ANiC Communications Director, Scott Hunt, shares about why being bold witnesses is a priority for us.
In ANiC we want every person in our churches to be equipped and trained to clearly, accurately and boldly speak the good news about Jesus Christ to everyone around them.
Is the gospel worth being bold about?
The Christian message is not advice about how to do things for God, it's news about what God has done for us. The word “gospel” literally means “good news”. And the good news about Jesus is the very best and most important of news. It is the news that God has done in Jesus everything necessary to save us.
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes..." Romans 1:16
Why do we need to talk about it?
News is only useful if it's shared and known. And in Jesus’ final commands to his followers he told them to “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” (Mark. 16:15)
Go and proclaim. These are bold, active words. And we see the apostles obeying them throughout the book of Acts. (Acts 4:13, Acts 4:29, Acts 9:28, Acts 13:46, Acts 14:3, Acts 28:31)
You may have heard people wrongly quote St. Francis of Assisi saying, “Preach the gospel at all times. Use words if necessary.” But there is no evidence that St. Francis ever said this. More importantly, it’s just not biblical.
Faith in the gospel absolutely informs and transforms how we conduct ourselves, and that can and will impact people around us in all kinds of ways. But we are called and commanded to be news carriers, to go and to proclaim; to be witnesses. And to be a witness you must speak; you must testify.
"How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?" Romans 10:14
J. I. Packer said, “There is only one method of evangelism: namely, the faithful explanation and application of the gospel message.”
An example of the Bridge Illustration for sharing the gospel with people.
Do we know how?
Bishop Charlie Masters, our diocesan bishop, has written ANiC clergy saying, “My prayer is that, during my term as diocesan, 100% of ANiC parishioners will be able to confidently and winsomely share their testimony and clearly communicate the heart of the Gospel.”
Are you (and your fellow parishioners) equipped and ready to share your testimony of how you received the Lord Jesus into your life?
Are you able to share the Gospel in a clear and winsome way and invite people to respond?
What are you and your church doing to become trained and equipped to be bold witnesses?
We think most Christians have some idea that sharing the news of Jesus is important. But there are often lots of hindrances and fears in our way. We may have good intentions but it may be seldom that we see anything truly come of them.
So, our hope and goal across all of our family of churches is that we can help one another become more confident, intentional, equipped and determined to actually open our mouths and speak the good and glorious news about Jesus Christ.
Priority Leader
Scott Hunt
(ANiC Communications Director)
Featured
A resource to help anyone introduce someone to the Bible and what it says about Jesus.
Scott Hunt shares about the good news of Jesus and three ways we can pursue growing as bold witnesses in the days ahead.
Join our Facebook group for encouraging, equipping and networking bold witnesses for Jesus.
Resources
Telling the Good News - Video Series with Bishop Charlie
Watch Bishop Charlie and Canon Ray David discuss how to invite someone to respond to the gospel.
Bishop Charlie on how he shares the good news of Jesus - the Bridge to Life. It also includes a written tutorial on how to share the gospel this way.
Watch Chapter 2 of our 'Telling the Good News' series, as Bishop Charlie shares about his own journey.
Chapter 1 in our new 'Telling the Good News' video series, exploring why and how to share the news of Jesus.
Gospel Sharing Tools
A resource to help anyone introduce someone to the Bible and what it says about Jesus.
Rico Tice on why sharing your own story can be so powerful in evangelism and how to go about doing it.
Randy Newman writes about not simply sharing your own personal experiences when sharing about Jesus and how the Apostle Paul models this in Acts 26.
Rough sketches and a basic script for using the Bridge Illustration to introduce people to the gospel message.
We all have face the same decision: will we live our own way or God’s new way. Here’s a way to explain it.
You can get pocket-sized booklets which walk through the Bridge Illustration gospel-sharing model here at navpress.com.
Articles About Evangelism
Scott Hunt shares about the good news of Jesus and three ways we can pursue growing as bold witnesses in the days ahead.
Chris Doering, lead pastor at Living Waters Kingston, shares his story of illness and healing by the work of the Holy Spirit.
Are you prepared for wonderful opportunities to speak the gospel this Christmas?
Here are five elements that makes people share good news. - an article from Christianity Today Magazine
Theologian, author, professor, pastor and Anglican Priest, Canon Michael and his passion for evangelism had a huge impact on many including Bishop Charlie Masters.
How can we grow in confidence to open our mouths and speak about Jesus?
(4 min. read)
An article from the Gospel Coalition about how pastors and leaders can help their people talk about Jesus.
New Years is the perfect time to be ready to share the hope that's in you!
Bold Witness Training
Join our Facebook group for encouraging, equipping and networking bold witnesses for Jesus.
Learn how St. John’s is equipping themselves for evangelism with this three-part strategy.
This is a workshop led by the "Bold Witnesses" priority leadership team that was given at the 2015 ANiC Synod.
Resources aimed at helping to provide a paradigm for declaring Christ in our present culture.
Resources aimed at helping to address objections to belief in Christ.