Thursday, 5/9/19 – Discipleship: Evangelism

I looked in several Bible translations, but not one if them contained the word “evangelism.” In fact, I can’t find the word “discipleship” in any of the translations also.

I can’t find the word “trinity” in the Bible either. It isn’t there. Some folk like to argue that because the word we invented to describe the tri-une aspect of the Godhead cannot itself be found in the scriptures then therefore God is not tri-une.

But really now, that’s like saying because you can’t find the word “gravity” in the Bible it must not exist either. This is plain silly! Clearly we are all walking about with feet firmly planted on the planet. Jesus walked about on the earth too, so clearly the law of gravity existed then and exists now whether or not we had a name for it.

What’d Shakespeare say… ? “A rose by any other name…” you know the rest.

But lets say you want to make a case about “evangelism,” just to get off the hook. Let’s even add the word “discipleship.” Let’s say that because these words don’t exist in the Bible you therefore don’t need to do them.

OK fine, let’s toss ‘em!

There! “poof” they are gone. Now you are off the hook. No more “discipleship.” No more “evangelism!” Feel better?

ALL you need to do is what Jesus clearly said and what the gospel writers recorded in the Bible. Lets get started….

“…go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…. ” (Matt. 28:19-20)

“…Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:15-16)

“…Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” (1 Peter 3:15)

“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” (John 15:8)

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

So don’t bother doing “discipleship” or “evangelism”. Just go and make disciples, baptize and teach believers, preach the gospel, give an answer, bear much fruit, and be a witness to what Christ had done in you and can do in others.

There now, don’t you feel better?

Press on…