Evangelism is a Priority (Bible Verses)

If asked ‘Why are you a Christian’ most Christians will respond by giving ‘the reasons’ they became followers of Jesus. However the word ‘why’ also has another meaning - what is ‘the purpose’ for which we have been chosen by God to be his people. Many seem to be much less clear about this. Could this be the reason so many churches are weak? Christians have been called to glorify our Heavenly Father and his Son, the Lord Jesus. We glorify him by the way we live and by what we say. We have been chosen to present to the nations the claims and demands of Jesus. What a tragedy it is that so many claiming to be Christians do not see this as their priority.

I have listed the following verses under the heading ‘Evangelism is a Priority’ on the blank sheets in the back of a Bible that I have noted when reading through the Bible. They emphasise the absolute priority of our sharing the faith with others.

1 Kings 18:36 At the time of the sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel . . . Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.

2 Kings 7:9 Then they said to each other, “We’re not doing right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves.”

Psalm 9:1,11,14 I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders . . . proclaim among the nations all he has done . . . that I may declare your praises . . .

Psalm 22:30 Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. they will proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn - for he has done it.

Psalm 40:9-10 I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly. I do not seal my lips, as you know, O LORD. I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly.

Psalm 51:12-13 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.

Psalm 67:1-2 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among the nations.

Psalm 71:8,15,16 My mouth is filled with your praise declaring your splendour all day long. . . . My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long. . . I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone. Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvellous deeds.

Psalm 71:24 My tongue will tell of your righteous acts all day long,

Psalm 73:28 But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.

Psalm 89:1-2 I will sing of the LORD”s great love for ever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known throughout all generations. I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself.

Psalm 89:15 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence.

Psalm 92:14-15 They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”

Psalm 105:1-2 Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make know among the nations what he has done. . . tell of all his wonderful acts.

Psalm 109:30 With my mouth I will greatly extol the LORD.

Psalm 115:17-18 It is not the dead who praise the LORD, those who go down in silence; it is we who extol the Lord, both now and forevermore.

Psalm 118:17 I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done.

Psalm 145:1,4-6 I will exalt you. my God the King; . . One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendour of your majesty, . . They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds.

Psalm 145:10-12 All you have made will praise you, O LORD; your saints will extol you. They will tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, so that all men may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendour of your kingdom.

Psalm 145:21 My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.

Isaiah 43:11 “I, even I, am the LORD and apart from me there is no saviour. I have revealed and saved and proclaimed - . . . You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “that I am God.”

Isaiah 56:8 The Sovereign LORD declares - he who gathers the exiles of Israel: “I will gather still others to them besides those already gathered.

Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted and to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.

Isaiah 62:1 For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet.

Isaiah 62:6 I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call upon the name of the Lord, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem.

Isaiah 63:7 I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which he is to be praised.

Isaiah 66:19 They will proclaim my glory among the nations.

Jeremiah 4:19 Oh, my anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain. Oh the agony of my heart! My heart pounds within me. I cannot keep silent.

Jeremiah 20:8-9 So the word of the LORD has brought me insult and reproach all day long. But if I say, “I will not mention him or speak any more in his name, his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary with holding it in and I cannot.”

Jeremiah 51:10 The Lord has vindicated us; come let us tell in Zion what the Lord our God has done.

Ezekiel 33:7-9 Son of man, I have made you a watchman of the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to the wicked, “O wicked man, you will surely die,” and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will be saved yourself.

Daniel 11:33 Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered.

Daniel 12:3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.

Malachi 23:7 For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, and from his mouth men should seek instruction - because he is the messenger of the LORD Almighty.

Matthew 5:14-16 You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven.

Matthew 9:35-38 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. when he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harried and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.

Matthew 10:14 As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.”

Matthew 10:32 Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.

Matthew 28:19 The Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

Luke 5:10 Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Luke 9:60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury the dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

Luke 10:2-3 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.

Luke 11:23 He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.

Luke 21:13-19 They will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. This will result in your being witnesses to them. . . By standing firm you will gain life.

John 17:21 May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

John 17:23 May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Acts 4:1-20 . . . the apostles were teaching the people . . but many who heard the message believed . . .”Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

Acts 5:18-32 “Go stand in the temple courts,’ he said, and tell the people the full message of this new life.” . . . We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said, “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!”

Acts 5:40 . . . they had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then the apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

Acts 18:9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid: keep on speaking to, do not be silent. For I am with you . . .

Acts 23:11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

Acts 26:16-17, 28 (Paul’s testimony to Agrippa about the commission God gave him) “I am sending you to to them (the Gentiles) to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light. . . .The Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”

Acts 28:31 Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 9:17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.

Romans 10:1 Brothers, my hearts desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.

Romans 10:9-10 That if you confess with you mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

1 Corinthians 9:12 We put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.

I Corinthians 9:19-22 Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.

1 Corinthians 10:33-11:1 For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

2 Corinthians 2:14 But thanks be to Christ who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.

2 Corinthians 3:9 . . . how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness.

2 Corinthians 3:12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.

2 Corinthians 4:1-2 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, not do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

2 Corinthians 4:13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” with the same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak.

2 Corinthians 5:11-21 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the lord, we try to persuade men . . . For Christ’s love compels us . . . And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you, on christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

Galatians 3:14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus . . .

Ephesians 3:9-10 Although I am the least of all God’s people, this grace was given to me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery . . . His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 6:19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains.

Philippians 1:14 Because of my chains most of the brothers have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.

Philippians 1:27-28 . . . contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you.

Philippians 2:14-17 Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life . . .

Colossians 4:2-6 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us too that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly as I should. Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

1 Thessalonians 2:15-16 They displease God and are hostile to all men in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved.

1 Thessalonians 3:2 We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God’s fellow-worker in spreading the gospel of Christ,

1 Timothy 2:5-7 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men . . . And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle - I am telling the truth, I am not lying - and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles.

1 Timothy 6:1 All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered.

2 Timothy 1:8 So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord . . .

2 Timothy 4:15 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.

1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. but do this with gentleness and respect.

Revelation 2:10 Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life

Revelation 6:9 I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained.

Revelation 12:11 They overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.

Revelation 12:17 - those who obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

Revelation 19:10 (An angel says) I am a fellow-servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Revelation 20:4 And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God.

There is surely no doubt why God has selected us to be his Chosen People - it is to give glory to the Lord Jesus that others may believe in and follow him, may publicly testify about him, as evidence that they will receive eternal life.

BVP