Discipleship Rather Than Evangelism

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Although, I agree that evangelism is apart of the great commission, it is not the actual great commission. Jesus said, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”(Matthew 28:19-20)

I can't speak for all of the Church, but most of the Church does not do this. To be a disciple means that you are like someone who is an apprentice, learning to do the things that your teacher does. Joshua learned to be a great leader like Moses, so he could take over when Moses was no longer with Israel. Elisha followed closely in the footsteps of Elijah, observing all that he did, so he would know how to do the things that Elijah did when he was no longer with him; and the 12 disciples followed Jesus everywhere He went, learning to do the things he did, and walk in his ways, so they could teach and do the things of Christ when He was no longer with them.

This is what it means to be a Christian; it comes from two Greek words:
  1. Christ- meaning "anointed one"
  2. -ianos- a suffix meaning "little"
The first disciples were called "Christians" by the Greeks because they looked like, acted like, and did the things that Christ did after He left. They were being called, "Little Anointed Ones" because people saw no difference in what they were doing, and how they lived, than the things Christ did and how He lived. Not only were they healing the sick, raising the dead, casting out demons, and preaching the gospel, but they were as loving and compassionate as Christ was as well, and they taught their disciples to do the same.

In church people are not really doing discipleship. They are evangelized and converted, then sit in a pew, listening to the pastor preach once a week. Most Christians do not read the Bible, or pray, or have any real connection to Jesus if they are not in a church. They recite a sinner's prayer, and are assured of their salvation, knowing nothing about the gospel, other than what they may occasionally hear preached on Sunday, and that is not discipleship.

We are supposed to walk in the ways of Jesus doing what He did, and teach others to do the same. We are supposed to teach other people to obey everything He commanded us, but we do not. To be a disciple means to be in relationship. Moses and Joshua spent time together, Elijah and Elisha spent time together, and almost everywhere Jesus went, He took Peter, James, and John with Him. He was close to all His disciples, and spent time with them individually or in small groups, teaching them; so we should know that this is our pattern for how to make disciples as Jesus instructed.

Even the commission of the 72 disciples shows us that one-on-one discipleship/evangelism is preferred. Jesus sent two disciples to each house to preach the gospel to whoever would accept them, and He told them to stay the night at the house they went to rather than going from house-to-house:

"And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house."(Luke 10:7)​

So this is my proposal to the Body of Christ, that we not only evangelize, but make disciples, and discipleship continues long after someone has accepted Christ. It is about teaching people to obey the commandments of Christ(not just the commandments to love God and our neighbor, even though that is the meaning of the Law), and that means that we need to learn the commandments and do them ourselves:

Here is a list of the New Testament Commandments

What are your thoughts and suggestions? How can we go about making disciples, rather than just adding numbers to the church?
 
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I personally think we should be in fellowship. That every member of the church should be in groups of 3, holding accountable the people who are in their group. Not only that, but making sure they are talking and spending time together outside of church, getting to know each other, and making sure that they are all edifying the body with their gifts. I would also think it's a good idea to do placement tests(Myers Briggs personality test, 5 love languages test, and spiritual gifts test) to see where everyone should end up. I also think that church should be more communal, and an everyday thing, rather than just Sunday (and maybe Wednesday). Preaching can still be on Sunday, and Bible Study/Prayer Meeting on Wednesday, but the rest of the week should be focused on community, discipleship, and outreach(witnessing, feeding the poor, healing the sick, casting out demons, etc.).
 
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Chicken Little

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Even the commission of the 72 disciples shows us that one-on-one discipleship/evangelism is preferred. Jesus sent two disciples to each house to preach the gospel to whoever would accept them, and He told them to stay the night at the house they went to rather than going from house-to-house:

"And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house."(Luke 10:7)​

So this is my proposal to the Body of Christ, that we not only evangelize, but make disciples, and discipleship continues long after someone has accepted Christ. It is about teaching people to obey the commandments of Christ(not just the commandments to love God and our neighbor, even though that is the meaning of the Law), and that means that we need to learn the commandments and do them ourselves:

Here is a list of the New Testament Commandments

What are your thoughts and suggestions? How can we go about making disciples, rather than just adding numbers to the church?
this exactly where I am at. very nice !!
I have had enough of evangelism and I think it is just down right evil.
well the fruits of it has been. :(
 
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Chicken Little

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and I kind of think that the disciples went town to town and stayed with those who asked..
meaning God had already prepared the way and the people they were to talk too.
Jesus said I only do what I see my father doing and I think that is a great way to do it.
wait for them to ask.
my best disciples are my two kids and some ladies who asked me for help and guidance .
So God has prepared them for me and me for them. a match made in heaven..
 
