Telling people about Jesus isn’t optional; it’s a command. It’s a sad fact that many Christians haven’t shared the gospel with anyone in the last twelve months. For too many people, the idea of evangelism – sharing your faith with someone else – is nothing more than an idea. For them, the Great Commission has become the Great Omission.
Specific instructions from Jesus
After Jesus’ resurrection, He gathered with His disciples on a mountain in Galilee. These men had seen Jesus perform mighty deeds and proclaim bold truth. But they had also seen Him arrested, beaten, and crucified. They weren’t prepared for the turn of events that happened on Easter morning. Now, Jesus was alive, and He had specific instructions for them. We call it the Great Commission.
In Matthew 28:18-19 NLT Jesus says, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations…” For those early disciples, the command was clear. Jesus told them to go and tell others about what He had done. Not sharing the message was not an option because sharing the message was a command.
Jesus invited them to share in the most amazing work that anyone can do. He invited them to partner with Him and become part of something bigger than themselves. They responded with faith and obedience, and they changed the history of the world. We have an opportunity to follow in their footsteps and discover that sharing Jesus brings real joy.
Jesus’ Spiritual Children
3 John 1.4 NLT says, “I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth.” When John wrote these words, he wasn’t talking about his biological children. He was talking about his spiritual children, the people he had led to faith in Jesus.
In his letter to Philemon, the Apostle Paul introduced the idea that sharing our faith with others has benefits for us too. In Philemon 1.6 ESV he writes, “I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.” When you are active in sharing your faith, you start to recognize more and more of God’s goodness in your life.
Evangelism doesn’t have to be uncomfortable. You don’t have to use outdated tactics that make you and the people around you want to cringe. Instead, evangelism can be exciting. You can build genuine relationships with people and gradually steer your conversations in a spiritual direction. If you’re willing to be open and obedient to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, you can become a natural and effective witness for Jesus. Over the next few weeks, you’ll learn some skills that will help you do exactly that. And remember: It’s not an option; it’s a command.
This blog features an excerpt from one of our Student Series books, Reach Your World.
