Acts 8:1 That day a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria. ² Devout men buried Stephen and made loud lamentation over him. ³ But Saul was ravaging the church by entering house after house; dragging off both men and women, he committed them to prison. ⁴ Now those who were scattered went from place to place, proclaiming the word. ⁵ Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them. ⁶ The crowds with one accord listened eagerly to what was said by Philip, hearing and seeing the signs that he did, ⁷ for unclean spirits, crying with loud shrieks, came out of many who were possessed; and many others who were paralyzed or lame were cured. ⁸ So there was great joy in that city. 

There’s a pattern we see in the book of Acts as it relates to evangelism. In Philip’s case there was a proclamation of the gospel (v.5), a demonstration of the power of the Kingdom of God (v.6), and then an invitation to receive Jesus as Lord (implied). This is how the church grew so fast wherever the gospel was proclaimed. Proclamation – demonstration – invitation. All three of these elements were important.

This morning I wonder what it would look like for us to reclaim this “evangelism strategy” (if you can call it that). What would happen if we tried it?

Lord, open the door for us contemporary Christians to reclaim some things that have been lost over the years. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.