to accept Jesus as personal Savior, never found in the Bible.

17:02 - 17:30 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not use unbiblical evangelistic language like 'accept Jesus as your personal Savior.' Instead, call sinners to 'believe on the Lord Jesus Christ' — throwing the weight of their soul upon the enthroned Savior-King.

Martin describes faith as throwing 'the weight of your soul upon one who is enthroned in majesty and glory at the right hand of the Father' — a visceral metaphor for what it means to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as a reigning King, not merely a historical figure.

We tell men, believe on the Lord, Jesus Christ. Throw the weight of your soul upon one who is enthroned in majesty and glory at the right hand of the Father. The one who by Mary's womb went to a shameful cross, went to a dark, dank tomb, but came out in power, and is now the Messianic King and Lord upon His throne. And we've told people, throw the weight of your soul upon an enthroned sovereign.

17:30 - 18:06 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not use unbiblical evangelistic language like 'accept Jesus as your personal Savior.' Instead, call sinners to 'believe on the Lord Jesus Christ' — throwing the weight of their soul upon the enthroned Savior-King.

Martin unpacks the full name 'Lord Jesus Christ': Jesus means Jehovah-Savior, Christ means the anointed Prophet-Priest-King — illustrating the rich theological content demanded of a truly Christ-centered gospel proclamation.

He is Jesus, Jehovah our Savior, given that name at His conception, for He would save His people from their sins. He is Christ, the Anointed One, God's final and glorious Prophet to teach us, Priest to forgive us, King to rule over us, has not this been our message? Christ-centered proclamation, Christ crucified, the summons to repent and to believe, and even further, has it not been a setting forth of the living Christ Himself, calling to sinners in the Gospel, entreating sinners in the Gospel,

18:06 - 18:48 Read in full sermon

The point: Recognize that personal holiness cultivated in the fellowship of the church — not evangelism seminars or technique training — is the indispensable foundation of credible witness.

Martin lampoons the idea that spiritually carnal believers can attend an evangelism seminar, learn ten techniques, and become effective witnesses — contrasting this with the biblical requirement to first be 'lights' before 'holding forth the word of life.'

This idea that people with sloppy lives oozing with the world and carnality can be gathered into a seminar and taught ten little gimmicks to become effective witnesses is utterly unfounded in the Scriptures. He says you must become children of God without blemish, seen as lights, holding forth the word of life. And where does God carry on that work that rubs off our rough edges and exposes our sins and our blemishes and brings us to the fountain open for sin and uncleanness? Well, you say in my personal devotions, yes, thank God for personal devotions.

24:54 - 25:37 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Through Acts 2:37-47, Acts 4:4, 1 John 2:19, and the story of Ananias and Sapphira, Martin demonstrates that throughout Acts, genuine faith is inseparable from visible church…

Martin recounts the Day of Pentecost: tongues and fire drew attention and raised questions, but it was Peter's preaching that cut the 3,000 to the heart — illustrating that proclamation, not spectacular phenomena, is God's instrument of conversion.

They had real tongues but it wasn't the real tongues that caused them to be cut to the heart. That just caused them to raise questions. Some of them thought they were drunk. Some thought they were crazy and Peter stood up and he began to preach.

29:19 - 29:30 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Through Acts 2:37-47, Acts 4:4, 1 John 2:19, and the story of Ananias and Sapphira, Martin demonstrates that throughout Acts, genuine faith is inseparable from visible church…

Martin notes that the Holy Spirit, through Luke, places the emphasis not on personal devotions but on the converts' steadfast incorporation into the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers — showing the Spirit prioritizes church life over individualistic piety.

that isn't what it says they that received His word were baptized and they were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls and they continued steadfastly in personal devotions well I hope they did I'm sure many of them did but that isn't what it says it says they continued steadfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship in the breaking of bread and the prayers and the Holy Ghost places the emphasis upon their incorporation into the visible church I didn't write it the Roman Catholic Church didn't rewrite it God the Holy Spirit did not write it God the Holy Spirit did not write...

31:20 - 32:04 Read in full sermon

The point: Understand that genuine saving faith demonstrates its reality by willingness to be incorporated into the visible church. An indefinitely church-less 'Christian' is a gross anomaly the New Testament does not recognize.

Martin cites Ananias and Sapphira as the anomaly of being in the visible church without being joined to Christ, then reverses the logic: the gross anomaly is claiming union with Christ while refusing the visible church — a sharp apologetic for church membership.

they were in the visible church. God said they didn't have the root of the matter in, so He killed them to take them out. And they carried them out, wound up in a sheet and buried them, Ananias and Sapphira.

34:21 - 34:29 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: A fourth question: where are gospel preachers molded, proven, recognized, and sent? Acts 13:1-3 (Antioch), Acts 9:26 (Paul joining Jerusalem), and Acts 16:1-2 (Timothy) all show…

Martin traces Paul's biography in Acts 9: no sooner converted than he attempts to become a church member in Jerusalem. Even the apostle saved by direct revelation sought church accountability — church-based evangelism at its most vivid.

