The great commission directs our evangelistic efforts in two ways. Matthew’s record says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” while Luke’s account of Jesus’ final words in Acts says that after the Apostles are empowered they are to “be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth” (Matthew 28:19; Acts 1:8).
Since part of the Great Commission tells the Apostles that they must teach their converts “to observe all that I commanded you” and Jesus makes the promise that “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20), it provides for the continuation and perpetuation of the church’s evangelistic work until the Lord returns. The record in the book of Acts points out that very soon after the day of Pentecost the church in the city of Jerusalem grew as “many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of men came to be about five thousand” (Acts 4:4).
Despite the arrest and appearance of Peter and John before the Sanhedrin, within a short while “the disciples were increasing in number” (Acts 6:1) and following the persecution instituted against the church by the Jews and carried on vigorously by Saul we read that even when forced to flee from Jerusalem “those who had been scattered went about preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). And so the church continued to grow and spread to Judea and Samaria and ultimately to the remotest parts of the earth—and all men’s efforts to curb this growth failed.
We are encouraging every member at Bell Shoals Church of Christ to develop an evangelistic outlook and to view every person outside of the body as a person in need of the gospel. What each of us must ask himself or herself are these questions: “How can I make sure that this person, friend, neighbor, acquaintance, or buddy is taught about Jesus?” And: “How can I make sure that they know they need to be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins?”
As you keep on talking to people about their spiritual condition some are bound to want to study the Bible more deeply and here’s where you may want to get others to join with you in the study. Invite people to church to hear the gospel preached and to get to know our members and enjoy their fellowship. Pick up a tract that might interest them and then discuss it when they have read it. Be sure to get friends to come to special events such as fellowship meals and so on. Use every available means to make sure that the gospel is being preached.
You don’t have to have a vast knowledge of the Bible to be able to ask your friends about their spiritual condition or whether they have obeyed the Lord’s command to be baptized. But you do need to have an interest in and concern for their souls. Don’t worry if a friend asks difficult questions you cannot answer—you can always find out what to say by asking a Bible class teacher, an elder, or the preacher. The friend might even find it less intimidating to discuss with someone who doesn’t have a degree from a Bible college.
When these things become a habit for us, the church must grow. As it grows we’ll need to seat more people for worship services and find more places for them in Bible classes—and that’s when we’ll need to be ready to build and move. Today’s special contribution is the beginning of the next phase of our growth and development to be ready as the church grows, and it must grow—support it from your heart!