What does First B Jackson teach about evangelism?
Drawn from the messages where it was actually addressed: the words said from the front, the passages taught, and where to hear the whole thing.
At First B Jackson, the teaching on evangelism starts with a conviction that the gospel has to be spoken, not only lived. Nick Stern made this point directly, pushing back on the popular saying attributed to Francis of Assisi about preaching the gospel and using words only when necessary. He pointed to Romans 10:14 as the corrective: people cannot hear without someone telling them. The congregation in Jackson faces no real persecution and has every reason to speak up rather than stay comfortable and quiet.
Still, the teaching here has consistently resisted the idea that evangelism requires polished arguments or a formal strategy. Pastor Mark's walk through Acts 8 pressed on Philip's immediate, uncalculated obedience, heading south on a desert road with no plan, and simply asking an honest question when the moment came. Pastor Micah drew from that same passage the image of Philip running to catch up with the chariot: the right response to God's direction is to obey right away. Brad, working through the parable of the good Samaritan, put it plainly: the best evangelism happens inside real relationships, because people generally have to trust the Christian before they will trust Christ. Simple questions open more honest conversations than most people expect.
Pastor Carl pressed the congregation on whether they could actually say clearly what they believe, because if you cannot state the gospel plainly, it is hard to share it. Ted Rabinold, a missionary who has worked in Tanzania for over thirty years, widened the frame further, drawing from Colossians 1:19-20 to argue that the cross reconciles not just people to God but all broken relationships, including our relationship to creation and to one another. That means ordinary daily work, farming, teaching, running a business, is never separate from the witness. It is the platform through which doors to the gospel open.
Taught from Romans 10:14 · Acts 8:26-40 · Matthew 28:19 · Colossians 1:19-20 · Romans 1:16
The passage taught · Acts 8:26-40
26 But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise, and go toward the south to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a desert.”
27 He arose and went; and behold, there was a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship.
28 He was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.
29 The Spirit said to Philip, “Go near, and join yourself to this chariot.”
World English Bible
The messages that teach on it
- January 19, 2025 This week's Sermon from First B Jackson January 19th Philip dropped everything when God said go, and ended up baptizing an Ethiopian official on a desert road. What happens when you actually want the ball?
- October 6, 2024 Move People on the Scale Ted Rabinold shares how 33 years of farming ministry in Tanzania illustrates the gospel's call to reconcile all things, physical and spiritual, through Christ.
- July 23, 2023 As You Are Going Nick Stern shares stories from hiking the Camino de Santiago and how conversations along the trail opened doors to share the gospel with strangers from around the world.
- January 31, 2016 Not Ashamed of the Gospel Pastor Carl walks through Romans 1:8-17, asking every believer to put the gospel into one clear sentence, and shows why that matters for sharing faith with others.
- August 11, 2013 Philip Acts in Obedience, Traditions Philip obeyed God's call immediately, crossed cultural lines, and changed a life forever. A sermon on what happens when we say yes without waiting to know why.
Mentioned along the way
- June 29, 2025 That All of Them May Be One Pastor Joseph Kamau Kabui of Tigone Baptist Church in Kenya preaches on John 17, calling believers to demonstrate their unity with God and one another.
- June 29, 2025 That All of Them May Be One Pastor Joseph Kamau from Kenya preaches on John 17, calling believers to unity that witnesses to the world and reflects our oneness with God.
- June 29, 2025 That All of Them May Be One Pastor Joseph Kamau Kabui of Togoni Baptist Church in Kenya preaches from John 17 on why Christian unity matters and what it tells the world about Jesus.
- April 13, 2025 Love Your Neighbor As Yourself Jesus defines neighbor as anyone in your path, and calls us to costly, sacrificial love for every person made in God's image, both inside and outside the church.
- March 9, 2025 There Are No Ordinary People Brad explores what it means to love your neighbor, from sacrificial agape love for strangers to the honest, burden-sharing relationships God calls us to inside the church.
- March 9, 2025 There Are No Ordinary People Brad walks through the parable of the Good Samaritan to explore what it truly means to love your neighbor, from strangers on the street to brothers and sisters in Christ.
- April 23, 2017 Stuff That Matters Closing Colossians with Paul's final greetings, the pastor explores what steadfast prayer, wise words, and grace toward outsiders and insiders alike look like in everyday life.
- October 4, 2015 Today Is the Day Pastor Ray walks through 2 Corinthians 5-6, showing that Christ reconciles people to God through the cross, and that today is the day to respond.
- September 27, 2015 The Love of Christ Compels Us Paul's words in 2 Corinthians push us to see people through God's eyes, not our own, and to let Christ's love compel us toward the one message that changes everything.
- October 2, 2011 Love Matters Most Pastor Don Young explores why love matters most, how it validates faith, covers sin, and why giving others our time, not just our words, is love's truest expression.