Making Disciples
The Great Commission tells us to go and make disciples. However, in today's way of thinking, evangelism is the last thing most of us want to do. We associate it with knocking on doors or standing on street corners, peppering all who will listen with fire and brimstone. Or, we associate evangelism with radio or television evangelists who seem to be more concerned with our donations than with the destination of our eternal souls. We might be willing to pass out tracts, but our knees start to tremble at the thought of doing anything more. We hope and pray there are enough willing souls in our congregation to form an evangelism committee, so that we can delegate this frightening activity to someone else. We know we should connect people to God's free gift of salvation, but we don't know how. By encouraging us to think of making disciples in this way, Satan has rendered the Christian church, here in the U.S. at least, ineffective in growing the Kingdom.
The solution is simple. We must return to the basics of outreach as described in the Bible. We begin by simply being near.
Contact
The first step in making disciples is making contact with Pre-Christians. We do this by intentionally "being near" them. For the most part, this will not require us to do things much differently than we are already doing them. We must simply keep our eyes and ears open for those placed in our path, by God, within our everyday lives. There are Pre-Christians at the market, the barber shop, the golf course, offices, factories, on buses, at stadiums, the local coffee house, the gas station . . . literally everywhere we go. All we need to do is, by the Holy Spirit, select one person and astonish them by showing kindness!
This can be with a word of encouragement, an act of generosity, or something as simple as polite graciousness. Done with no expectation of anything in return, this will stand out as exceptional behavior in a world that is generally self-serving and less than polite. Then, if they show any interest at all in additional conversation, it's time to move on to the next step.
Friendship
In the beginning, this is mostly about getting to know one another - active and non-judgemental listening to understand one another's point of view. The friendship grows as you practice empathy (feeling what the other person is feeling), congruence (a willingness to walk alongside the other person through thick and thin), and unconditional love (encouragement, sacrifice, and unselfish actions). As your credibility grows, you can begin discussing deeper issues like their spiritual questions. This is sometimes called "active wondering" and is usually characterized by probing questions in a safe environment for both parties. Once the friendship has grown to this point, it's time to expand the circle.
Community
Welcoming the Pre-Christian into your circle of friends can be done in very non-threatening ways, especially if you share a special interest or life circumstance. Asking them to join you in a golf game or a fishing trip, for example, are great ways to surround them with other Christians who can help answer their questions. We know that one of the greatest needs of Pre-Christians is the need to belong somewhere - anywhere - with a sense of community. This is especially true as they are exploring the spiritual questions of their life.
At this point, you (and those in your circle of friends) will probably have shared parts of your testimony with the Pre-Christian. Be especially patient during this phase. There will be more (and harder) questions to be answered. Remember that God alone is responsible for bringing the Pre-Christian to salvation. You are merely being used as a connection to Jesus, you are not replacing Him!
Guided by the Holy Spirit, you will know when to take the next important step - inviting the Pre-Christian to join you in attending a Worship Service.
Worship
In the beginning, the Pre-Christian will only be observing the Worship Service, not spiritually participating in it. We know this because, without baptism, the Holy Spirit does not dwell within the Pre-Christian. Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot understand the matters of Christianity. In fact, Scripture tells us that these things will seem "foolish" to the non-believer.
1 Cor 1:18
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
The worship service will foster even more questions, but this is the point at which the Pre-Christian usually indicates their true openness to Jesus. If they indicate a willingness to accept Him as their Savior, now is the time for baptism into the faith. If not, then simply keep answering questions for as long as they are willing to ask, or find others who might answer differently so that progress towards the cross can continue.
Once baptism occurs, then discipleship can begin!
Discipleship
The new Christian now faces life decisions with a whole new book of rules and a previously unknown freedom. Making God-pleasing decisions will not be easy, but if he (or she) continues in your circle of friends and the new communities available within the congregation, he will have the necessary resources to do so. Bible studies, fellowship meals, and continuing contact with other Christians (including you) will see that this infant in the faith will grow and strengthen in Christ.
Also, in preparation for future growth, it is important that the new Christian discerns his/her best understanding of God's calling for them. By gaining this understanding, it will focus attention on the work God has prepared for him/her instead of saying "yes" to every request by every committee or board.
Then, as the new Christian grows and demonstrates readiness, the final phase of maturity can begin - service.
Service
As soon as possible, the new Christian should begin to serve in the congregation and the community. Since "faith without works is dead" (James 2:17), it is a vital part of the Christian's growth to learn that loving God (worship, Bible study, etc.) must be accompanied by loving one's neighbor in service.
This service can be in the congregation, by joining the work of a board or committee, or in the community in service events or serving on a council or commission. But it is very important that the service begin and continue throughout the disciple's growth in maturity, in alignment with their calling.
The ultimate service, of course, is the multiplication of disciples. By connecting two or more others to Christ, the mature disciple fulfills both the Great Commission and Great Commandments to the glory of God.
The process of making disciples is far less complicated and frightening than we've made it. It really is as simple as making friends and sharing our heart with them. How hard can that be?