Written By Josue Salcedo
“And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men”” (Matthew 4:19 ESV).
Author and Speaker Grant Skeldon describes the difference between mentorship and discipleship:
- Mentorship is “let me put something (an event, a meeting) in your calendar”; discipleship is “let me include you in my calendar.”
- Mentorship is “come and meet with me”; discipleship is “come and join me.”
Jesus didn’t just put an event in Peter’s, James’, and John’s calendar so to speak. I am sure He didn’t just say, “Hey, see you at the Mount of Beatitudes.” Rather, He included them in that moment, before, during, and after. The disciples were a part, they were included in Jesus’ calendar, if they chose to, or if He chose them. Who have you chosen? Is there someone you are intentionally including in your calendar?
In the following paragraph we will take a look at a couple of Scriptures that can help us in the practice of evangelizing from discipleship.
How can we evangelize from discipleship?
Represent Jesus well
“Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me” (Matthew 10:40 ESV).
It’s important that you know who your followers are receiving as they receive you, because you will always be reminded of who you are representing, or who you ought to be representing. They receive Him as they receive you.
Freely give
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give (Matthew 10:8 NKJV).
“Mentorship is discipleship without a cost.” —Terry Parkman
What’s one of the costs of discipleship? You don’t charge others for what God never charged you. Just freely give it away. Healing, cleansing, resurrecting, and deliverance are seemingly some of the impossible things that only God can do. Has God done something for you that only He could have done; given you something that could only come from Him, that only He could’ve done? Perhaps making you patient, giving you joy, freeing you from addiction, granting you mercy. What has God given you? Give that away.
Love others the way He loves you
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13:34-35 NKJV).
A question that has caused me to never be the same. How has God loved you? Has He not been patient with you? Has he not been merciful? Has He not forgiven you after repeatedly making the same mistake or sin? Has He not given you chance after chance? You may not know how God has loved someone else, but you know how He has loved you. We all know Love. You see, it’s one thing to love others, love your neighbor, but He took it up a notch. He said to love others as He has loved you. Are you loving others, your parents, friends, strangers as He has loved you? How has Jesus loved you? Love others the way He loves you.
Try it, you may very well see the impact of what evangelism from discipleship can have on others and the world. By this all will know that you are His disciples, for people will see and receive the One you represent before you ever proclaim Him. Evangelize from discipleship today!
