Day 1: The Great Commission

What is evangelism? 

Evangelism simply means sharing the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection, that He died for our sins and we can be made right with God and go to heaven by believing in Him. It’s telling others about what Jesus Christ has done for them!

What makes evangelism important? 

As disciples of Christ, we’re all commanded to share the best news we’ve ever received. Check this out: According to a 2010 sociological experiment, good news travels faster than bad news. Dr. Jonah Berger, a world-renowned expert on word of mouth, viral marketing, and social influence, summarized the findings of this extensive study by stating, "If I've just read this story that changes the way I understand the world and myself, I want to talk to others about what it means." Translation: Good news travels. Why? Because you want to share it!

Now, think about it for a minute . . . Think about a time where you got really good news or discovered something amazing. What did you want to do with that info?

• You got a 100% on a really hard test . . .
• You just ate the best burger of all time . . .
• You got accepted into your dream college . . .
• She said “yes” to going to prom with you . . .
• There’s this new movie or show that totally blew you away . . .
• You got a great job . . .
• You’re going to be a big brother or sister . . .
• Your best friend is cancer free!

Whenever something good happens, our first instinct is usually to share it, whether by texting, calling, posting it on social, or in person. Why? Because you want people to share in it with you, to share in your joy, or in the case of the best burger or a great new movie, you want them to experience it for themselves. This is how we should think about sharing the good news of Jesus! Evangelism is important because it’s life-changing news for everyone—for you and for the person you’re sharing it with. It’s the best news ever! 

Why should we evangelize? 

When it’s put that way, why would we not want to share this news with our friends and family!? Why wouldn’t we want people to go to heaven, to be saved, to be healed, to receive hope, peace, and joy, to find their identity, belonging, and purpose? 

But beyond that, it’s also a direct command from Jesus. In Matthew 28:18–20, He tells us “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 and of 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.”

But, what do we mean when we say advance the gospel? 

“To advance” means to move forward. When we advance the gospel, we’re moving the message of Christ forward and sharing Christ’s love. For many of us, sharing our faith can feel scary, uncomfortable, and awkward, which is probably the main reason we as Christians don’t do it. 

And yet, the Lord commands us to make disciples because this news is just too important to keep to ourselves! Throughout this week of devotions, we hope that you will feel encouraged and more confident about sharing your faith.