Evangelism. What is it?

What is Evangelism? We are preparing a kamp or vbs of sorts for the middle school here at FBC and that is the first topic i am to speak over. I guess the best way to start is with a plain old definition of the word. Evangelism is used as spreading a set of particular beliefs on to others who do not hold those same beliefs. In the greek to be an evangelist means literally to be a preacher of the gospel. So, evangelism in Christianity is to share the good news or gospel of Jesus Christ with others. This implies that we know the story of the promised Christ to share it with others. But it also raises the question of how we evanglize. Do we use tracks? Get up on street corners and preach? Try to build relationships with non-believers without saying anything in the hope that somehow they will see Christ in us? Do we simply befriend non-believers only in the hope that they will be evangelized? There are a litany of questions that are raised with many various and diverging opinions on how to go about each of these. First, let us review the "good news" or gospel that Jesus came proclaiming. For many the only thing that they know or focus on is that Jesus died for our sins. While this is immensly important, to focus exclusively on this without understanding the context of why he died or the wider story of God and how this is the climax of that story will hinder us from sharing this wonderful news and lead to merely a short-sighted partial understanding of who God is and what it is that he has done and is continuing to do. Let us go back to Genesis where God has created everything and declared that it is good and after the creation of man he declares it to be "very good". Man is a creation of God appointed to reflect God's image to Himself and the rest of creation. He was appointed to be a stewart over the earth. We all know that Adam sinned and ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil and as a result was exiled from the garden and brought in death. This is the context which all of scripture is written. The rest of scripture is written as a love story revealing God's plan to bring back his fallen creation. It is a story of exile and redemption.
The next highlight to bring up is the covenant that God makes with Abraham. He calls Abraham from his home land in Chaldean and promises him a great nation, land and those who bless him would be blessed and those who curse him would be cursed. Abraham obeys God and moves from his home, puts his faith in God through many intense trials learning to trust in God. It is through Abraham and his lineage that God seeks to bring the world to rights. God used the Jewish people to be his "light to the nations" and to show the rest of the world who He is and what He is like. But what happens when the chosen nation itself needs rescuing. God has been seeking to put the world to right, to restore its beauty, justice, relationship etc. but Israel has failed in this and herself needs rescuing. God sent the prophets to call back the nation gone astray but they rebelled and killed the prophets. So, what is left but to rescue the nation itself and through that reveal this God who created all things.
The O.T. speaks of a prophet or coming messiah that would bring God's justice to earth at last and would restore Israel. The Maccabean revolt which occurred over a century before Jesus had hightened the Jews exectation of a messiah who would liberate them from the Roman occupation and restore them their land and dominance as a world power. This is the scene to which Jesus steps into play. The Jews were expecting a warrior who would eradicate any foreign power not one who would seek something more permanet and greater. Rather than simply do away with the oppresive power of Rome at that time Jesus exhausted the very power of evil and its ultimate consequence death, through the cross.
So many things happen at the cross and the resurrection that i can merely reference several books which provide amazing in-depth insight unto each topic. But to mention several that i believe are crucial for understanding God's plan is Christus Victor, New Covenant Sacrifice and Christus Exemplar. Christus Victor basically means that God through Jesus Christ has overcome Satan, demons and the very power of evil itself. This is key because God is seeking to inagurate his kingdom that will be established on new creation. The new creation is free from the power of death and Satan because Jesus has exhauseted that power by his refusal to participate in it whatsoever and his absorption of it on the cross. He is our New Covenant Sacrifice because of his death on the cross acting as the agent for our sin. In the O.T. sacrifices were given to atone or cover the sin of the people or individuals. through Christ those who are in him have their sacrafice in the body of Jesus. Jesus is our exemplar because he provides an example for us to pattern our lives after. He laid the foundation and calls us not to merely be admirers but to be imitators of his life. Ultimately our hope is not in the cross. He accomplished only part of what he was sent for on the cross  if he had not risen than everythng would have fallen apart. We hope not in going to heaven but that we will attain to the resurrection from the dead. Jesus was the firstborn from the dead and our hope lies in that as He is we will be one day. Jesus came to fulfill the promises given to Israel, to fulfilled her covenant, to inagurate God's kingdom on earth, to seek and save the lost, to begin God's new creation of which we are to participate in. If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation! Amen. We are the agents of God's kingdom, of his new creation.

So, what is the gospel? It is the revelation that God has acted in a new and stunning way through Jesus. That we are lost and dead in our sin and that God in his abundant mercy has reached out his hand to us through His Son offering us forgiveness, healing, new creation and a purpose for our life. It's a love story about forgiveness and redemption, healing and peace, and hope and joy. May our lives reflect the gospel, may our words reveal its truth.
Here are some good books to understand more of these topics in-depth. P.S. I will simplify it alot for middle school.