Category Archives: Evangelism

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Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God

9780830837991mThe resurgence of Calvinism in the last decade has seen a simultaneous resurgence of traditional opposition to the doctrines of grace. One perpetual objection that faith in a God sovereign over salvation inevitably limits evangelism. After all, “If God is sovereign, why evangelize? People will be saved no matter what.”

Fifty years after its initial publication, J.I. Packer’s Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God remains the go to resource for understanding how instead of limiting evangelism, God’s sovereignty actually compels evangelism. As Mark Dever says in the foreword, “Packer addresses the [tension between sovereignty and evangelism] so clearly and biblically that this book is good for anyone who is beginning to wrestle with questions of how God’s sovereignty can fit with any area of human responsibility” (8).

Not a Hindrance to Evangelism

It must be understood that this book is not a manual or blueprint for evangelistic action. Rather, it’s aim is to show that “faith in the sovereignty of God’s government and grace is the only thing that can sustain [evangelism], for it is the only thing that can give us the resilience that we need if we are to evangelize boldly and persistently, and not be daunted by temporary setbacks” (14-15). The book’s structure is straightforward and concise, the four chapter titles give a clear sense of Packer’s purpose: Divine Sovereignty, Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility, Evangelism, Divine Sovereignty and Evangelism.

Packer’s trademark precision and logic shine through from the start. He—somewhat surprisingly—says, “I do not intend to spend any time at all proving to you the general truth that God is sovereign in his world” (16, emphasis added). Why? “There is no need; for I know that, if you are a Christian, you believe this already” (16). So he is not proving that God is sovereign, but that you already believe God is sovereign. He offers two proofs, the first of which is that every Christian believes God is sovereign in salvation because he/she gives God thanks for his/her conversion. The second proof that every Christian believes God is sovereign in salvation because he/she prays for the conversion of others. Thus, the difficulty is not that God is sovereign, but how his sovereignty relates to human responsibility, which is the burden of chapter two.

Packer argues for calling the relationship between divine sovereignty and human responsibility an “antinomy,” not a “paradox” as many have done. “An antinomy exists when a pair of principles stand side by side, seemingly irreconcilable, yet both undeniable” (26). In other words an antinomy is an apparent contradiction, not a real contradiction. Although some people have commonly referred to divine sovereignty and human responsibility as a paradox, this is not the case. For a paradox is a dispensable, comprehensible play on words intended to unite two opposite ideas. Packer recognizes this antinomy, or mystery, may lead to the temptation to an exclusive concern with one of the two sides. The way to avoid such extremism is to make “it our business to believe both these doctrines with all our might, and to keep both constantly before us for the guidance and government of our lives” (43).

Chapter three unfolds the biblical nature of evangelism. Packer points to Paul’s evangelistic ministry as a steward, herald, and ambassador as indicative of the Christian’s role as evangelist. He expertly details the gospel, or evangelistic message, as an announcement of truth regarding God, sin, and Christ, along with the summons to faith and repentance. With the gospel clearly defined he moves on to consider motivations for evangelism. The primary motive for evangelizing is love for God and concern for His glory; the secondary motive is love for man and concern for his welfare (82-84). Before the chapter concludes with helpful test of faithful evangelism, the reader discovers that proper evangelism has one means (the gospel explained and applied), one agent (Christ through His Holy Spirit), and one method (faithful explanation and application of the gospel message).

The final chapter, chapter four, aims to show that the sovereignty of God in salvation does not affect anything previously said about the nature and duty of evangelism. Four points are offered here:

  1. The belief that God is sovereign does not affect the necessity of evangelism (106).
  2. The belief that God is sovereign does not affect the urgency of evangelism (107).
  3. The belief that God is sovereign does not affect the genuineness of gospel invitations or the truth of gospel promises (109).
  4. The belief that God is sovereign does not affect the responsibility of the sinner for his reaction to the gospel (114).

The book concludes by showing how God’s sovereignty compels evangelistic action. For without God’s sovereign grace successful evangelism is impossible. Additionally, God’s effectual calling makes successful evangelism possible and certain. This in turn gives confidence to evangelists and makes them bold, patient, and prayerful. Packer’s final paragraph is worth quoting:

What, then, are we to say about the suggestion that a hearty faith in the absolute sovereignty of God is inimical to evangelism? We are bound to say that anyone who makes this suggestion thereby shows that he has simply failed to understand what the doctrine of divine sovereignty means. Not only does it undergird evangelism, and uphold the evangelist, by creating a hope of success that could not otherwise be entertained; it also teaches us to bind together preaching and prayer; and as it makes us bold and confident before men, so it makes us humble and importunate before God. Is not this as it should be? We would not wish to say that man cannot evangelize at all without coming to terms with this doctrine; rather we venture to think that, other things being equal, he will be able to evangelize better for believing it. (135)

An Unstoppable Salvo

Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God deserves the title of “classic.” There is no work available that so clearly and warmly shows what folly it is to say, “God’s sovereignty limits evangelism.”

