When Jesus said “go into all the world and preach the gospel.”

I think we often assume he was talking about events similar to what is recorded in Acts 2. When Peter addressed a crowd who were watching a Christian meeting at Pentecost. We then aspire to that sort of meeting and try to duplicate and engineer this in our churches.

In response to the crowds questions about what they were seeing. This crowd of 3000 immediately became Christian’s.

But more-so in response to Peters 3 minute address they were cut to the heart by what they observed.

I think what happened on that day was that non-Christians were watching a real spirit-led meeting of Christians. It was not a Peter-led meeting. They actually saw God in action in theses people, and it was undeniable that God was among them, because of the miracles they could not help but come to him.

“And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. They were amazed and astonished, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born?

And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, “What does this mean?””

‭‭Acts‬ ‭2:6-8, 12‬ ‭NASB‬‬

Evangelicals seem to think getting people out of hell through great sermons is the do all, be all, end all, trump card for church-related ministry. These particular ends justify any means. And if some question this logic and strategy we are seen as a selfish or foolish.

But I say with confidence that preaching sermons and ‘altar calls’ are not the Lord’s main strategy to build his ecclesia, they never were.

Instead groups of Christians being led of the spirit, declaring Jesus one by one in order. This is what the Lord set up.

The Spirit is Jesus himself leading Christian meetings, this is what he wants. This is the evangelism strategy from the Lord.

The most effective evangelism is non-Christians observing spirit-led meetings.

Paul also specifically taught his churches along these lines.

“But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭14:24-25‬

God among mankind, this is Gods strategy for evangelism. This is what all of creation is waiting for, longing for and eager to see.