In studying about discipleship we now see that the second characteristic of a disciple. The second reality is PREACHING FOR JESUS. Now, first and foremost, this preaching for Jesus needs to primarily stem from BEING WITH JESUS. Like a new surfboard, we need to cherish and love God more than anything else. And from that love for Jesus and their love for others, the necessary result should be to tell everyone about Jesus.

It is interesting that Jesus' FIRST AND LAST recorded words to His disciples in the Gospels and in the Book of Acts have to do with evangelism. Matthew 4:19 "And He said to them, 'Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.'" And in Acts 1:8-9 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.'" Jesus, in these statements, was making it very clear to His disciples and to US that one of the primary activities of God's people is to share the gospel with others. YET SO MANY CHRISTIANS NEVER DO THIS!

Bill Bright, the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, states that, "only 2% of believers in America regularly share their faith in Christ with others." This is sad, because it is the RESPONSIBILITY of Christians to share the gospel with everyone we come in contact with. Mark 16:15 "God into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation." In the Greek, this passage is saying, "AS YOU ARE GOING, AS YOU PASS FROM PLACE TO PLACE, proclaim the gospel to the whole of creation." Jesus is saying, "Wherever you go, proclaim and preach the gospel." But so many don't do that because of the fear that accompanies evangelizing.

Those fears include:

- Fear of others.

- Fear of not knowing what to say.

- Fear of ineffectiveness.

These three fears can leave us paralyzed, intimidated, and silent. And that is Satan's goal. He wants to render us helpless and idle. He wants to make us stagnate because if we aren't advancing for God's Kingdom, God's Kingdom will not advance either. But the Bible states that we should not fear others, we should not fear the lack of words, and we should never fear our ineffectiveness. Because in Matthew 10:28-31 He addresses this fear of man saying, "And no not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs on your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows." We should have no fear of those who have power over your physical body, but rather have fear of the One who has power over your spiritual body. Neither should we fear of not knowing what to say. The gospel is a simple message. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 "For I delivered to you as of first importance what i also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures." Proclaiming the gospel is SIMPLY STATING, Jesus died for your sins, He was buried, and He was resurrected on the third day in accordance to the Scriptures. The message of grace, forgiveness, hope and love is what people need today. They don't need a well thought out hyper-intellectual reasoned argument, they need to know that it is only through Jesus Christ they can have life, and life abundantly. And in proclaiming that, we should know that we are effective. 1 Corinthians 3:6 "I (Paul) planted, Apollos watered, and God grew." Successful evangelism is not about how many you convert. Successful evangelism is living obediently to what the Lord has commanded. To live the life to what He has called us to do. Your words will have an effect. Isaiah 55:10-11 "For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, SO SHALL MY WORD BE THAT GOES FORTH FROM MY MOUTH; IT SHALL NOT RETURN TO ME VOID, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."

As disciples of Jesus, one of our vocations should be preaching the gospel to the world. And preaching does not mean that you need to stand behind a pulpit and scream it out. Preaching the gospel is a lifestyle. Through your actions, through your decisions, through your words, the gospel of Jesus Christ needs to go forth. I encourage you, PREACH FOR JESUS, do not have the fear of man, the fear of not knowing what to say, or fear that you are ineffective. God uses you to bring others to salvation. May you carry out His command of preaching the gospel to all people and be faithful in obedience to Him.