Connecting Evangelism and Discipleship

The Gospel of Matthew concludes with the risen Lord's charge to his disciples to continue his mission. Commonly called “the great commission,” Jesus' final words inseparably weave evangelism and discipleship together.

“All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18b-20)

Through his death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus is established as God's messianic king. His kingdom is comprehensive (“all authority,” “all the nations,” “all that I've commanded you,” “all the days”), therefore, the church's mission is comprehensive.

The mission can be summarized in two words: “make disciples.” Christ's disciples are to make disciples. They are to do this through two primary means -- baptism into the name of the triune God and teaching intended to result in faithful obedience. Baptism is a one-time act of identification with the triune God that culminates the process of evangelism. Teaching informs the lifelong process of discipleship that begins immediately upon conversion. Both are necessary in order to fulfill Christ's call to “make disciples.”

In its fullest sense “making disciples” comprises both the process of evangelism that leads to the act of conversion sealed by baptism and the lifelong process of discipleship consisting of the continuing efforts of the Christian convert to practice the teachings of Christ. Not only are both inseparably connected but both inform and shape the other. The gospel -- the “evangel” of evangelism -- constantly informs and shapes the convert's discipleship. Discipleship is the sustained attempt to embody the “evangel.” Evangelism has no power if it does not lead to discipleship. Discipleship has no meaning if not rooted in the evangel. Serious damage is done to the Christian life and message when evangelism and discipleship are separated. A church that desires to faithfully execute Christ's “great commission” will therefore commit itself to both evangelism and discipleship.

The Evangel: New Life in Christ

Evangelism is the process intended to bring unconverted people into a saving relationship with God through Jesus Christ by means of his Spirit. The clearest means the Spirit has given to this end is the sacred and inspired scriptures that contain the message of Christ. Through proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ the church presents Jesus to the world and continues the mission of Christ in seeking and saving the lost.

The gospel is the good news of God's saving work -- God's active initiative in redeeming, restoring, and transforming fallen humanity. It can be simply expressed as God's gracious love to the world expressed in the gift of the Son. However, this simple statement does not do justice to the great mysteries of God's work throughout human history nor does it even begin to plunder the profound depths of the significance of Jesus' incarnation, life, death, resurrection, and ascension. It is impossible to comprehensively state the immeasurable wisdom, beauty, and glory of God's work in Christ. Like a precious diamond of great worth, the multifaceted glory of the gospel message radiates from every possible angle. Its beauty cannot be exhausted. Therefore, it is a great mistake to present one theory of the atonement or one theme or subject as “the gospel.” The glory of Jesus and the significance of his accomplishment cannot be reduced to one simple gospel presentation. Isolating one theme, theory, or subject to the exclusion of others will always lead to a truncated gospel message.

With full awareness of the danger of reductionism, I proceed to summarize the gospel in this way: The gospel is God's gracious initiative through Christ and the Spirit to forgive and transform a people for God's own possession. This simple statement highlights the Trinitarian center of the gospel and the two great saving actions of God's grace: forgiveness and transformation.

The gospel is not simply the good news of God's forgiveness of sin through Christ. It is also the good news of the transforming power of God's Spirit in the human heart. Both forgiveness and transformation are at the heart of the Christian gospel. Through union with Christ the believer is forgiven through Christ's death and subsequently transformed through the Spirit's gracious presence in the human heart. Both the forgiveness of sin and the gift of a new heart are central to God's promise of salvation (Jeremiah 24:7; Ezekiel 36:26-27; Romans 2:29). Focusing on forgiveness alone truncates the gospel message. Our sin not only brings guilt but also death. Therefore, we are in desperate need not only of forgiveness but of life. And the promise of new life through reconciliation in Christ and transformation in the Spirit is the heart of the gospel.

Both forgiveness and transformation are mediated through the believer's union with Christ -- a union that is not merely legal, but also (and even more importantly) personal, experiential, living, and dynamic. Through union with Christ the believer personally participates in all the blessings of Christ. In Christ, the believer is forgiven. In Christ, the believer is transformed. Unfortunately, many Christians view union with Christ simply as a “new legal standing” or “position” rather than as an experiential living reality. Union with Christ simply becomes another way of emphasizing forgiveness of sin rather than the basis for new life in Christ. By focusing on imputed righteousness without an emphasis on its basis in participation through spiritual union with Christ, the evangelical world has constantly had to fight an insipient gnosticism, antinomianism, and general spiritual apathy.

Living participation in Christ through the Spirit is the necessary foundation for maintaining the inseparable relationship of evangelism with discipleship. Dallas Willard is correct when he warns “we cannot have a gospel dealing only with sin. We have to have a gospel that leads us to new life in Christ, and then spirituality can be presented as a natural development of such new life.”[1] If both aspects of the good news are not highlighted, we will not “make disciples” but simply “produce converts.”

