The Biblical Job Description For An Evangelist

Some Biblical facts to help understand the job description

The title Evangelist is descriptive of the work. The word from the New Testament translated as evangelist means “preacher of the good news.”

Some evangelists had short ministries (Titus) some were long term ministries (Philip).
· Acts 8:40 “Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.”
· Ac 21:8 “Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven.”
· There is at least a 20 year time period between Acts 8 and Acts 21. The idea that Evangelists didn't have long term located ministries is wrong.

Timothy and Titus were evangelists written similar letters (epsitles) from Paul. In these two letters is an outline of the job description of an evangelist. By reading these two books, a preacher can know what his job descrition is.

Evangelist Job Description

Submit to the Oversight of Elders

1. Ordained by elders (this implies accountability)
· 1 Timothy 4:14 “Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.”

2. Obey the eldership (obviously not to the point of disobeying God)
· Hebrews 13:17 “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.”

3. Periodically report what you have done to elders
· Acts 15:4 “When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.”
· Acts 21:18-19 “The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James, and all the elders were present. Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.”

4. Seek the Elders input, guidance and intervention when you can’t fix a problem yourself
· Acts 15:2 “This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.”
· Acts 15:6 “The apostles and elders met to consider this question.”

Guard the responsibilities and authority given so you can discharge all your duties
· Titus 2:15 “Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.”
· 1 Timothy 4:12 “…Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young”
· 1 Timothy 6:20 “ O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you”
· 2 Timothy 4:5 “…do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry”

Set in order what is out of order
· Titus 1:5 “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains”

Set in order the Eldership (mutual accountability)

1. Appoint Elders by Biblical guidelines
· Titus 1:5 “…appoint elders in every city as I directed you,”
· 1 Timothy 5:22 “Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others.”
· The Qualifications are given to evangelists.

2. See to the pay of fulltime elders
· 1 Timothy 5:17 “The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.”

3. Receives accusations against elders
· 1 Timothy 5:19 “Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.”

4. Rebuke sinning elders
· 1 Timothy 5:20 “Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning.”

Set in order the teaching of doctrine

1. Study the Word Diligently to prepare to teach
· 2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
· 2 Timothy 4:2 “…be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.”

2. Preach the Word
· 2 Timothy 4:2 “preach the word”

3. Teach Sound doctrine
· Titus 2:1 “You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.”

4. Guard against false doctrine and false teachers
· 2 Timothy 4:15 “Be on guard against him yourself, for he vigorously opposed our teaching.”
· 2 Timothy 1:13 “Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.”

5. Rebuke with full authority
· Titus 2:15 “Encourage and rebuke with all authority.”
· 1 Timothy 5:20 “Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning.”
· Titus 1:13 “This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith”

6. Encourage with full authority
· Titus 2:15 “Encourage and rebuke with all authority.”
· 2 Timothy 4:1 “…correct, rebuke and encourage— with great patience and careful instruction.”
· Titus 2:6 “Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled.”

7. Decide who teaches
· 1 Timothy 1:3 “ …stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer”

8. Warn divisive persons
· Titus 3:10 “Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him.”

9. Remove false teachers
· Titus 1:11 “They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach— and that for the sake of dishonest gain.”
· 2 Timothy 3:5 “having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.”

Set in order the Various Ministries delegated to deacons (below some examples)

1. Mission giving
· Titus 3:13 “Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way and see that they have everything they need.”

2. Public Services
· Public scripture reading, preaching, and teaching
· 1 Timothy 4:13 “Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.”
· Corporate Prayer
· 1 Timothy2:1 “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone”
· 1 Timothy 2:8 “I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer”
· Public dress
· 1 Timothy 2:9 “women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety”
· Who teaches
· 1 Timothy 2:12 “do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.”

3. Benevolence ministry (the ministry of the seven original deacons)
· 1 Timothy 5:3 “Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need.”
· It then gives 13 more verses about how benevolence should work in the church

4. New Leadership Training
· 2 Timothy 2:2 “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.”

Set a good example
· Titus 2:7 “In everything set them an example by doing what is good.”
· 1 Timothy 4:12 “… set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”
· 1 Timothy 4:16 “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”