Is the call to make disciples for everyone or just the “professional” Christians?

What do you think about when you hear the word evangelism? What do you think about the Great Commission? 

Christianity in the West has become a checkmark on Sundays rather than a life surrendered out of obedience to Jesus. We have made Jesus an addition to life rather than THE life. Jesus told his disciples, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” This is not for superhero Christians, this is for all Christians. All born-again believers were made for the battle. 

Luke 10:2 says, 2 “And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.

God is looking for surrendered people who make themselves available for His will and purposes on earth. If we look at the disciples in the Bible, all of them preached the gospel no matter what their occupation was. Their occupation was always secondary to the call to make disciples wherever they were sent.  

Let’s dive into a few scriptures about preaching the gospel and making disciples. 

10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10)

15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. (1 Timothy 1:15)

5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (2 Timothy 4:5)

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise. (Proverbs 11:30)

24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24)

17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. (1 Corinthians 1:17)

16 For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! (1 Corinthians 9:16)

15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. (Mark 16:15)

14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)

20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs. (Mark 16:20)

5 lies we have believed about evangelism

As Christ's followers, we are called to share our faith. Wouldn’t you want to bring people out of bondage and into freedom? We belong to Jesus when we put our faith in Him. He is either Lord of all or not Lord at all. 

Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 

Your identity is in Christ now. Christ in you, by the Holy Spirit. We are called to deny ourselves and become like Jesus. 

3. This is not my gifting.

You’re right. It is not your gift. BUT, Jesus told his disciples to WAIT until they were endued with power from on high. The Holy Spirit is the greatest gift you will ever receive. Jesus basically said to wait to preach the gospel until you receive the Holy Spirit. Rely on the Holy Spirit. Depend on the Holy Spirit. Evangelism without the Holy Spirit will not work.

Thousands of people die every day and enter into a Christless eternity. This message is Good News! This is a message of freedom! It is what the lost are looking for but do not know they are looking for it and cannot find it. 

for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7)

Fear is a spirit and it is not from God. Far too many Christians tolerate a spirit of fear and believe it is who they are. It is a lie from the pit of hell to believe that it is a part of who you are. The Bible tells us that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities. Fear is an invitation to crush hell. The enemy wants this spirit of fear to paralyze you. 

If you are thinking to yourself, how do I share the gospel? We will teach and equip you on how to share the gospel in the next blog post