Notes: MAKING DISCIPLES WHO EVANGELIZE”

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“Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him.” Mark 1:14-18, NKJV.

M.T. We are called to make disciples who evangelize who will make disciples who evangelize. 

Mini-vision: Treasure Chest w/toilet on the side. Wasted treasure. People who have potential are becoming useless. “I want them to be a part of my team, but their lives are being wasted by carnal pursuits, wrong objectives, perverse plans. This is the great deficiency of my body. They have left my plan and followed another.” Preachers, the treasure is sitting in front of you. They are wasting their talents on things that do not matter, even religious things. See the potential of people for the Kingdom. Train them for Gospel work. 

Older Lady at retreat center: “I’m going to work with him, because he could help someone. He has a good heart.” She’s not ordained by anyone. She doesn’t have a 501c3. But she understands God’s plan to raise up people for His Kingdom work. We need to see the potential in people. 

THE GREAT COMMISSION

Evangelism… “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” Mark 16:15, 16, NKJV.

Discipleship… “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.” Matthew 28:19, 20, NKJV.

Making Disciples… “And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,” Acts 14:21, NKJV.

False controversy between discipleship and evangelism. Don’t argue. Work together. Discipleship and evangelism are like two wings on one airplane. It’s not either/or. It is both/and. They go hand in hand. You must have evangelism to make disciples. You must have make disciples to evangelize the world. 

Most people think of discipleship as growing deeper and learning more, but discipleship is also about training workers (doers of the Word). In the church, we have people with PHDs who don’t know how to lead someone to Christ. We need more practical training. Only 3 out of 100 Christians share their faith. Something is wrong with our methods. We assign the task of evangelism to a few select people or use special evangelism programs, not understanding that evangelism is the normal lifestyle of a disciple. 

You cannot be a true disciple without being involved in evangelism. Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men. Not, follow me and I will make you an usher. Supportive roles are important in the church, but they are not a substitute for being a witness for Christ. Evangelism is job #1 for everyone.

HOW JESUS FULFILLED HIS MISSION OF WORLD EVANGELISM

Purpose: ““for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”” Luke 19:10, NKJV.

“Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. “Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”” Matthew 9:35-38, NKJV.

We need to get back to Bible thinking and Bible methods. Jesus’ method was to raise up workers, not just students. How much does our pattern of church resemble the Good Shepherd’s methods? Fishing Crew/Jesus School of Evangelism. Jesus fulfilled His mission by training workers to carry on the mission. How many followers did he have when he left? (500, 120, 70, 12, 3) But now we are a world-wide movement. 

In Jesus’ ministry, he preached, he taught and he healed. He ministered to great crowds and ministered deeply and powerfully to many individuals. Another part of his time was taken with contending with religious leaders. But throughout the Gospels, we see him taking special care to love, teach, and train His disciples. We love ministering to crowds, but some of our most important work is done with a few. Ex: Michael Lusk

Mark 1:17 He called fisherman to follow him.

Mark 3:13 He chose 12 to be with him and to be sent forth.

Mark 4:11 He told them that they were given the privilege to receive special revelation.

Mark 4:34 He expounded the parables to them privately.

Mark 4:40 He challenged them for their lack of faith

Mark 5:37 He took 3 disciples to go with him when he raised the dead.

Mark 6:6-12 He sent them out two by two and gave them authority to heal the sick and cast out devils.

Mark 6:30 He called them away for a retreat.

Mark 6:37 He used them to help him provide food for the multitudes.

Mark 8:15 He warned them about religious leaders.

Mark 8:27 He gave them a pop quiz. “Who do men say I am? Who do you say I am?

Mark 8:33 He rebuked his top student.

Mark 8:34 He called them to a deeper commitment.

Mark 9:2 He took 3 disciples to the mount of transfiguration to experience His glory.

Mark 9:28 He gave them feedback about their failure to cast out a demon.

Mark 9:33-37 He gave them instruction on leadership and humility.

Mark 10:29 He talked to them about their rewards for following Him.

Mark 11:2 He sent them to a village with a mission to get him a donkey.

Mark 11:20-26 He used the cursing of the fig tree as an opportunity to teach on faith.

Mark 12:43 He called his disciples to observe the widow giving her last mite. 

Mark 13:3 He gave end-time revelation to three disciples.

Mark 14:10 One of his disciples betrayed him. Don’t be surprised if it happens to you. 

Mark 14:37 He reprimanded them because they could not pray one hour.

Mark 16:14 He reprimanded them for their unbelief and hardness of heart. 

Mark 16:16-20 He commissioned them to go into all the world and preach the Gospel. (Imperfect people)

FULFILLING OUR ROLE OF EQUIPPING AS MINISTERS (all 5 gifts)

“And His gifts were <varied; He Himself appointed and gave men to us> some to be apostles (special messengers), some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel, traveling missionaries), some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers. His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), <that they should do> the work of ministering toward building up Christ’s body (the church),” Ephesians 4:11, 12, Amplified.

Tips for equipping the saints for the work of the ministry

• Lead them through example. Be trained and develop yourself in evangelism. 
• Lead people into true Conversions, Finney 85% stuck. “Repent and believe the Gospel!”
• Focus on the Gospel message. 
• Teach them how to follow Jesus.
• Lead them into the Baptism of the Holy Spirit so they can receive power to be witnesses.
• Teach them to pray effectively and get results.
• Impart an excitement about sharing the Gospel and loving people.
• Train them how to witness. 
• Teach them how to preach the Gospel.
• Teach them how to minister to the sick.
• Invite them to go with you to minister.
• Release them to minister.
• Start a ministry School & encourage your students to start ministry schools. (Ray Phipps, BSOM)
• Collaborate with an evangelist to equip the saints in evangelism.
• Impart a vision to make disciples who evangelize, who make disciples who evangelize.

Example: Coffee, Donuts, and Prayer: Young mom comes. Susan encourages her to reach out. She ends up praying with two ladies. Sometimes ministry is more caught than taught. Evangelism is love in action. Making Disciples is love in action.