“You are the Light of the World”

Chapter Four: Our Area of Responsibility

By Pastor Stephen Kurtzahn

If you are familiar with the Book of Acts you know that it records for us the spread of the Gospel throughout the world. It tells how thousands were converted to Christianity on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:41). We read how evangelists, such as Philip, proclaimed the Good News in Samaria and to an Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8). We are overwhelmed by the account of Saul’s conversion, who was changed by Christ from a persecutor of the church into the great apostle to the Gentiles, after that known as Paul.

At the end of Matthew’s Gospel, sometime during the forty days after Easter, Jesus commanded His disciples to “go” and “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). St. Luke, the author of Acts, fills us in on some of the conversation between Christ and His followers on the last day He was visibly among them. We read in Acts 1:8 that our glorious and resurrected Lord told His disciples, “...You shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” The remainder of the Book tells how the ascended Lord accomplished this through His disciples.

Our Lord’s command to “make disciples of all nations” still stands. We, the Christians of the 21st Century, are to reach out to all people with the love of the Savior: those who are both near and far. In order to aid us in understanding our role as evangelists, we need to realize that we are Christians with a “global outlook.” Just as the first believers witnessed in Jerusalem and Judea, so we can share Jesus with those in our community and state. As they went into Samaria with the Gospel, so can we in neighboring states and countries. And as the Word of the Lord grew into the uttermost parts of the Roman Empire, so we can reach the heathen through a workable mission program.

Notice one thing, however. All the work we have mentioned is done through the ORGANIZATION. Some have been known to say that organizations are a “necessary” evil. Why are they necessary? Local churches must be incorporated to conduct business. We need a church council to oversee the affairs of the congregation. We gather together with like-minded believers into synods, so our youth can be educated, so we can have a constant supply of pastors and teachers, and so funds can be gathered for mission endeavors.

But, as we said before, organizations are a necessary “evil.”

Let’s explain. Many individual Christians feel that their responsibility for mission work ceases when they place their “mission” offering in the collection plate. “Why should I go out and speak to others about my religion when I can conveniently put a check in the plate and have others do the work for me?” “Why should I take the time to tell my neighbor about divine forgiveness when the pastor is getting paid to do it?”

If we want to carry out the Great Commission which the Savior has given to us, we must realize the responsibility our Lord has placed upon us as individuals. When Christ says “Go,” He’s not just speaking to synods and church bodies, but to individual people. When He commands us to preach the Gospel “to every creature,” He has in mind that aunt or uncle or cousin; that brother or sister or father or mother; your neighbor or boss or the person who works next to you. With whomever we come into contact, Jesus wants us to share His divine peace and hope.

In order to make ourselves realize how important evangelism really is, let’s get into the habit of viewing people as Jesus does: they are the ones for whom He died and shed His blood. If we don’t tell them the Good News, who will? And if not now, when?

Such thoughts might scare us, and the responsibility towards those we know might be too great to humanly handle. But remember this story of a man who was once a missionary to India. Whenever he thought of the millions of people in that country still blinded by paganism, he would throw up his hands in near despair. He would pray, “I can’t do it all, Lord!” But then he came to a marvelous realization as he studied God’s Word—it wasn’t all up to him. He just had to share the Means of Grace, the Gospel in Word and Sacrament, and the Holy Spirit would do the rest. What a comforting thought for us to remember, as each of us personally works with our fellow human beings with the Word!

•         Continue to pray for your pastor, your church body, your congregation and your own evangelism efforts.

•         Continue to update your Personal Responsibility List.

•         Continue to review and practice your Law and Gospel presentation.

Note: This study was prepared by Pastor Steven Kurtzahn and was used at Zion Ev. Lutheran Church, Lawrenceville, Georgia by Pastor Nathanael Mayhew.

If you would like more information about this study,
please contact Pastor Mayhew