Evangelism and Discipleship
EVANGELISM AND DISCIPLESHIP PAPER
Matthew 9:35-38 (NIV) reads, Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Through the lens of this text God reveals to us the heart He has for His people in a lost and suffering world. Jesus points out to his disciples what we should find significant today, and that is there is a need and purpose for incorporating evangelism and discipleship into Christian education programs; the harvest is plenty but the laborers are few. Therefore, purposeful action of any Christian community is to train and equip individuals to be sent into the harvest to find those seeking, and those that have yet found and understanding of the need for salvation. Jesus had a passion for those who hurt and wanted to see all come to knowledge of His kingdom and His salvation. His ministry is peppered with acts of kindness towards those who needed a touch of the Master’s hand. We know that Jesus was filled with compassion for the leper who approached him and asked to be healed. The man approached Jesus while everyone else was barking about uncleanliness, but Jesus did the most wonderful and shocking thing: He reached out and touched the man. This man who had the dreaded disease such as our modern day AIDS, was touched by the One who was not afraid. This should be the goal of churches today; they should have the mindset that we as the God’s agents are here to reach out and touch people with the love of Jesus Christ. We should not only have the willingness to meet people where they are, we should be stridently teaching the
Matthew 9:35-38 (NIV) reads, Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Through the lens of this text God reveals to us the heart He has for His people in a lost and suffering world. Jesus points out to his disciples what we should find significant today, and that is there is a need and purpose for incorporating evangelism and discipleship into Christian education programs; the harvest is plenty but the laborers are few. Therefore, purposeful action of any Christian community is to train and equip individuals to be sent into the harvest to find those seeking, and those that have yet found and understanding of the need for salvation. Jesus had a passion for those who hurt and wanted to see all come to knowledge of His kingdom and His salvation. His ministry is peppered with acts of kindness towards those who needed a touch of the Master’s hand. We know that Jesus was filled with compassion for the leper who approached him and asked to be healed. The man approached Jesus while everyone else was barking about uncleanliness, but Jesus did the most wonderful and shocking thing: He reached out and touched the man. This man who had the dreaded disease such as our modern day AIDS, was touched by the One who was not afraid. This should be the goal of churches today; they should have the mindset that we as the God’s agents are here to reach out and touch people with the love of Jesus Christ. We should not only have the willingness to meet people where they are, we should be stridently teaching the
Cited: (n.d.). Retrieved from http://ag.org/discipleship_downloads/what_is_discipleship.pdf Aukerman, J. H. (2011). Discipleship That Transforms: An Introduction to Christian Education from a wesleyan Holiness Perspective. In J. H. Aukerman, Discipleship That Transforms: An Introduction to Christian Education from a wesleyan Holiness Perspective (pp. 133-137). Anderson, IN: Warner Press. Hymans, D. J. (n.d.). EDUCATION AND EVANGELISM: IS THE CONNECTION ESSENTIAL. Christian Education as Evangelism, 1-11. Rasmusen, L. (1950, January). MINISTER IN THE MAKING: Evangelism and Education. Retrieved from Ministry International Journal For Pastors: https://www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/1950/01/evangelism-and-education