This week the blog is sponsored by Matthias Media. Does your evangelistic passion match the New Testament call to proclaim Christ’s name to all people? God calls on us to partner with him in “hastening the coming of the day of God” (2 Pet 3:12) by laboring to make people ready for that day, having a mature faith in Jesus. This is the work the Apostle Paul describes himself doing:  Him we proclaim, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. (Col 1:28–29) Indeed, this idea of presenting everyone mature in Christ is Paul’s apostolic mission statement. But it isn’t a mission statement only for him. It’s your mission statement too. It’s the mission of all disciples of Jesus, as we imitate Paul: …not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. (1 Cor 10:33—11:1) In other words, just like Paul, we also proclaim the message about Jesus to all people so that they will be presented mature in Christ—whether to fellow believers: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Col 3:16) … or to unbelievers: At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the … Continue reading Evangelize 2024: Growing a Church That Proclaims The Gospel