Week 8: EVANGELISM
Definition: The spreading of the Christian gospel by public preaching or personal witness.
Read: Mark 16:15, Romans 10:10-17, 1 Peter 3:15
Not too long ago, I was lying in bed and God placed someone from my past on my heart. It wasn't clear that night what He was specifically calling me to do, so I just began to pray for that person. The next night it happened again, then again and again. This feeling continued for a week. Finally, on a Tuesday night, God boldly revealed to me that I needed to reach out to this person immediately and share Jesus with them. I didn't. I used the excuse of my busy life to put it off until I had the time. I didn't respond to the urgency.
The following night was our youth gathering, and the topic for the evening was evangelism. I told the students about how God had placed this person on my heart and shared with them what I felt He was calling me to do. From the stage, I told them that I would be calling the person tomorrow, even though it was going to be hard.
After the message, the students went to small groups, and I made my way back to my office to grab my laptop. I typically leave my phone in my office to eliminate any distractions. However, this night I decided to pick it up and check my messages. I had 43. All of them had the same message; they were conveying how sorry they were for my loss. I opened my phone and saw that my best friend from high school died of a drug overdose. This was the very person God had placed on my heart just days before. The feeling of sadness was overwhelming. I had just given a message to the students about the importance of responding with urgency, the very thing I didn't do.
Let me be clear: you don't save anybody—God does—but how you respond to God's calling can have an eternal impact. The moment a person confesses Jesus as Lord, Heaven rejoices because one of God's creations has just been adopted into the family of God. Another soul has been saved from the grasps of the Enemy.
Like most Christians, you are content in your salvation. You rest comfortably knowing that you are saved. You go to church on Sundays and maybe a midweek Bible study to fill your spiritual needs. You surround yourself with other Christians for fellowship and company. All of these things are great and should be pursued, but they also put you in a dangerous bubble of comfort.
Jesus wants His followers to pursue him through all avenues. When you confessed Him as your Savior, you also took on a paramount responsibility. In Matthew 28:18-20, He tells His disciples: "All authority in Heaven and on Earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." This Scripture is known as the Great Commission, and it's also the very thing that makes most us Christians tremble.
You need to stop being satisfied with just the promise of your salvation; you must share Jesus. You must make God known to others. This is what you are called to do. This Scripture isn't a suggestion; it's a commission, an assignment, a command. When you keep Jesus to yourself, you are failing your role as His disciple. You are hindering the growth of the kingdom of God. You are being selfish with Heaven. It's God's desire that you would have the heart for the lost, that you would strip away all comfort and exchange it for a willingness to be an instrument used by God.
Take a few moments to answer the following questions. Remember, these questions are designed to challenge you and will do so only if you are completely honest with yourself.
Reflection
- Is it difficult for you to share you faith with others? If so, why?
- What makes it so difficult for you to share your faith? What makes you afraid of sharing?
- To know that the Great Commission is a commandment, does this change your idea of your role as a Christian? How so?
If you're like most Christians, the thought of sharing Jesus fills you with fear, doubt, and discouragement, because being a disciple isn't easy; there is a cost to it. You must first recognize that you cannot do this on your own, but with the Holy Spirit, you can do the impossible. With Him on your side, you have the capability to make a difference in someone's life in a profound way.
The Challenge
Tell someone who is not a believer in Jesus about your faith.
Tip: I have found it easier to begin a conversation when I am already in one. I try to think of a way I can relate the context of the conversation to something Jesus has done in my life. Once I have the connection, I share it and then ask them if they know Jesus. If not, I share.
End of Week Reflection
- How did this challenge make you shine?
- What was the most difficult part of this challenge for you?
- What was the most rewarding part of this challenge for you?
- How do you feel this challenge grew your relationship with Jesus?
- How can you use what you learned through this challenge to shine daily?