Proclaiming the Ancient Message in a (Post)Modern World

The church exists for the purpose of continuing Christ's mission through proclamation of the message of Christ by word and deed. As instruments of Christ's presence in the world, the church exists as an incarnational people, ministering as God's priests to all people.

Certainly, the church is given a high calling. How does a group of people work together to accomplish this mission? First, the group must be clear about its mutual mission. In order for people to work together in a common cause they need to share the same vision grounded in a common mission. Without a clear sense of mission the reason for a group's existence can easily be lost. In order for a group to remain unified in its task and effectively use its available resources it needs to develop an operational plan consisting of a clear statement of its mission, the values that support the mission, and the strategies through which the mission will be achieved. The effectiveness of the group can then be evaluated regularly in light of this operational plan.

Mission. The mission statement of a church is a clear and concise statement that communicates the desired outcome of the church's efforts. It shapes the church by giving direction and guides the use of the church's resources by providing a standard by which to evaluate the effectiveness of the church's efforts. All the church's resources, programs, events, and meetings should support the mission statement. In this way, the church becomes a “missional” church -- a church defined, guided, shaped, and moved by mission.

Because of the great importance of a clear mission statement, earnest effort should be expended in creating a “memorable mission statement with evangelism at its core and then communicating it and putting it into action in every way possible.”[2] The statement must be motivated by evangelistic concerns in order to keep the mission at the forefront. The goal in casting vision for the church is to reach a point where every member is able to instinctively state the mission when asked, “What is this church trying to do?”[3]

The church's organizational structure should support and facilitate the mission of the church. In rethinking, reimagining, and renewing a church, continual thought must be given to “why we do what we do the way we do it.” Without this critical analysis, structures may end up impeding rather than enabling the mission of the church.

Values. The mission is maintained by creating an environment of shared values concerning the priority and importance of the mission. Three values are central to maintaining a mission-minded people.

Remembering that people matter to God. One of the central values that deserves continual emphasis is the truth that people matter to God and therefore they should matter to the church.

Truth be told, evangelism often fails to happen because in our innermost being we don't really care much about people who are outside of God's family. We see them as a nuisance, a bad influence, or even as the enemy. We need to let God change our minds and warm our hearts toward those he loves so much.[4]

Christ was a friend of sinners. Christ cared for the lost. If the church is to share the heart of Jesus, it must commit to valuing people as precious image-bearers of God created to know God.

Providing a grace-space that is a safe place. Another important value involves accepting others as God in Christ has accepted us. The church must provide a warm, caring, and accepting environment where people can seek spiritual growth and guidance at their own pace. The church must work hard to create an atmosphere of trust and respect. It should provide a safe space for honest questions. It should give people freedom to deal with difficult issues, without ready-made answers instantly offered. People must be given time to process the claims of Christ in their lives.

For most people today the movement toward Christ will be a process. Contrast this to… earlier forms of evangelism, which were largely designed to be an event that reminded semireligious people of what they already knew and then challenged them to commit to it right there on the spot.[5]

In the past, believing the right things preceded belonging to a faith community. Now, the church must allow people to belong before they believe. “We used to view conversion as the gateway to fellowship; now we view fellowship (using the term more broadly) as the gateway to conversion.”[6] This new way allows evangelism to take place within a community rather than simply through individual witness.

Remaining culturally relevant people. If the gospel is to touch the lives of the unreached, it must be presented in language that is contemporary, accessible, and relevant. In order to do this, the church must commit to speaking the culture's language and demonstrating concern for culturally significant issues of the day. Only in this way can the church be missional.

A refuge approach to ministry involves a leader's taking an approach to culture that attempts to insulate against it, to withdraw, to adopt a sectarian mentality. The leader who chooses mission, on the other hand, seeks to interface with culture, to build bridges to the culture for the sake of sharing the heart of God with the people of that culture.[7]

Of course, it would be easier to neglect the surrounding culture and seek to create a safe enclave -- a refuge away from the world -- for believers, but this would be to reject Christ's commission. In order to practice evangelism the church must be willing to live in the world, with all the hardships and troubles this entails. “The neglect of the culture of our world... may not directly impoverish our own spirituality but does affect our ability to communicate the gospel and therefore our ability to fulfill great commission.”[8]

Strategies. If a church is to fulfill the great commission, leaders must give constant care to equipping the entire congregation to reach out to others. Every member of the church has been given the responsibility to proclaim the gospel through word and deed. It is statistically proven that most people do not come to Christ primarily because of a professional minister, but because of the faithful witness of a friend, relative, associate, or neighbor. Therefore, every member needs to be equipped to proclaim the gospel. Providing the congregation with accessible and memorable tools to aid in proclaiming the gospel is vitally important in this regard.[9] Along with this, the church should regularly attempt to corporately reach out to the community through service events, relevant seminars, and worship services specifically designed for seekers.

