Last time I spoke about God making things. Jesus told his disciples to make disciples of all nations in the New Testament book of Matthew. What do you suppose that looks like? Is it possible that evangelism, as modern Christianity presents it, is not at all what Jesus meant when he said to “make disciples?”
The idea of making disciples is to become a pupil, a student of Jesus, thereby learning from him while living that way of life before others. In the early days of the New Testament book of Acts, the apostles lived a righteous life and persecuted because of it. This did not stop them from proclaiming that Jesus is the Messiah. The message was not in their words as much as in their lives.
In one place in the book of Acts, it states that the religious leaders took notice that Peter and John had been with Jesus. They were scolded for the words they spoke—repent of your sins and turn to Jesus, the Messiah—but they noticed their changed lives because they had been with Jesus.
Your changed life is evangelism. The way you react when wronged, or mistreated gets the attention of those around you. Your words most certainly should point to Jesus, not the other way around; quoting a memorized script is not evangelism, it is religion.
A changed life is what matters, and a close personal relationship with the godhead brings about a changed life. Think of it this way, the creation of life does not happen because of words, it takes place because of a certain action. The “action” of a changed life touches those with a willing heart—made willing by God the Holy Spirit—thus allowing them to hear the spoken word about Jesus.
The Apostle Paul puts it this way in his New Testament writings, one sows the seed, another waters the seed sowed, but God brings the increase. In another place, he tells his disciple, Timothy, to instruct others, who will in turn instruct others.
I believe this is what Jesus intended when he said to “make disciples.” It is your life, coupled with your words that will make disciples. This is not to say that you must be perfect before you can say anything. It is to say that your changed life is what opens the door for God the Holy Spirit to prepare someone’s heart to hear what God the Son will say through your mouth.
How excitingly scary is that!