A strength of the work is how it models the necessity of definitions and distinctions in theological discourse. Theologians, pastors, and Christians need nuance when thinking about the deep things of God, and Packer offers glorious nuance aplenty. Nuanced theological distinctions need not be an exercise in verbosity or complexity; rather, when done rightly it serves the truth of God’s word. Much of the common discussion on this topic of divine sovereignty versus human responsibility is less than helpful because the right definitions and distinctions are not employed. Chapters 1-2 are masterful displays of how proper nuance in biblical discussion serve unity in the church.

Along these lines it must be said that chapter one represent a salvo of truth that cannot be stopped. What Christian, after reading the Packer’s logic, can truly argue they do not believe God is sovereign? Packer expertly shows how traditional objections to God’s sovereignty are inconsistent with normal Christian practices of gratitude and prayer. These arguments also represent a treasure trove of truth for Christian discipleship. In fact, the whole book is a discipleship resource par excellence.

Piper and Carson are to be noted for their aversion of Packer’s employment of “antimony,” and I am sympathetic to their critique. For I do not find divine sovereignty and human responsibility to be “seemingly irreconcilable,” but this point of critique is minor in my view. A more substantial weakness of the book is its focus on personal evangelism at the expense of corporate evangelism. I understand Packer wants to empower individual Christians to evangelize well and confidently, but the book would be well served to show how the local church—particularly the preaching of the Word—is the ordinary means by which God intends to bring people to faith in Christ.

A Must Read

Few books currently available fall into the category of “must read.” J.I. Packer’s Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God is a notable exception. I would be hard pressed to think of how any pastor, church leader, or lay member would not greatly profit from the book’s content. While it may be wished that more reflection on the local church’s role in evangelism was offered, it cannot be denied that Packer – in my view – offers the best, and clearest, dismantling of the objection that God’s sovereignty in salvation limits man’s responsibility in evangelism. We should look at this book and, like Augustine, hear a childlike voice saying, “Tolle lege!”

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Media for Ordinary Pastors

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Every TGC National Conference churns out an astonishing amount of useful media for pastors, church leaders, and church members. I’ve worked through much of the media from this year’s conference and here are a five workshops I think will be of unusual benefit for ordinary pastors:

  • Tim Keller on “Preaching to the Heart”: In this workshop we will discuss how you can ensure your sermons are neither a lecture nor a rant, but rather how preaching can change people on the spot during the sermon.
  • 9Marks panel on “Church Polity? Really?”: There is no shortage of books and conferences and blogs and even movements on the church. But how often do we hear talk of church polity? If anything, many avoid the topic. After all, church government is said to divide Christians, not unite them. Why pay any heed to it at all? Is it that important for the average Christian and for Christian discipleship? If so, how? Does the Bible speak decisively in this area? And if we think it does, how firmly should we hold our convictions when other Christians disagree?
  • Ray Ortland on “How to Grow a Gospel Culture in Your Church”: Every church will be more convincing as a witness for Jesus if its doctrine and its culture converge as one. But without a gospel culture, even with glorious gospel doctrine, people will not listen. So much is at stake in the culture and relationships and feel and vibe of our churches! This seminar will equip pastors and church leaders for building this vital dimension in their churches.
  • Erik Raymond on “Everyday Evangelism”: As Christians we are commissioned by Jesus to reach our neighbors and the nations with the gospel. We also know that heaven will be populated with a great multitude of people from every nation. In view of the commission and the promise, how do we develop a culture of evangelism in our churches that zealously and faithfully pursue the lost? This session will highlight some practical ways to cultivate and sustain effective evangelism in the church.  
  • Michael Kruger on “How Do We Know the Bible is God’s Word? Recovering the Doctrine of a Self-Authenticating Scripture”: There are few questions more fundamental to the intellectual integrity of Christianity than the question of how we know whether the Bible is really God’s Word. Many answers have been given to this question, ranging from historical evidences to the testimony of the church. However, often overlooked in such discussions is the answer given by the Reformers themselves: that the Scriptures testify to their own divine origins. This workshop will explore the forgotten doctrine of a self-authenticating Scripture.
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Sermon of the Year

I don’t get a chance to listen to many sermons outside of those preached by other brothers at Imago Dei. Thus, my sample size for a “Favorite Sermon of the Year” is quite small.