Encouraging each member to compose an “impact list” of three people in their lives they hope to reach with the love and truth of Christ is an excellent way to keep the need to evangelize in the minds of individuals.

Finally, an annual vision night should be scheduled to remind the church of its mission, values, and strategies, accompanied by a pastoral challenge to each member to renew their commitment to the church's mission.

After Evangelism: Spiritual Formation in Christ

What's next after someone converts to the Christian faith? Discipleship. Discipleship is the lifelong process of spiritual formation grounded in following Christ. According to Dallas Willard, “Spiritual formation in Christ is the process whereby the inmost being of the individual (the heart, will, or spirit) takes on the quality or character of Jesus himself.”[10] Following Christ results in an increasing likeness to Christ, both without and within. Since the whole person -- heart, mind, affections, will -- is being transformed “the whole person must be active with Christ in the work of spiritual formation.”[11]

Like conversion, discipleship is rooted in grace and is described in 2 Peter as “growing in grace.” This growth in grace is not a mere attempt to “get more forgiveness”[12] -- God has completely forgiven and accepted us in Christ. Instead, it involves a growing relationship of intimacy, trust, and love between the disciple and God.

The process involves our cooperation. If we are to grow in grace, we must expend effort in pursuing greater intimacy with God. This effort is not in opposition to grace but is the direct result of God's grace in our lives. Dallas Willard provides a much needed corrective in this regard: “'Grace is not opposed to effort, it is opposed to earning.' Earning is an attitude. Effort is an action.”[13] Too many Christians remain confused about this important distinction and thus remain immature in their faith through their own inactivity.

Following the Ancient Paths in a (Post)Modern World

What will characterize a disciple of Jesus Christ? A disciple will individually participate in the life of Christ, and corporately participate and contribute in the life and mission of Christ's church. His or her pursuit of Jesus will take place in the normal routines of daily living, the special times of corporate worship, and the common mission of the church. Individual Bible study and spiritual exercises,[14] small group community and accountability,[15] intensive times of teaching, sacrificial service to others, and constant exposure to public preaching and corporate worship will nurture the life of the disciple.

It is imperative that the personal and communal nature of discipleship be continually emphasized. To emphasize the former without the latter results in an individualistic and often narcissistic pietism. To emphasize the latter without the former is to lose personal responsibility for one's growth. Put simply, autonomous individuals and warm community cannot be experienced simultaneously.

James White provides four marks of authentic community that are a good starting point for creating a godly environment for personal growth. An authentic community should be one in which a person can

• Love and be loved
• Know and be known
• Serve and be served
• Celebrate and be celebrated
[16]

By sharing life together the church becomes a place where God's life, love, joy, and peace -- in a word, God's gracious presence -- is experienced. A christlike community has the greatest potential for being an attractive force for the gospel for it is the greatest apolegetic for the veracity of the Christian message:

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:34-35; cf. 17:20-23)

The most important question that can be asked of a Christian church in order to discern the effectiveness of its discipleship is not “How many people are present?” but “What are these people like?” This has significant relevance for the watching world.

The world is yearning for an authentic, loving community committed to a significant cause. A church committed to personal and corporate discipleship can be a place where this yearning may be addressed. As many have commented, the problem with the church is not our Christian theology, but our practice -- how we actually do church. Not what we believe, but the way we believe it. Not the content of our faith, but the practice of it.

People are looking for a home, a place where they will be accepted, loved, nurtured, and challenged. They find significance in a spirituality that is relevant, touching their daily lives. They are not looking for busy and bustling churches with an endless supply of programs. They are already busy enough.[17] What they desire is to find meaning, purpose, significance, love, and acceptance in the very fabric of their lives. They are looking for home, not an institution; love and acceptance, not hate and exclusion; nurture and challenge, not empty platitudes and pious rhetoric. Through corporate discipleship centered in the regular celebration of the Eucharist the church can provide what people are craving. “Today's seekers are craving to experience the three most popular lines around the world: Welcome home. I love you. Supper's ready.”[18]

Conclusion

Evangelism and discipleship must never be divorced from one another. Each feeds and sustains the other. Both are essential to obeying Jesus' mandate to “make disciples.”

Evangelism keeps the church oriented outward, remembering that she exists for the sake of the world and not for her own self-serving purposes. Discipleship keeps the church focused on creating an environment where God's presence is encountered through faithful obedience resulting in love that comes from following Christ. To ignore either evangelism or discipleship is to fail in Christ's mission.

The necessity of both evangelism and discipleship is summarized well by Kent Groff and reveals the importance of maintaining both for the sake of fulfilling Christ's mission:

If the church doesn't reach out to the community, people won't come. But if people come into our churches and don't sense the presence of God, they're not going to return.[19]

By keeping evangelism and discipleship together we create an environment shaped and motivated by Christ's mission -- a community of faithful loving disciples making disciples through a shared commitment to evangelism and spiritual formation.

© Richard J. Vincent, 2003