Last week at work, I spent a few days with my boss and a peer touring our market. At breakfast, we talked about our families and personal lives, and we got on the subject of religion.
Well, like many fellow believers, that just happens to my favorite topic. I took over the conversation! I talked about the ways Jesus changed mine and my family’s lives and the reliability of Scripture. I talked some of the archeological evidence to support the events in the Bible. When we met again the next day, they wanted to talk more about it. Man- I left that visit feeling so proud of myself! Look at me sharing my faith in my workplace, and with my boss of all people! Maybe I was planting a seed!
Something didn’t feel right though so I began to ask God about it. He pointed out to me two issues with my perceived successful faith sharing. Issue #1: when I have done God’s work in the past, I certainly don’t feel prideful, I felt humbled and grateful for allowing me to do to further His Kingdom. Issue #2: which was the epic fail- God showed me that I didn’t actually share the Good News!
What? How can this be? I talked about my faith with conviction, even in taboo places like the workplace! I even paraphrased Scripture (I have such a hard time memorizing verses)! Isn’t that good enough? But the more I wrestled with God about it, the clearer it became to me. I even rationalized it in my head at the time. I told myself that I was attempting to appeal to their intellectual side since they appear to be wise driven in a worldly way. But the truth is that these people are no closer to knowing how to receive Jesus’ love than before we started. I was fulfilling my own desires in the conversation. As much as I thought I was sharing the Good News, the actual Good News was not even an utterance from me. EPIC fail!
Now, you may be thinking- “Regina, while this may be an opportunity for growth, I wouldn’t consider this to be an EPIC fail- I mean you didn’t murder anyone or wear red sneakers to service or anything like that)!” But I beg to differ- humor me for a minute and read on so I can explain. In Matthew 28: 16-20 and again in Mark 16:14-18, we learn about Jesus’ last words on earth to the 11 disciples after He returned from resurrecting Himself. Like His LAST words with his disciples. If you had one last moment with people you had spent three entire years training, teaching and loving, you’d probably make those words super important. These passages are dubbed “The Great Commission” for really good reason.
Jesus’ command begins in Matthew 28 at verse 18 (NIV) where He says: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
I would like to hover over the phrase, “go and make disciples” for a bit. First, I would like to acknowledge that the secondary verb is “go” and the primary verb is “make.” Like when you say to your spouse, “go to the store and pick up eggs.” Picking up the eggs is the desired outcome. Missionaries that go to Brazil or Africa are not the only people Jesus calls to this mission- it is every sheep that knows His voice. Are you one of those sheep? Yes? Good! That means He is talking to you, too! Some people are called to go to other nations while others are called to live out their normal lives. It’s Jesus’ choice where people make disciples- but we are all called to do the same. Where you are doesn’t make nearly as much of a difference as how you are making the most of every interaction with the people God has blessed to have in your life.
Next, I would like to unpack the phrase “make disciples.” A disciple is “one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another.” Our mission as Christians is not to just bring up the conversation of our faith (like my epic fail), it is to share the doctrines of our faith, and if that person is willing, lead them to Christ. But it doesn’t stop there! We are also called to baptize, teach and encourage them so that they ultimately can make disciples of others. Before you feel that this seems impossible, know that it doesn’t mean that you have to take someone through this journey from start to finish- that’s where God perfectly orchestrates this for every individual person He calls to Him. Our mission to ensure we are trained and ready to step into whatever part of the process He decides for any given person. And as Jesus always loves us through, He reassures us that He is with us always, to the very end!
This means we need to be equipped, trained up in sharing our faith and leading them to Christ. There are many ways you can do it, like signing up for Evangelism Explosion at our church (highly recommend this- you will be stretched and blessed like no other ministry), or start by visiting a trusted source like
I can tell you from experience, it doesn’t happen magically on its own. As Jesus dedicated three entire years of training up the disciples, it takes preparation and practice to share your faith with others.
So when I say, this was an epic fail, I hope you now see what I mean. I completely missed the purpose for which God orchestrated this appointment. The next best thing I can do is now learn from it and share this learning with others. I have since adopted our church’s slogan as a reminder of what my main purpose is here on earth- to know Him and to make Him known.
– Regina