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Further Study: Evaluating Witnessing and Evangelism — 8 Comments

  1. From this lesson I get the impression that we should make a list of things to do in our ministry and then go around finding people to do those things. The problem is that as I read about the early ministry of Jesus I don't see Him doing that. What I do see is Jesus creating interest in His ministry through what He was doing. Then after He had a group of followers, and only then, did he call them into ministry as coworkers. What we are generally unaware of is that Jesus didn't make His call by the sea until about one year after His baptism. During that year He built interest and those that would become His disciples were following Him on a part time basis. From those with the greatest interest He eventually made a formal call to ministry.

    We see this method of working in His first gathering of prospective disciples:

    Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples.
    36 And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God!"
    37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
    38 Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, "What do you seek? " They said to Him, "Rabbi " (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), "where are You staying?"
    39 He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).
    40 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.
    41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah " (which is translated, the Christ). (Jn 1:35-41 NKJV)

    I think what we need to see here is that His first disciples had a great interest in Him and approached Him - not the other way around. I believe when we go about trying to assign jobs to other people we only end up getting those people aggravated at us because we attempted to be big boss and didn't follow the counsel Jesus gave.

    But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them.
    26 "Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.
    27 "And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave--
    28 "just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." (Mat 20:25-28 NKJV)

    If our ministry is truly effective then I believe others will want to get involved and at that point the organization actually begins.

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    • Amen! That is not leadership to decide what you will do and then pick people to do it. That is called "dictatorship". Jesus didn't lead that way and I don't think He wants His followers to either.

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      • Cindy, actually I didn't write what I did with a "who" /"what" debate in mind. I understand what you are saying and I don't disagree. I do think that a church has to consider both together to some degree. I believe they work together even though generally the "what" needs to follow the available resources.

        What Jesus did was to create interest (He already knew the what) and then chose disciples from those most interested in His ministry. That is far different than going around prodding people for involvement after deciding the what - even if the church, as a whole, has made the decision.

        Furthermore, to me the word "pick" is like doing things the army way, "I need three volunteers - you, you, and you." That may seem ridiculous but I have seen something very close to that happen in church. If not that, then the shame approach is usually adopted in order to get volunteers.

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  2. I believe after 43 years my first responsibility is to God's people in the Church we need to get along according to Paul in 1 Cor 1:4-21.

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    • I agree Alex. However, was Paul wrong when he opposed the theology of salvation by works within his church? I do believe we should get along whenever possible but there comes a time when compromise does more harm than good.

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  3. The bulleted points given are contrary to what is written above. If the top part is called "A one man band" then point #2 sounds like a "one man puppet show". I have seen this kind of "leadership" and it is not the best way to lead. Putting the "what" before the "who" will never quite lead to the intended results. If you pick the "who" first, then the "what" can grow out of the passion of those chosen. 12 men were able to turn the world upside down after praying at Pentecost.

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