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grandvizier1006

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There actually was a book on this topic, involving how the Gospel was/is being covertly spread among Muslims in countries where being a Christian is a bit risky.
 
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grandvizier1006

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I personally think we should be in fellowship. That every member of the church should be in groups of 3, holding accountable the people who are in their group. Not only that, but making sure they are talking and spending time together outside of church, getting to know each other, and making sure that they are all edifying the body with their gifts. I would also think it's a good idea to do placement tests(Myers Briggs personality test, 5 love languages test, and spiritual gifts test) to see where everyone should end up. I also think that church should be more communal, and an everyday thing, rather than just Sunday (and maybe Wednesday). Preaching can still be on Sunday, and Bible Study/Prayer Meeting on Wednesday, but the rest of the week should be focused on community, discipleship, and outreach(witnessing, feeding the poor, healing the sick, casting out demons, etc.).
That sounds like a great idea.
 
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this exactly where I am at. very nice !!
I have had enough of evangelism and I think it is just down right evil.
well the fruits of it has been. :(

I don't think evangelism is evil, but I do agree that the fruits of it have not been great. I know there are new churches, now, that would do/say anything to get followers. Everything has become about entertainment and how to make Jesus cool and exciting. Like people who praise certain churches because the pastor dresses like a rockstar/hipster with skinny jeans and tattoos, they have a bar/coffee shop, theaters, the best sound systems, hangout with celebrities; and tell people that Jesus loves them where they're at so they don't have to change. I'm sure that most of the people who go to churches like that aren't going because they love Jesus, they are going to hang out with their friends and have fun, while feeling like they are being fed spiritually.

Besides the worldliness, and attracting people through entertainment, there is the issue of the sinners prayer. People pray it one time, and they think they are saved and going to heaven, no matter how they live. That is very dangerous because I've met a lot of people who think they are saved, but clearly not. They say they know they are saved because someone made them go to church one day, and they prayed a prayer with the pastor; or they know they are saved because their mom made them get baptized when they were a baby; or simply because they go to church every Sunday(but they show no love of Jesus or intention to change).

So I don't think evangelism is a good measure for what we are doing in the world. Some pastors think as long as the number of their congregation keeps growing, it means people are being saved; or just because people are praying a prayer, they have "won a soul to Jesus", but that's not true, and we were meant to be doing so much more than this. We will know that people are saved when every Christian starts looking like Christ, and not like the world. And that will not come by evangelism. Only true discipleship can do that.
 
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Chicken Little

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I so agree...... like Paul I too am afraid that I won't have what it takes to make the first resurrection.. and if I make that will I have it to do when I need to do ..
the race hasn't even started and everyone thinks it is about it being on a vacation time and time to go sit on a cloud.. that is so not the case.
no they won' t be ready, I don't know if I am ready and I spent serious years and serious amounts of time in pursuit of him and his word and his plans . but the more I know the more confused I get.
unless he starts sorting it for me I will be in massive amounts of confusion like everyone else.
I pray he gets us ready. I just know way to many of the churches aren't doing it , they are just trying to get some prayer said and some folks to make an inner personal commitment to a pew or the group / denomination .
 
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grandvizier1006

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I don't really know if I'd be able to go through the Bible with someone, but I certainly would do whatever was needed if it would help solidify a person's faith.
 
