Last week we learned that meaning of the word “evangelize” means to spread the good news of Jesus through preaching the word and by showing good deeds or acts.  In the biblical days, Jesus taught His disciples that to evangelize is to present a testimony to the world in the unity of love. Evangelism was a natural thing that sprung out of personal communication and the collective unity of the disciples.  This week we will focus on “unity.”

Creating a unity with God and with fellow Christians (oneness) is an essential key to effective evangelism.  Jesus talked about unity in John 17:21 when He told His disciples, if you are one, the world will know that you sent me; and in John 13:34, if you love each other the world will know you’re my disciples. Here we see the importance of unity like the disciples had.  Jesus wanted His disciples to become unified as one so they would be powerful witnesses to the reality of God’s love. Today, we can also be powerful witnesses to the reality of God’s love and help to build a unified church by praying for fellow Christians, building others up and supporting their ministries; working together in humility and investing our time, resources and money in church activities and other efforts  to exalt Christ and bring sinners into the fold.  We should avoid matters that get us sidetracked and take us out of union with God such as gossip and arguing over divisive matters.

Jesus wants believers to become unified like the unity with Him and the Father. Christians cannot truly unify as one unless they are first living in union with God. Let’s take the example of a grapevine. Jesus is the vine and God is the gardener who cares for the branches. The fruitful branches represent the true Christians who follow Christ and the unfruitful branches represent the superficial Christians. Each fruitful branch is united with all others fruitful branches who live in union with God. Fruit bearing branches are pruned or cut back to promote growth (e.g., strengthen character and faith).  The unfruitful or non-fruit bearing branches will be eventually be cut off or separated from the vine to die because they may affect the ability of the fruitful branches’ to produce fruit (e.g., sustain life).

Jesus didn’t ask God to take sinners out of the world. Rather, He sends true Christians into the world to preach the gospel and testify of His goodness and saving grace.  In Matthew 5:13 Jesus said, “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.” If Christians don’t make an effort to affect the world around them they are of little value to God.  If Christians are too much like the world, they are worthless to God. Christians must learn how evangelize effectively and bring more sinners to Christ as well as allow their lives’ to have a positive impact on others.  It all starts with living in union with God and creating unity in the church body.