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3 reasons for the pastor to do the work of an evangelist every Sunday

Paul charges Timothy:
"do the work of evangelist" (2 Tim. 4:5)
Is hat something different from "Preach the Word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke..." (v2)? Is doing the work of an evangelist (i.e. gospel preacher) something quite separate to Timothy's regular pastoral ministry? Is it something on the side - just for Tuesday afternoons in the market place with unbelievers? Well I'm sure Timothy did do some of that targeted, door to door and marketplace evangelism for unbelievers but I think Paul was calling him to be evangelist in all his preaching, in church as well as outside it, Sunday by Sunday. Why?

  1. Timothy is to "preach the Word" (v2) and "the Word" is often used in the NT to mean the gospel message. In this particular context (cf. 2 Tim. 3:14-17) it could equally mean 'all the Scriptures' but then those Scriptures are all about "making you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus" so either way the Word is the Word about Christ. Preaching the Word = Preaching the Gospel.
  2. There are a whole load of people in church  every Sunday who do not have genuine faith in Christ and need to hear the gospel.
  3. The gospel is for Christian growth - it is how people are transformed and grow to maturity in Christ (2 Cor. 3:18; Col. 1:28; Titus 2:11-14; 2 Pet. 3:18).
To those who are pastors among us, let's fulfil our ministry, not only of pastor-teacher but of pastor-teacher-evangelist.

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