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Many Christians struggle to understand the relationship between evangelism and discipleship. Some believe they are synonymous—just two different words that describe talking to people about Jesus and helping others become more like Him. Others struggle with evangelism vs. discipleship because, though they wouldn’t say it, they almost see the two practices competing with one another. This group often believes either discipleship or evangelism is of more importance than the other.
The reality is that while evangelism and discipleship are different practices, they are meant to complement, not compete with, one another. To pit evangelism and discipleship against each other is a false dichotomy. It is important to understand how these two important aspects of discipleship are alike, different, and how they relate to one another.
What is evangelism?
Evangelism is the process of sharing or preaching the gospel message, or the “good news” of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection to save God’s people. In most Christian circles, the focus of evangelism is sharing the gospel among those who have either never heard it or are not believers yet.
What is discipleship?
Discipleship is best understood as mentorship or training in the truths and real-life application of the gospel. Jesus called twelve men who spent several years walking, talking, and learning from Him how to be mature disciples. Similarly, the process of discipleship today is to lead people in the lifelong process of achieving Christian maturity and becoming disciple-makers themselves.
There are many misconceptions about the differences between discipleship and evangelism that run rampant among Christians and non-believers alike. Perhaps the most common, beyond that they compete with one another, is the idea that not all Christians are responsible to evangelize or disciple.
The simple fact is that all Christians are called to share the gospel and make disciples.
Nowhere does the Bible say that only pastors, mature believers, or evangelists are called to share the gospel, or “evangelize.” It’s the job of all Christians to share the good news as well as train our brothers and sisters to love God and become more like Christ.
The book of Acts is full of examples of Christians sharing the gospel with people. Here are just a few:
Neither Jesus nor the scriptures make any distinction between evangelism vs. discipleship. The two are woven together and are both responsibilities of true disciples of Jesus Christ.
But how do they fit together? Scripture is clear on this as well. Let’s take a look.
Jesus provided us with the perfect example of the relationship between evangelism and discipleship. Before ascending into heaven, he left his final command for all of his disciples to go into the world preaching the good news, baptizing new believers, and making disciples.
This is the Great Commission, and both discipleship and evangelism are woven within it. Christians cannot make disciples of all nations and baptize those disciples if the gospel is not first preached.
Discipleship is a natural outworking of evangelism. The gospel is preached (evangelism) and when the people who hear the gospel believe the good news they are baptized and trained to live a Christian life that reflects Jesus (discipleship). Acts 2:42–47 gives us a beautiful picture of this in the early Church:
Evangelism and discipleship are both meant to be a part of the daily lives of Christians. These two Christian imperatives are not at war with each other. Evangelism is a key part of the disciple-making process, and intentional discipleship first requires evangelism.
Billy Graham once said, “Only God knows when the alarm will sound, ending the work and ministry of evangelism as we have known it.”
Until our Lord comes back, our calling is to evangelize and disciple.
