Make Disciples

Three Things Evangelism Is Not:

A Church Growth Strategy

Inviting People to Church

A One-Time Event

For a lot of churches, evangelism is 1 of 2 things. It is an obligation that leaves you feeling guilty or it is a church growth strategy.

The truth is, evangelism should be neither of those things.

We shouldn’t feel guilty when we discuss evangelism.

We shouldn’t evangelize to get more people to our church

Matthew 28:16–20 ESV

16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

We Are Not Called to Evangelism, but Disciple Making

Evangelism and discipleship, or disciple making, are inseparably tied together. Evangelism is simple the first step of making disciples.

We cannot make a disciple, until first the person we are leading believes in Christ

What is a disciple?

Someone who follows another person or another way of life and who submits himself to the discipline (teaching) of that leader or way.1

1 Paul Helm, “Disciple,” Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1988), 629.

A disciple of Christ is someone that:

Believes His Doctrine

Rests on His Sacrifice

Possesses His Spirit

Imitates His Example

How Do We Make Disciples?

Baptize

First they believe

Teach

Then they observe

Observe All Christs Commands

There is a very wide range of meaning for the greek word to observe (tērĕō - Tey ra o)

Keep

Guard

Protect

Reserved

Established

Maintain

We are to guard and keep Christ’s Commands

To Guard means: Defend

To Keep means: Obey

Why Do We Avoid Disciple Making?

One Life, to a life, for life

Discipling the few is slow

Discipling the few is hard

Discipling the few is limiting

Discipling the few demands a lot from me