Even if I had listened to dozens – maybe hundreds – more sermons I’m convinced none would have moved me like John Piper’s “Persuading, Pleading and Predestination: Human Means in the Miracle of Conversion.”

This was my favorite sermon of the year.

HE WAS ON FIRE

When he stepped up to the pulpit to deliver the final message this year’s Together for the Gospel the crowd was noticeably diminished. Those who had to leave early could not have known how much they would miss. When Piper stepped down nary a dry eye was found in the building. Al Mohler eventually came up to close the conference and he wept from the stage. I myself struggled to stop the floodgates that stemmed from profound conviction and joy.

God used Piper in a powerful way.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER

  • I will never forget how the Mt. Everest of Romans 9 became rocket fuel for evangelism.
  • I will never forget how the “somehow” of Romans 11:14 took on a whole new depth of meaning.
  • I will never forget his exhortation to lovingly say “I want you” to sinners.
  • I will never forget him singing “Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling.”
  • I will never forget his statement, “I love precision.”
  • I will never forget his channeling of Bill Piper asking, “Would you come? Would you come?”
  • I will never forget the rhetorical questions, “Will you be those arms?”
  • I will never forget singing “Softly and Tenderly” with thousands of brothers and sisters in response.

I will remember his sermon as being, up to this point in my life, the greatest embodiment of unction I’ve ever seen.

Do your life and ministry some good by listening or watching this God-besotted, Christ-exalting, and Spirit-powered “logic on fire.”

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8 [More] Qualifications for Soul-Winning

Spurgeon on Soul-Winning

On Tuesday the Prince gave us “Seven Qualifications for Soul-Winning – Godward”, those quintessential characteristics God looks for in His servants.

Spurgeon’s next lecture finds him taking up the same them, yet from the “manward” perspective; eight qualities “likely to be approved by the object acted upon, that is, the soul of man.”

There is indeed much crossover with the previous seven qualifications, but the manward qualification poke and prod in unique ways. Here they are with some of Spurgeon’s typical pithiness.

8 MORE QUALIFICATIONS FOR SOUL-WINNING

#1: An ignoramus is not likely to be much of a soul-winner. A man who only knows that he is a sinner, and that Christ is a Saviour, may be very useful to others in the same condition as himself, and it is his duty to do the best he can with what little knowledge he possesses; but, on the whole, I should not expect such a man to be very largely used in the service of God.

#2: There must be about us an evident sincerity. It must be quite clear to your hearers that you have a firm belief in the truths that you are preaching; otherwise, you will never make them believe them. Unless they are convinced, beyond all question, that you do believe these truths yourselves, there will be no efficacy and no force in your preaching. I do beseech you, brethren, speak from your hearts, or else do not speak at all. If you can be silent, be silent; but if you must speak for God, be thoroughly sincere about it.

#3: He must have evident earnestness. If a man is to be a soul-winner, there must be in him intensity of emotion as well as sincerity of heart. What earnestness our theme deserves! We have to tell of an earnest Saviour, an earnest heaven, and an earnest hell. How earnest we ought to be when we remember that in our work we have to deal with souls that are immortal, with sin that is eternal in its effects, with pardon that is infinite, and with terrors and joys that are to last for ever and ever!

#4: He must have an evident love to his hearers. It is very sad when the failure of any ministry is caused by want of heart. Do you not notice that men succeed in the ministry, and win souls for Christ, just in proportion as they are men with large hearts? You must love the people, and mix with them, if you are to be of service to them. There are some ministers who really are much better men than others, yet they do not accomplish so much good as those who are more human, those who go and sit down with the people, and make themselves as much as possible at home with them.

#5: He must have evident unselfishness. A man ceases to bring men to Christ as soon as he becomes known as a selfish man. What are you, my dear brother, that people should all bow down and worship you, and think that in all the world there is none beside you? I tell you what it is; the less you think of yourself, the more will people think of you; and the more you think of yourself, the less will people think of you. If any of you have any trace of selfishness about you, pray get rid of it at once, or you will never be fit instruments for the winning of souls for the Lord Jesus Christ.

#6: He must have holiness of character. When people see that we not only preach about holiness, but that we are ourselves holy men, they will be drawn towards holy things by our character as well as by our preaching.

#7: He must have a seriousness of manner. The most of us, however, are far more inclined to that laughter which doeth good like medicine, and we shall need all our cheerfulness, if we are to comfort and lift up those who are cast down; but we shall never bring many souls to Christ, if we are full of that levity which characterizes some men. There must be a prevailing seriousness about our whole lives, otherwise we cannot hope to lead other men to Christ.

