David Evans
TBMB Evangelism Team
In one of the most celebrated passages of the Bible, Jesus said to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28: 19). Although celebrated, the command has not been without different perspectives. The process of disciple making has been debated ever since Jesus spoke the command.
Religion in America has become so consumeristic that some have hijacked the process of discipleship as a mode only for self-improvement. Others have hijacked it as a sales pitch for eternal life. Not often enough can a healthy balance be found.
The two steps of disciple-making are: (1) disciple creation, and (2) disciple improving.
David Evans
Discipleship is not simply about making each of us a better person but leading us to be like Jesus with the outcome of leading others to be more like Jesus. New Testament discipleship reproduces — otherwise, it is not New Testament discipleship. The Holy Spirit is not going to simply do work to me but through me.
Since evangelism (as well as discipleship) is part of the overall disciple-making process, then there should be a process of moving a Christ follower from zero activity to gospel conversation to disciple reproduction. To go from zero activity to gospel conversation is difficult if not impossible.
I like to define the steps in between zero activity to gospel conversation as “Evangelistic Inches.” Vince Lombardi stated, “inches make champions.”
You may have heard it said that if you supply a certain tool or program to your church then it can help your church be more evangelistic, and it may. In any case, to go from no “0” evangelism directly to gospel conversation is tough. What can we do to help someone that is not accustomed to sharing their faith to become a person who shares their faith and help others do the same? In the following articles, I will suggest principles that create “Evangelistic Inches.”
The following are “Evangelistic Inches” to help someone move from zero activity to gospel conversation and beyond:
(1) The desire
(2) The tool
(3) The opportunity
(4) The disciple.
Contact David Evans him via e-mail devans@tnbaptist.org. In the meantime, check out “The Reaching App” by searching in your app store or visiting www.TheReachingApp.com.
