Lausanne World Pulse – Perspectives Articles – Following Christ in World Evangelization

By Grant McClung
January 2008

The events and experiences of Christ-followers in the early Church were a continuation of the ministry of Jesus. It is apparent that when Luke starts his introduction to the Book of Acts, he sees it as a sequel to an unfolding continuation of the Gospel of Luke: “In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach” (Acts 1.1, italics mine). If the Gospel of Luke was the story of all that Jesus began, then the Acts of the Apostles is the continuation of the ministry of Jesus. 

This fact was not lost on Peter in his first public declaration following his own personal empowerment in the Holy Spirit. With a fresh boldness (“Brothers, I can tell you confidently,” Acts 2:29), he bears witness to Jesus Christ being squarely in the middle of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit:

“God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.” (Acts 2:32-33)

The Presence of Christ in World Evangelization
As we follow Christ in world evangelization, he reciprocates with his own personal presence and involvement with us. He promises and demonstrates his own continuing, active presence and power to his followers: “And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28.20b). The Berkeley Version states it this way: “And, mind you, I am alongside you.” The Weymouth Translation says it this way: “…day by day, until the close of the Age.”

“After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.” (Mark 16:19)

Models and strategies of evangelization may adapt and change, but this will remain the same: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13.8). The continuing, active presence and power of Jesus Christ will be with us daily as he works with us and we follow him in world evangelization.

Endnotes

1. Stowell, Joseph. Following Christ. Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA: Zondervan.

2. Ibid. 130-131

Dr. Grant McClung, president of Missions Resource Group, is a member of the U.S. Lausanne Advisory Committee and missiological advisor to the World Mission Commission of the Pentecostal World Fellowship.