What emotions come to mind when you hear the word “evangelism”? What images appear in your mind’s eye when you think about doing the work of evangelism? Does it make you uncomfortable? Do you begin to squirm in your seat? Do memories from college replay in your mind as you watch the fiery street preacher yelling out insults to the young coeds passing by on the campus quad? Do you recall memories of awkward exchanges with friends about where they might spend eternity and frustration or even despair over your inability to convert them? If you do, then you’re not alone.
For most of my life, I was taught to distinguish between evangelism and discipleship. Evangelism was reaching people for Christ. Discipleship was growing people in Christ after their conversion experience. I’ve come to believe that discipleship or, more appropriately, disciple-making encompasses the full journey of both leading people to Jesus and growing them to maturity in faith in Christ. Jesus called us to make disciples and that involves helping people move from unbelief to belief in Christ. I’m more and more convinced that the process of disciple-making begins long before someone prays a prayer to trust Christ as Savior and Lord. Rather than unleash the masses of faithful followers to descend upon their local Kroger store to confront unsuspecting shoppers with spiritually probing questions like, “Do you know where you’d go if you died tonight?”; perhaps there’s a better way to start our disciple-making efforts.
I don’t want to disparage the well-intentioned efforts to be obedient to Jesus’ Great Commission, but I do want to broaden our disciple-making capacities. The work of disciple-making is an essential element of our commitment to follow Jesus. The work of helping others move from unbelief to belief in Christ is something that each one of us have the capacity to do as followers of Jesus. That’s good news. Even better news is the fact that the work of disciple-making doesn’t need to start with a bullhorn on the street corner or a confrontation with a stranger at Kroger.
Here is how simple discipleship can be. Do you have any neighbors? Do you have any coworkers or colleagues? How about any classmates? Do any of those not have a relationship with Jesus? If the answers are yes and yes, then you know where you can start making disciples. Be a helpful neighbor. Be a good coworker. Be a kind classmate. The disciple-making process often begins when a Jesus follower makes a positive impression on a person. You see, often giving the gospel to other people starts by being a witness to the good news of Christ in our own lives.
How many folks do you know who don’t know Jesus? Do you know their names? If you do, disciple-making can start as you pray for them by name. So much of the disciple-making process begins long before someone comes to trust Christ. Before they know how to follow Jesus they need to experience the kindness of one of His children. Before they know how to pray to the God who loves them, they can experience the power of being prayed for consistently.
I grew up in a time when we tried to get folks to church so they could be discipled to Jesus there. Now, in a world where fewer and fewer will be willing to come to “the church,” we need to deploy disciple-makers who will walk alongside the neighbors and friends with the goal of seeing them one day follow Jesus too.
Are you discipling anyone right now? If you’re not, where can you start?
Christ’s Peace,
Lance
If you're interested in continuing the conversation about disciple-making, check out the 2022 Discipleship Forum.
CGGC eNews—Vol. 16, No. 39
Login To Leave Comment