#8: He must have a great deal of tenderness. I like a man to have a due amount of holy boldness, but I do not care to see him brazen-faced and impudent. When you preach, speak out straight, but be very tender about it; and if there is an unpleasant thing to be said, take care that you put it in the kindest possible form.

I believe, brethren, that soul-winning is to be done by men of the character I have been describing; and most of all will this be the case when they are surrounded by people of a similar character. You want to get the very atmosphere in which you live and labour permeated with this spirit before you can rightly expect the fullest and richest blessings. Therefore, may you and all your people be all that I have pictured, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake! Amen.

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7 Qualifications for Soul-Winning

Spurgeon on Soul-Winning

Paul commanded young Timothy to “do the work of an evangelist.” Every gospel ministry ever since has labored under the shadow of such an awesome command.

Perhaps no minister has done so with as much visible success as The Prince of Preachers. Charles Spurgeon delighted in soul-winning, his 19th century phrase for “evangelism.” In one lecture to his pastoral college students he said, “Our main business, brethren, is to win souls . . . so we must know about souls, and how to win them for God.”

The lecture proceeds to outline seven “Qualifications for Soul-Winning Godward”; in other words, which qualifications would God naturally look for in His servants, which qualifications He would be likely to approve, and most likely to use. Let me repackage them here with choice comments from The Prince in the hopes they will stir your soul for successful soul-winning.

7 GODWARD QUALITIES FOR SOUL-WINNING

#1: A man who is to be a soul-winner must have holiness of character. No wise man would pour his wine into foul bottles; no kind and good parent would allow his children to go to see an immoral play; and God will not go to work with instruments which would compromise His own character. In God’s school, the teachers must be masters of the art of holiness.

Dear brethren, I do beg you to attach the highest importance to your own personal holiness. Do live unto God. If you do not, your Lord will not be with you; He will say of you as He said of the false prophets of old, “I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the Lord.” You may preach very fine sermons, but if you are not yourselves holy, there will be no souls saved.

#2: He must have spiritual life to a high degree. You see, brethren, our work is, under God, to communicate life to others. Life must be communicated by a living instrument, and the man who is to communicate the life must have a great deal of it himself. You remember the words of Christ, “He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water,” that is, the Holy Spirit, when He dwells within a living child of God, afterwards rises out of the very midst of him as a fountain or a river, so that others may come and participate in the Spirit’s gracious influences.

#3: He must have a humble spirit. Certainly, the great God has a predilection for those who are humble. He loathes the proud; and whenever He sees the high and mighty, He passes them by; but whenever He finds the lowly in heart, He takes pleasure in exalting them. He delights especially in humility amongst His ministers.

In the matter of soul-winning, humility makes you feel that you are nothing and nobody, and that, if God gives you success in the work, you will be driven to ascribe to Him all the glory, for none of the credit of it could properly belong to you. If you do not have success, humility will lead you to blame your own folly and weakness, not God’s sovereignty. Why should God give blessing, and then let you run away with the glory of it? The glory of the salvation of souls belongs to Him, and to Him alone.

#4: He must have a living faith. If you have genuine faith in your call to the ministry, you will be ready, with Luther, to preach the gospel even while standing within the jaws of the leviathan, between his great teeth. You may depend upon it that souls are not saved by a minister who doubts; and the preaching of your doubts and your questions can never possibly decide a soul for Christ. You must have great faith in the Word of God if you are to be winners of souls to those who hear it.

That is the essential point, you must believe in God and in His gospel if you are to be a winner of souls; some other things may be omitted, but this matter of faith must never be.

#5: He must be characterized by thorough earnestness. The Lord Jesus Christ wept over Jerusalem, and you will have to weep over sinners if they are to be saved through you. Dear brethren, do be earnest, put your whole soul into the work, or else give it up.

#6: He must have a great simplicity of heart. By simplicity of heart, I mean, that a man evidently goes into the ministry for the glory of God and the winning of souls, and nothing else. There are some men who would like to win souls and glorify God if it could be done with due regard to their own interests. If a man seeks to serve himself, to get honour to himself, instead of seeking to serve God and honour Him alone, the Lord Jehovah will not use that man.

#7: He must be completely surrendered to God. I mean surrender in this sense, that from this time you wish to think, not your own thoughts, but God’s thoughts; and that you determine to preach, not anything of your own invention, but God’s Word; and further, that you resolve not even to give out that truth in your own way, but in God’s way.

