The clearest expression of our task as Christians, in my humble opinion, is found in Matthew 28:19-20: “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.” We often refer to this as the Great Commission. These instructions were first given to Jesus’ disciples, but since they were commanded to teach their disciples to observe all that Jesus commanded them, this mission is ours, just as much as it was theirs.
When you hear that evangelism is not an option, you might start to despair. You may think, “I can’t teach the Bible. That’s just not one of my talents.” To this I have three questions:
- Would God give you a command that you cannot follow? If he has done that, what kind of God do we serve? Our God is loving and merciful. He would never give us a command we cannot follow.
- Have you ever tried to teach someone the gospel? It’s not as hard as you might think. How do you know you can’t do something if you have never tried
- Who said a personal Bible study is the only way to make disciples? You can plant a seed in a variety of ways:
- Invite someone to church.
- Write a letter or an email.
- Send a correspondence course.
- Give someone a DVD.
- Take someone out with a group of Christian friends.
- Start a discussion.
- Set up a Bible study with a skilled teacher.
Friends & Family Day is November 6. This is a great opportunity to invite a friend. Who knows? Maybe that one invitation will affect someone’s eternal destiny.
The Great Commission is the most important task for every Christian, but so many of us live as though it had never been given. You may not be able to teach a lesson, but you can do something. Start a conversation with a friend of family member. Do something! Jesus has entrusted us with an important work.
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