Pastor John D Jakes

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Have you heard that question before? This funny saying seeks to shine a light on how often it is difficult to figure out the true cause of a particular problem or event. Today, I want us to think about which came first – evangelism or discipleship.

Last week we thought about Jesus helping us see our lives in a new light. This week, let us look at how He uses us to help others see life in a new light. When we think about evangelism how do we think of it? Is it about a product (getting someone saved) or is it a process (introducing someone to Jesus)? Think for a moment about how you generally assume people get into the family of God.

Is this the way you think of people getting into the family of God:

• Start lost, get evangelized (by a professional), get saved, follow in discipleship
  • Need: an event or an evangelist (is organizing an event or becoming an evangelist something you feel qualified to do?)
  • Problem: We assume that this is THE way

Now, there is nothing wrong with the above process. However, the problem is that we can assume it is the ONLY way people come to Jesus! This locks us in, doesn’t it? It makes it very difficult (even impossible) for us to see a way that people could get saved without a special person (a minister, evangelist) in their lives. How is that special person supposed to get into the lost person’s life?!

Perhaps looking at how Jesus led the disciples to Himself might help us troubleshoot this challenge. Jesus didn’t save the disciples and then disciple them. Jesus invited the disciples to join Him in life. Then, He taught and lived with them. We might not call that technically discipleship because we don’t know exactly when the disciples became believers – for example, Judas NEVER became one! However, what Jesus did with the disciples sure looked like discipleship, didn’t it? For Jesus, the process was:

• Start lost, receive teaching and life with Jesus, get challenged, get saved, and continue in discipleship.
  • Need: time, love, and intentionally declaring and living out God’s truth
  • Problem: obedience

Now that is a new way to look at evangelism – living intentionally with lost people! Jesus shared with and expected a response from people who had yet to declare a clear commitment to Him. He still shared with (taught/discipled) and still challenged (sent them on assignments) those who had yet to give their lives to Him. Did it require Him to have a degree? Did it require Jesus to be gifted in public speaking? Sure, Jesus did have a degree of sorts (He knows everything) AND He was gifted in public speaking (He is all-powerful, after all). However, neither a degree or special speaking skills were required for Jesus to live with and share with the ones He called His disciples. What it did require was His time, His love, and a consistent message. Isn’t that something we all could give?

Jesus told us, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:19-20

Jesus told His followers that they were equipped to disciple others. He didn’t just pull aside those who traveled with Him and give them some secret instructions about discipling the world. No, He told the eleven that they were equipped to lead others to Him; and then they told us that we were equipped also. The promises Jesus made were not just to the ones we call apostles, were they? So, in the same way, the call to disciple others was not just to them either. The call is to all of us.

So when we think about reaching the lost, do we just have ‘professional’ evangelism in mind? Are we really only thinking about tracts, presentations, concerts, and preachers? Is it time to step back and look again? Is it time for us to invest anew in the life of someone else? Maybe we will see Jesus doesn’t just want some ‘professional’ to reach our friends and family. He also wants to use us! How will you and I be used in the life of another?

Something to think about,

Pastor John