Evangelism in Community

“Grace-based” evangelism emerges within communities of grace that awaken people to God’s transforming power and presence. The goal is to gradually and consistently increase awareness of God’s prevenient, justifying and sanctifying grace. As awareness increases, moments of acknowledgement must be celebrated in the overall worshipping community as the way to link evangelism to discipleship.

“How can I ever let God’s grace fully work in my life unless I live in a community of people who can affirm it, deepen it, and strengthen it? We can not life this new life in Christ alone. God does not want to isolate us by his grace. On the contrary, he wants us to form new friendships and a new community— holy places where his grace can grow to fullness and bear fruit.” Henri Nouwen, The Road to Daybreak, p. 101.

GRACE-BASED EVANGELISM TRANSLATES AWARENESS INTO RESPONSE

Awareness and response to divine grace is a life-long pattern. For instance, infant baptism emphasizes God’s gracious movement toward us prior to the personal awareness of the child. In the act of baptism, the community of faith both acknowledges God’s prevenient grace (the grace that goes before) and the claim of Christ on the child. As a communal response to grace voiced at baptism, the church promises to nurture and guide the child to a point he or she may make their own profession of faith. Infant baptism, therefore, is a crucial acknowledgement and celebration of the parent’s and the church’s awareness and responsiveness to God’s grace.

At confirmation, a teen’s acknowledgement of grace and response is crucial. Prevenient grace has led the child to a point of maturity and responsiveness where he or she can make their own profession of faith. If infant baptism was done, the confirmand is reminded of both the prevenient grace and gift of baptism that led to this defining moment of acknowledgement and response. Repentance of sin and profession of faith are the confirmand’s response to their awareness of both prevenient grace that drew them to this step of faith and justifying grace—the saving, forgiving and transforming love of Christ. Profession of faith is the centerpiece of Christian experience. It celebrates trust in the saving action of Christ on the cross—known as the “atonement” of sin. If baptism has not yet been received, the confirmand then receives the sacrament at that point-- as an acknowledgement and celebration of growing awareness and responsiveness to grace and pledge to seek authentic discipleship.

Here, a word about “assurance” is important. Wesley taught that the marks of an authentic disciple are faith, hope and love. Simply defined, “faith” is trust in the saving action of Christ on the cross. “Hope” is the assurance of forgiveness of sins—and confidence of eternal salvation. (Note: confidence in eternal salvation… NOT eternal “security” as in “once saved always saved.” The emphasis is on hope as “confidence.”) “Love” is twofold. It is “love of God” and “love of neighbor.” To put it all together… our intentional efforts to invite, awaken, acknowledge and align are aimed at producing disciples whose lives bear evidence of faith, hope and love.