Word-of-Mouth Furthering the Word of God
Identifying the primary protagonist in the book of Acts is difficult. The title implies that twelve of the eyewitnesses of Christ’s resurrection will form the main cast of characters, but then Peter becomes the prominent preacher in the early chapters, giving way to Paul in the latter section. Also, some have rebranded the book “The Acts of the Holy Spirit,” highlighting the Spirit’s role in the narrative. But leaving aside the persons involved, this detailed record always seems to be moving toward one goal: the furtherance of the Word of God.
At the end of the section devoted to the preaching of Peter and John, we read, “The word of God increased” (Act 6:7).1 Following the death of Herod Agrippa I, we are told, “The word of God grew and multiplied” (12:24). And despite the enmity at Ephesus, progress continued: “So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed” (19:20). But how?
Peter’s powerful Pentecost preaching led to 3,000 souls being saved. Then the searching sermon on sin and salvation at Solomon’s Porch resulted in the deliverance of 5,000 men. Many heard of Christ’s death and resurrection throughout those initial days, and large crowds were converted. But in the grand scheme of things, Jerusalem was a small dot on an ever-growing map of the known world. In a time when travel was mainly on foot, roads were riddled with robbers, and peril awaited sailors at sea, few would think that twelve men could be entirely responsible for the worldwide growth of any grassroots movement. So, how did God transform the gospel from its beginnings in a temple in Judea to a movement that was eventually blamed for turning the world upside down (17:6)?
Obviously, divine intervention could negate any need for human participation. However, early on it became clear that God’s method to reach the masses would be by means of people spreading His message. But with the limitations of the apostles and a large area to cover, how did God accomplish this increase? Severe persecution forced believers out of Jerusalem and scattered them throughout the empire. In this way, every single believer became a carrier of the gospel! “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching [bringing the good news of] the word” (8:4). God still saw fit to order and honour the public proclamation of the gospel, but now, personal, private witnessing seemed to play an increasing role in evangelizing the world.
A band of royal priests was spreading out to show forth the excellencies of Him who had called them (1Pe 2:9). Without a religious hierarchy that designated one class of people as preachers and others as spectators, they all felt convicted and responsible to be “word-of-mouth” messengers. The marketplace became a harvest field as people traded goods and shared their faith. Mothers told others of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, and innkeepers got an earful of the gospel as guests lodged along their journey. Everywhere they went, every person they met was a candidate for the gospel. Opportunities grew as the Gentiles were brought into the mix, and this healthy network of believers was used mightily in God’s plan for the worldwide spread of the gospel.
Times have changed. Technology has advanced. Travel has become easier. Yet many bemoan the lack of response to the gospel. We know our post-modern society gives little thought to spiritual realities, but were we to recalibrate our outreach compass and return to more one-on-one evangelism, it perhaps could help us reach more people in communities disillusioned by shallow influencers and slick marketing. Consider these points to help encourage and equip us for personal gospel work:
1. Every person I meet needs this gospel. That little voice inside says, “They wouldn’t be interested” or, “They’ve got their own beliefs.” But remember that when the Lord Jesus looked at that Samaritan crowd whose fathers had their own place of worship and who had rejected the Scriptures in the past, He didn’t dismiss them. He said the fields were “white already to harvest” (Joh 4:35).
2. Gospel work involves much more than gospel meetings. Evangelism is an assembly responsibility, and regular gospel meetings are a part of every healthy assembly’s function. However, to be scriptural, we cannot limit outreach to specific services ordered by a special class of “preachers.” There is no such thing as an exclusive group of gospel witnesses in the Church; we are all called to preach the gospel to every creature (Mar 16:15).
3. Prayer and preparation empower witnessing. Spiritual work requires spiritual power. Prayer expresses our dependence upon God for power and direction and should include asking God to lead us to people who are already thinking about spiritual things or for courage and words to speak. But how do I prepare? It is essential to have a good grasp of gospel truth. To spread God’s Word, we have to know God’s Word. Another great way to prepare is to carry relevant, clear gospel tracts with us. Remember, the content of our message is critical.
4. Take time. Some of us are too busy to be Christians. Days are arranged to include work responsibilities, family duties, self-improvement routines and recreation, and any deviation throws us off. Sound familiar? Sacrificing time for evangelism can take on many different forms. Speaking a relevant word or passing a gospel paper may take only a minute. Prayer and reading the Scriptures in preparation takes longer, and building relationships may require hours and days of connecting with people and gaining their confidence. To witness, I must take time.
5. Practice makes perfect. Sound silly? Perhaps, but what if I said exercise (or training) instead of the word practice? Once, while working with an experienced brother, I mentioned how uncomfortable and inadequate I felt doing door-to-door visiting. His response? “Well, there’s only one way to improve – keep doing it.” We empathize with those who are nervous about reaching out, but take heart – some of the most utilized workers in the Bible were also timid and hesitant (see Exo 4:10). Keep it before the Lord and keep at it!
We have touched only a few points. We could have mentioned matters of the heart, the role that hospitality and kindness play in winning souls, and the need for practical righteousness and Christian character in our testimony. But perhaps God can use these few words to provide the needed spark for us to get back to the biblical work of personal outreach, so that it can be said of us, “They went everywhere preaching the word.”
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the KJV.
