Week 5: Evangelism in the Early Church

Learning from the Book of Acts

Key Verse: “As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” – Acts 4:20

The early church existed in a diverse religious landscape:
- Polytheistic Roman culture
- Jewish religious establishment
- Various mystery cults and philosophical schools
Persecution was a constant threat
- Jewish opposition (Acts 4, 7)
- Roman suspicion of new religions
- Economic threats (Acts 19:23-27)
The Roman Empire provided unique opportunities:
- Common language (Greek)
- Established road systems
- Relative peace (Pax Romana)
Early Christians had no church buildings, political power, or social status

Methods of Early Church Evangelism
- Public Proclamation
  a. Peter at Pentecost (Acts 2)
  b. Paul in the marketplace (Acts 17)
  c. Use of Old Testament scriptures
- Personal Evangelism
  a. Philip and the Ethiopian (Acts 8)
  b. Peter and Cornelius (Acts 10)
  c. Priscilla and Aquila with Apollos (Acts 18)
- Lifestyle Evangelism
  a. Community life of believers (Acts 2:42-47)
  b. Response to persecution (Acts 4:23-31)
  c. Care for widows and the needy (Acts 6)
Characteristics of Early Church Evangelism
- Spirit-Led Boldness
  a. Speaking despite opposition (Acts 4:19-20)
  b. Prayer for boldness (Acts 4:29)
  c. Reliance on the Holy Spirit’s power
- Contextual Adaptation
  a. Paul with Jews vs. Gentiles
  b. Use of cultural touchpoints (Acts 17:22-31)
  c. Flexibility in approach while maintaining message
Growth Patterns in Acts
- Organic Growth
  a. Jerusalem (Acts 2:41)
  b. Judea and Samaria (Acts 8)
  c. Ends of the earth (Acts 1:8 fulfillment)
- Opposition and Growth
  a. Persecution led to dispersion
  b. Adversity sparked innovation
  c. Growth despite lack of resources

Boldness in Contemporary Context
- Identify modern “marketplaces” for sharing faith
- Pray specifically for boldness and opportunities
- Start with your “Jerusalem” (immediate circle)
Contextual Witness
- Learn to “read” your cultural context
- Develop cultural touchpoints for the Gospel
- Adapt methods while preserving the message
Community Witness
- Foster an attractive Christian community
- Serve others as a witness
- Support fellow believers in evangelism

What similarities and differences do you see between the cultural challenges the early church faced and those we face today? How can their example guide us?
The early church grew rapidly without many of the resources we have today. What can we learn from their “limitations,” and are our modern resources sometimes a hindrance?
Acts shows various approaches to evangelism (public preaching, personal witness, lifestyle). Which do you find most challenging, and how can we grow in areas where we’re uncomfortable?