{"id":6151,"date":"2019-01-14T10:54:04","date_gmt":"2019-01-14T16:54:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thedisciplemaker.org\/?p=6151"},"modified":"2019-01-14T10:54:04","modified_gmt":"2019-01-14T16:54:04","slug":"how-to-balance-discipleship-and-evangelism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.navpress.com\/sites\/thedisciplemaker\/2019\/01\/how-to-balance-discipleship-and-evangelism\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Balance Discipleship and Evangelism"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

As followers of Christ, we certainly thrive when discipleship and evangelism work synergistically in our lives. God created us for both! \u00a0Sometimes, however,\u00a0 we misunderstand the relationship between discipleship and evangelism and therefore perceive them as mutually exclusive.
\nI think there are two solutions for the church that will help integrate, and therefore balance, evangelism and discipleship.
\nFirst, we need to move away from the thought that evangelism is just what happens before someone becomes a believer and discipleship is what happens after conversion. \u00a0If we perceive evangelism as simply sharing the Good News, then we need to continue to \u201cevangelize\u201d one another<\/strong>, even after we begin to follow Christ. I certainly need to be reminded daily of God\u2019s love and the reality of what it means to be an adopted child of God. For example, like many, I am tempted to take my identity from my accomplishments rather than from the righteousness of Christ. \u00a0So I need to continually be saturated with the Good News.<\/p>\n

Discipleship happens best when each person approaches their own discipleship in a way that is personalized to how God is already at work in their lives. – Dana Allin<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

At the same time, there are ways in which we may help others become disciples of Christ even before they become believers. \u00a0This trajectory is a little harder for us to wrap our minds around, but let me explain.\u00a0 When we are in relationship with someone who is considering following Christ, we may share about prayer, theology, the narrative of Scripture, and the cost of discipleship, for example. During this time of learning and growth, people may change behavior to become more Christ-like even before they have crossed the line to become full-fledged believers<\/strong>. In a case such as this, evangelism and discipleship are more integrated than they often appear.
\nSecond, I would say that we must emphasize that sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ through evangelism is <\/em>growing in our discipleship. \u00a0On occasion when I talk about being missional or evangelistic, I get the response that someone just wants to work on his or her \u201cown discipleship\u201d. \u00a0However, engaging in evangelism and missional endeavors is one aspect of Christian life that\u00a0 exponentially enhances one\u2019s own discipleship! The gospel accounts are full of promises from Jesus to the disciples that by following him they will end up fishing for others as well. And of course the Great Commission<\/a> tells us that we are to be in a continual process of \u201cgoing\u201d<\/strong> – and as we do so, we are to make disciples of all nations.
\nThe church and its leaders will be greatly strengthened when discipleship is not seen as either\/or but both\/and.<\/p>\n

\n

This was an interview with Dana Allin, author of Simple Discipleship<\/em>. Originally published in Outreach magazine here.<\/a>\u00a0Read a free chapter, learn about the discipleship assessment, or get the book at simplediscipleshipbook.com<\/a>.
\n

\"\"<\/a>
Click the book to read chapter one.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As followers of Christ, we certainly thrive when discipleship and evangelism work synergistically in our lives. God created us for both! \u00a0Sometimes, however,\u00a0 we misunderstand the relationship between discipleship and evangelism and therefore perceive them as mutually exclusive. I think … <\/p>\n

Read moreHow to Balance Discipleship and Evangelism<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":6274,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_caption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_nocaption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_hide":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[142,160,190,237,315,463],"yoast_head":"\nHow to Balance Discipleship and Evangelism - The Disciplemaker<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.navpress.com\/sites\/thedisciplemaker\/2019\/01\/how-to-balance-discipleship-and-evangelism\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Balance Discipleship and Evangelism - The Disciplemaker\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"As followers of Christ, we certainly thrive when discipleship and evangelism work synergistically in our lives. 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