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I so agree...... like Paul I too am afraid that I won't have what it takes to make the first resurrection.. and if I make that will I have it to do when I need to do ..
the race hasn't even started and everyone thinks it is about it being on a vacation time and time to go sit on a cloud.. that is so not the case.
no they won' t be ready, I don't know if I am ready and I spent serious years and serious amounts of time in pursuit of him and his word and his plans . but the more I know the more confused I get.
unless he starts sorting it for me I will be in massive amounts of confusion like everyone else.
I pray he gets us ready. I just know the churches aren't doing it they are just trying to get some prayer said.
Amen. I feel the same way. I am constantly praying for the churches salvation, and my own almost daily. I want to be able to say, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."(2 Timothy 4:7) like Paul did. We are very close to the end, now, I don't think the church is ready for the coming of Jesus.
 
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I don't really know if I'd be able to go through the Bible with someone, but I certainly would do whatever was needed if it would help solidify a person's faith.
I'm sure you could if we all did a weekly reading schedule, and discussed our thoughts on Scripture once a week. That's the importance of fellowship, isn't it? To be accountable. In Judaism, they do what is called a Torah Portion. They read a few chapters a week, and on Sabbath, the rabbi discusses that portion of Scripture, and everyone has their own thoughts about it because at some point of the week, they all read it before the rabbi preached on it. It's basically a plan for reading the 5 books of Moses in a year.

Without discipleship people are just hawking a product, using marketing to attract consumers. They are hucksters and charlatans.

I agree, and no one likes a salesperson. You can spot a businessman from a mile away, and you usually don't want whatever they are selling. That's how modern day evangelism looks, like you are creating a sales pitch to get people to buy Jesus, and attracting them with light displays, and promises of a perfect life(the prosperity gospel, for example).
 
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Chicken Little

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I don't really know if I'd be able to go through the Bible with someone, but I certainly would do whatever was needed if it would help solidify a person's faith.
taking them through the bible wasn't my goal, they can do that with J vernon Macgee and at church and even on tape ..
with my crew it was to teach them to learn from him and how to listen and where to find him and ...... my goal was to help them create a relationship with his spirit who will lead them to all truth and salvation and reality and his plans and his ways and ........... I didn't and couldn't teach them the bible or people's doctrines about the bible . the Book it is too deep too wide too big.
I had to lead them to him and help them know him. to know him by his names and to know by his ways , to know him by his heart. to know him by who he says he is not what others say he is .
 
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JM

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I agree, and no one likes a salesperson. You can spot a businessman from a mile away, and you usually don't want whatever they are selling. That's how modern day evangelism looks, like you are creating a sales pitch to get people to buy Jesus, and attracting them with light displays, and promises of a perfect life(the prosperity gospel, for example).

Yup, the "just add Jesus" to your life approach is sickening. The "Jesus is my Homeboy" kinda thing is insane. Christ is Lord of Lord, Judge of all mankind, King of Glory, lover of my soul...
 
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grandvizier1006

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Yup, the "just add Jesus" to your life approach is sickening. The "Jesus is my Homeboy" kinda thing is insane. Christ is Lord of Lord, Judge of all mankind, King of Glory, lover of my soul...
And he's not your co-pilot. He is in the driver's seat! :amen:
 
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Yup, the "just add Jesus" to your life approach is sickening. The "Jesus is my Homeboy" kinda thing is insane. Christ is Lord of Lord, Judge of all mankind, King of Glory, lover of my soul...

And he's not your co-pilot. He is in the driver's seat! :amen:

Amen and Amen :amen:
 
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Gentle Lamb

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Great post Lady of the Covenant, you make a very important point about discipleship rather than evangelism and a one time prayer. My church has been emphasizing that members join in fellowship during the week (prayer on Mondays, Bible Study Tuesdays, Youth Group Fridays, - what will I do Wed, Thurs, & Sat? (Jk! lol) Love having fellowship with my believers, it's so encouraging!!!) so that we can continue in the blessing during the week, not just on Sundays. I like my new church and have been able go get more involved there. Every Sunday there is a call for anyone who needs repentance, and there is support so it's not just a one time prayer thing, but new believers are held up in prayer and encouraged in the ways of Christ. The pastor takes responsibility for the members of the church and says he misses them in the spirit when he doesn't see them in the congregation or doesn't hear from them, so that's some Holy Spirit accountability right there :)
 
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