I am sure this self-surrender is one of the essential qualifications for a preacher who is to be a winner of souls. There is a something that must be said if you are to be the means of saving that man in the corner; woe unto you if you are not ready to say it, woe unto you if you are afraid to say it, woe unto you if you are ashamed to say it, woe unto you if you do not dare to say it lest somebody up in the gallery should say that you were too earnest, too enthusiastic, too zealous!

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Softly and Tenderly

john-piperAfter David Platt delivered his message “Divine Sovereignty: The Fuel for Death Defying Missions” at T4G 2012 I immediately knew it was a sermon I’d remember until I rest in the grave.

Ligon Duncan said that it was the best sermon on missions he has ever heard. John Piper tweeted, “This may have been the most powerful missions message I’ve ever heard. I needed to be quiet with God.”1

The sermon was so singularly used by God in my life and ministry that I have since wondered when another such momentous event would occur.

Well it happened this last Thursday when Piper closed out T4G 2014 with a sermon entitled, “Persuading, Pleading and Predestination: Human Means in the Miracle of Conversion.”

When he stepped up to the pulpit the crowd was noticeably diminished. Those that had to leave early could not have known they would miss out on an exposition that left nary a dry eye in the building. When Mohler stepped up to close the conference he wept from the stage. I struggled to contain the torrent of tears that flowed from conviction and joy.

God used Piper in a powerful way.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER

  • I will never forget how the Mt. Everest of Romans 9 became rocket fuel for evangelism.
  • I will never forget how the “somehow” of Romans 11:14 took on a whole new depth of meaning.
  • I will never forget his exhortation to lovingly say “I want you” to sinners.
  • I will never forget him singing “Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling.”
  • I will never forget his statement, “I love precision.”
  • I will never forget his channeling of Bill Piper asking, “Would you come? Would you come?”
  • I will never forget the rhetorical questions, “Will you be those arms?”
  • I will never forget singing “Softly and Tenderly” with thousands of brothers and sisters in response.

I will remember his sermon as being, up to this point in my life, the greatest embodiment of unction I’ve ever seen.

Do your life and ministry some good by listening or watching this God-besotted, Christ-exalting, and Spirit-powered “logic on fire.”

  1. HT: Justin Taylor ↩
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3 Books Every Pastor Should Read: On Evangelism

Books are some of the best friends a pastor can have. How to know which friends to have is quite difficult, for as the inspired Preacher said, “Of making many books there is no end” (Ecclesiastes 12:12). So every couple of weeks I suggest three books a pastor should read on a given topic, hoping they will serve his ministry. Check out my past suggestions here.

One of my Endeavors for 2014 is to grow in personal evangelism. God appears to use two things to stir my soul in the practice: relationships (people who are faithful to show it) and reads (people who are faithful to teach it). Here are suggestions on profitable works for the pastor’s personal evangelism:

511NcvN64-L._SY344_PJlook-inside-v2,TopRight,1,0_SH20_BO1,204,203,200_Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by JI Packer. A timeless work on a timelessly thorny issue. Packer deals with two common questions related to personal evangelism and the sovereignty of God: “If God is in control of everything, can Christians sit back and not bother to evangelize? Or does active evangelism imply that God is not really sovereign at all?” With typical eloquence Packer gives a biblical “no” to both questions, and ably shows how sovereignty fuels our evangelism.

41xJpDdSNxL._SY344_PJlook-inside-v2,TopRight,1,0_SH20_BO1,204,203,200_The Gospel and Personal Evangelism by Mark Dever. Dever wanted a resource to use in discipline Christians in personal evangelism, so he wrote this book. Clear and cogent, short and substantive, The Gospel and Personal Evangelism will encourage diligence in sharing the good news. His chapters on “Why Don’t We Evangelize?” and “How Should We Evangelize?” are unusually pointed.

9781871676952mThe Soul-Winner: Advice on Effective Evangelism by Spurgeon. By any measure, Spurgeon was one of the most effective and passionate evangelists of all time. The Soul-Winner is a collection of addresses the Prince gave to encourage all who would win souls to Christ. He writes, “Soul-winning is the chief business of the Christian minister; indeed, it should be the main pursuit of every true believer.” Amen. Sit and learn from a master evangelist.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Marks of the Messenger by Mack Stiles. I heard Stiles say once that it’s rare for a day to pass when he doesn’t share the gospel with someone. That’s a man I want to learn from and Marks of the Messenger is his best book to date.

Tell The Truth by Will Metzger. A God-centered and truth-saturated manual for personal evangelism, characteristics that unfortunately are rare in the genre.