A Biblical Basis for Evangelism and Discipleship
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Apr 3, 2024
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Dean S.
A Biblical Basis for Evangelism and Discipleship
MIN-524 (Evangelism and Discipleship)
01/12/2021
Dean S.
Thesis:
From the very beginning God had a plan and a purpose for saving both men and women from every nation through the witness of His people through word and deed. Although there are times that we may perceive some individuals and nationalities exempt
from this process such as the foreigners and strangers, we must understand that evangelism and discipleship is the key element to God’ kingdom agenda and that it is the visible manifestation of God’ comprehensive rule over every area of life. The absence of evangelism and discipleship is what keeps the church of Jesus Christ impotent and ineffective, because by not taking up Christ’ commission, (Matthew 28:18-20) it’ people cannot draw on Christ’ authority. In Exodus 12:48 it must be understood that God wanted
both the Israelites and foreigners to partake in the same covenant relationship with Him. God’ purpose for His people was for them to be the origin of light that attracted all other pagan nations and people away from their pagan religions.
Principles of Evangelism as Conveyed in the Old Testament:
Jonah ministered during the reign of King Jeroboam II. He was called by God to go to the wicked city of Nineveh and tell its people to repent. While it is easy to focus our
attention on Jonah, this book is really about the character of God. It begins with God and it ends with God. And it is God that initiates all the action. Will McRaney in his book, “The Art of Personal Evangelism” has stated that, “the ancient Hebrews readily saw the need to address God’ role in the existing world and they understood their existence as an act of God,” (McRaney, W. 2003). 1
Principle of Evangelism found in the New Testament:
1
McRaney, Will, Jr. 2003. The Art of Personal Evangelism: Sharing Jesus in a Changing Culture. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group.
Dean S.
In John 1:44 where we run into an evangelist by the name of Philip.
Upon finding Philip, Jesus told him, “follow me,” (1:43). This invitation to follow Jesus was one that was an invitation to discipleship, however, after closer observation we can see that in John 12:20-22 Philip was addressed by some Gentiles from Bethsaida who asked him to introduce them to Jesus. This shows that Philip went from being a disciple of John the Baptist, (John 1:43) to making a disciple out of Nathaniel, (John 1:45) to an evangelist to the Greeks (Gentiles) in Bethsaida, (John 12:20-22).
Discipleship as Conveyed in the Old Testament and New Testament:
Let’ take a look at the Prophet Elijah in the Old Testament and Barnabas in the New Testament. Elijah was told by God to anoint his successor Elisha. After being discipled by Elijah, Elisha picked up the spiritual baton and continued to travel widely, serve as a mentor to kings and a friend to both Israelites and foreigners, (2 Kings 10:20-
28). This reveals to us the heart of God to see people across all racial, social, class and culture lines be saved and repent.
Barnabas was commissioned by the Holy Ghost to go on a missionary journey with Paul. After some time in (Acts 15:39-41) Barnabas takes his cousin John Mark in as a disciple and set out for Cyprus. Elijah and Barnabas were disciples making disciples and evangelizing nations. It shows how more lives were continuously transformed for Jesus Christ by the Power of the Holy Ghost. Anyone that calls themselves a disciple of Jesus must be willing to be set apart from the world with a complete focus on pleasing the One that has commissioned them for the mission in every area of life.
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Dean S.
Pete Charpentier said it like this: “at a fundamental level, personal disciple-making relationships involve God’s work through them to cultivate people for His purposes,” (Charpentier, P. 2010). 2
Therefore, in my supervised ministry placement, the importance for evangelism and discipleship practices and strategies is to help people become progressively like Christ in character and conduct, in attitudes and in actions. Jesus has shared His authority
with me so that I may see the rule of God in and through my life. It is my association with Jesus Christ that is my ultimate determining factor for life, for evangelizing and for discipleship.
Bibliography:
2
Charpentier, Pete. 2010. Reaching the Next Level: Partnering with Others for Spiritual Growth: Leader Guide. Rapid City, SD: Cross Link Publishing.
Dean S.
Charpentier, Pete. 2010. Reaching the Next Level: Partnering with Others for Spiritual Growth: Leader Guide. Rapid City, SD: Cross Link Publishing.
McRaney, Will, Jr. 2003. The Art of Personal Evangelism: Sharing Jesus in a Changing Culture.
Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group.