The Ever Widening Circle Of World Evangelism

The Ever Widening Circle Of World Evangelism

“...And ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

Acts 1:8

When you read John 3:16-17 you will conclude that there are three types of unconverted people in the world today:

1.  Those that reject the Gospel.

2.  Those that neglect (put off) the Gospel.

3.  Those that have never heard the Gospel.

Each of these three groups of people will be lost and condemned because they have not believed the Gospel.

The difference is that the first two groups of people had the opportunity to hear the gospel but rejected or neglected it. Sadly, the third group of people will be lost because they did not hear the Gospel, therefore they did not respond to it. 

In Matthew 13:38 Jesus told us, “The field is the world.” The seed that is planted is the Word of God, and we are called to sow the seed (witness). 

With the understanding that the field is the world, many times we just carelessly sow the seed wherever and whenever we can. Many missionaries go into countries and start a church in several different locations, each quite distant from the other without any thought of how to bring the churches into maturity and also a fellowship with other churches in the national organization.  However, in the Word of God it seems that Jesus had an organized, systematic way of church planting and witnessing in mind.

This is the ever widening circle of world evangelism found in Acts 1:8:

A.  Jerusalem

B.  All Judaea

C.  Samaria

D. Uttermost part of the earth

Every Christian is responsible for beginning to witness in his Jerusalem (home, neighborhood, city) and to work from there in an effort to evangelize the world around them. 

If we cannot be effective in our Jerusalem, chances are that the Lord will never send us to the uttermost part of the earth.

One of the qualifications for those involved in the ministry is that he would need to have his wife, children, and those in his household under control. Paul instructed Timothy in          1 Timothy 3:4-5 that if we cannot lead our home, then how can we lead the church?  We must have a fruitful ministry in the church in our home before we ever go to plant churches elsewhere. 

God has called us to be a “World Christian.”  This is not the same as being a “Worldly Christian.”  He wants us to be “Fishers of Men.”  (Luke 5:10) 

The local church is the best medium of evangelism available with every member called to be a witness.  When you have new converts coming into your churches they are usually very zealous with witnessing.  They have come freshly from the world so they have many contacts that can see their changed lives and be drawn into the church.  Basically, the longer you are in the church the less contact you have with people of the world. 

However, new converts have many they can witness to with their new found life in Jesus Christ. Encourage your new converts and members to begin witnessing where they are at and then allow God to open doors around you.  Churches will always grow when an effort is made to reach out to people.

Churches will be healthy when they reach out and bring new people into the family of God. 

Þ     Jerusalem represents the local church. This becomes the base for evangelism.

Þ     Judaea represents the geographical area that surrounds the local church.

Þ     Samaria the outcasts of society that no one would normally want to be associated with. This could also include a further region from  your center (Jerusalem).

Þ     Uttermost part of the earth represents World Missions.  Every church needs to be involved in World Missions no matter where they are located in the world. World Missions is the responsibility of the entire church. Churches in Africa, Europe, Central America, etc. all need to be involved in reaching the world.  Acts 1:8 was written to every Spirit filled believer no matter where they live, throughout all time.

It is noteworthy that Acts 1:8 is also an outline for witnessing in the Book of Acts.

1.  Jerusalem                                                                        Acts 1-7

2.  Judaea                                                 Acts  8-12

3.  Samaria                                                                  Acts  8-12

4.  Uttermost parts of the Earth  Acts 13-28