A. Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen          (BCP p. 101)

B. Read and Reflect

Evangelization is God's ministry. It is also an expression of the Church's mission "to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ" (BCP, p. 855). The General Convention of the Episcopal Church in 1973 defined evangelism as "the presentation of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, in such ways that persons may be led to believe in Him as Savior and follow Him as Lord within the fellowship of the Church."

All of us, congregations and individual disciples, have a share in this aspect of the mission of the People of God.

We can see some of the depth of evangelization when we reflect on its meaning in relationship to three passages from the Scriptures.

• And there was given to him the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened the book and found the place where it was written, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor . He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." (Luke 4:17-21)

• Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you and 10, I am with you always, to the close of the age." (Matthew 28: 18-20)

• I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. (Corinthians 11: 23-26)

C. Answer the following:

1. Which of the three scripture readings do you most respond to? Which do you least respond to?

2. How has Jesus Christ been presented to you in each of the ways suggested in the scripture readings?

D. Share with others in your group.

E. Prayer

O God and Father of all, whom the whole heavens adore: Let the whole earth also worship you, all nations obey you, all tongues confess and bless you, and men and women everywhere love you and serve you in peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP p. 124)

+From Faith Sharing by Mary Anne Mann and Robert Gallagher, Ascension Press 1989