No sooner does he get converted and give his testimony and preach a little bit, but he goes down to Jerusalem and the first thing he attempts to do, according to Acts 9, is to become a church member. Remember, when he was come to Jerusalem, Acts 9.26, he attempted to, join himself to the disciples and they were all afraid of him not believing he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared how he'd seen the Lord in the way and how he'd spoken to him and how at Damascus he'd preached boldly and he was with them going in and going out at Jerusalem preaching ...

36:30 - 37:08 Read in full sermon

The point: Refuse pragmatic evangelistic methods — gospel rock concerts, celebrity crusades, gospel magic — however sincere the motives behind them. The end does not justify the means; Christ-centered proclamation is non-negotiable…

Martin describes the unsolicited literature arriving on his desk: flyers for gospel rock concerts featuring performers 'looking like a sexpot' or a man 'pulling a bunny out of a hat' and calling it evangelism — concrete examples of the pragmatic methods they have refused.

has a hold of our hearts. We have refused all the invitations to join the evangelical churches in bringing in the big-name gospel rock star. If I showed you the literature that comes across my desk, some of you would vomit. I've spared you showing, even showing it to you.

40:04 - 40:29 Read in full sermon

The point: Refuse pragmatic evangelistic methods — gospel rock concerts, celebrity crusades, gospel magic — however sincere the motives behind them. The end does not justify the means; Christ-centered proclamation is non-negotiable…

Martin notes that invitations to join Billy Graham crusades and other big evangelistic endeavors arrive nearly weekly, and the church has consistently said no — illustrating their conviction that Christ-centered proclamation, not celebrity events, is God's means of evangelizing.

The Billy Graham juggernaut is coming into our area. Hardly a week passes but when I don't get some information 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.

41:03 - 41:29 Read in full sermon

The point: Refuse pragmatic evangelistic methods — gospel rock concerts, celebrity crusades, gospel magic — however sincere the motives behind them. The end does not justify the means; Christ-centered proclamation is non-negotiable…

Martin contrasts the common missionary-sending model — sending sincere but unqualified individuals — with their own practice of sending men who can actually preach Christ crucified and are committed to planting stable churches.

Whether one-to-one, whether with a tract, whether with a booklet, whether with a tape, a radio broadcast, bring them under preaching. Christ-centered preaching is God's means of evangelizing. And what have we sent out to the ends of the earth? The idea current in many places is you've got a guy who feels he's called of God and loves souls and he's got a spirit of sacrifice but can't preach himself out of a paper bag, send him to the mission field.

41:56 - 42:26 Read in full sermon

The point: Refuse pragmatic evangelistic methods — gospel rock concerts, celebrity crusades, gospel magic — however sincere the motives behind them. The end does not justify the means; Christ-centered proclamation is non-negotiable…

Martin recounts the historic Presbyterian debate: Thornwell thundered that the church is equipped to do all her Lord commands — if she cannot, either He hasn't commanded it or it isn't His time — refusing independent boards. Martin says he has read the 200-page debate several times and finds Thornwell's case unanswerable.

When he stood in his own day, 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! And they were setting up independent boards to do the work of missions and Thornwell reared back on his hind legs and with all of the burning passion of a prophetic conviction and insight, he thundered out in the debates in the Presbyterian 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 is...

43:16 - 44:00 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: A fifth question: what was the apostles' non-negotiable missionary goal? Acts 14:21-23 shows it was stable, elder-led churches — not mere decisions or fellowship groups. Martin…

Martin likens creating unauthorized evangelistic structures to making an idol and then asking God to bless the work of your hands — a sharp analogy for why they cannot pray with confidence over para-church inventions.

For you see, if we establish a structure of any kind to do the work of evangelism and missions, and Christ has not instituted that structure, how in the world can we pray for His blessing upon our own invention? It's like making your own God and asking God to bless the creation of your hands. Why can we approach each Lord's Day, individually and corporately, and many of you and your families, and in our prayer meetings, and in our elders' meetings when we pray each Thursday night, why can we approach the Lord's Day and say, Oh God, in our stated meetings on the Lord's Day, we know that whateve...

46:59 - 47:43 Read in full sermon

The point: Examine your own life: do your priorities, finances, career choices, and the values you impart to your children demonstrate that the church holds a unique place in God's saving purposes? The conviction must be visceral a…

Martin vividly pictures financial commitment to the church: 'even if you've got to wear a threadbare suit and eat beans and hot dogs for six days in a row' to give God His portion off the top — a homely, concrete test of whether church-based priorities are actually lived.

Christ-centered and church-based, would they judge that that was God's way of nurturing life? Would they see you arranging all your priorities around the stated meetings, all of your finances around giving God His portion off the top, even if you've got to wear a threadbare suit and eat beans and hot dogs for six days in a row? Would they judge from the way you handle your finances that you have a Christ-centered, church-based view of the Christian life? Would they judge from the values you're seeking to impart to your children by example and precept that the most important thing under God

49:37 - 50:20 Read in full sermon