A Vida de Discipulado, 8ª Parte: Compartilhando a Fé

 

P. Amsterdam

A última instrução de Jesus àqueles que creram nEle foi que levassem o Evangelho a todos, em todos os lugares e compartilhassem com os outros tudo o que Ele lhes havia ensinado. No Evangelho segundo Marcos, antes de ascender aos céus, Jesus declarou a missão aos Seus discípulos: “Vão pelo mundo todo e preguem o Evangelho a todas as pessoas” (Marcos 16:15). E nos últimos versículos do Evangelho segundo Mateus, disse: “Portanto, vão e façam discípulos de todas as nações, batizando-os em nome do Pai, e do Filho, e do Espírito Santo, ensinando-os a obedecer a tudo o que eu lhes ordenei” (Mateus 28:19-20).

Quarenta e três dias antes, Jesus havia morrido na cruz pelos nossos pecados. Ao terceiro dia, ressuscitou e apareceu a Seus discípulos e a mais de 500 seguidores, quando então lhes deu Suas instruções finais (1 Coríntios 15:3-7). Fez isso para oferecer à humanidade a oportunidade de ser perdoada e se relacionar com Deus (João 3:3). Jesus cumpriu Sua missão na terra, nos reconciliando com Deus para recebermos o dom da salvação eterna.

Durante o Seu ministério junto ao público, Jesus pregou, ensinou e treinou Seus discípulos para darem continuidade à Sua missão de salvação. Proclamou que veio à Terra para pregar o Evangelho: “É necessário que eu pregue as boas novas do Reino de Deus... porque para isso fui enviado” (Lucas 4:43). Foi enviado para pregar o Evangelho e ensinou Seus discípulos a fazerem o mesmo. “E os enviou a pregar o Reino de Deus e a curar os enfermos” (Lucas 9:2) e a “anunciar esta mensagem: ‘O Reino dos céus está próximo’” (Mateus 10:7).

Após Sua morte e ressurreição, Jesus disse aos discípulos: “Assim como o Pai me enviou, eu os envio” (João 20:21-22). E, antes de ascender ao céu, declarou: “Mas receberão poder quando o Espírito Santo descer sobre vocês, e serão minhas testemunhas” (Atos 1:8). Pouco depois, no Dia de Pentecostes, os primeiros discípulos foram cheios do Espírito Santo e começaram a proclamar o Evangelho conforme o Espírito lhes concedia (Atos 2:4).

Devemos difundi o Evangelho, o cristianismo e a dádiva da salvação que Jesus morreu para nos dar. Se os primeiros discípulos não tivessem proclamado a mensagem e ensinados outros a fazerem o mesmo, o Evangelho teria se perdido. O que Deus nos deu é tão grandioso e transformador que, enquanto discípulos, temos a responsabilidade de compartilhar com os outros, oferecendo-lhes a oportunidade de receberem Jesus e conhecerem a verdade que os libertará (João 8:32).

O Evangelho é proclamado por meio das palavras dos discípulos, da literatura cristã, do testemunho que compartilham online, pela sua conduta diária e pela manifestação do Espírito de Deus em suas vidas. É importante viver de tal maneira que as pessoas vejam o amor de Deus em você refletido em ações, no interesse sincero pelo próximo, na alegria, na integridade moral, na paz, na fé e no propósito.

Espera-se que o discípulo esteja preparado para dar testemunho, orar por quem precisa e ministrar a quem Deus colocar em seu caminho. 2 Timóteo 4:2 expressa muito bem esse conceito: “Pregue a palavra, esteja preparado a tempo e fora de tempo”. Em algumas versões, a expressão “a tempo e fora de tempo” é traduzida como persistir, quer seja conveniente ou não, ou quer o momento seja oportuno ou não, fazê-lo até mesmo em momentos inconvenientes. Não sabemos quando encontraremos alguém que precise da mensagem; pelo que devemos estar preparados para compartilhar o amor e a verdade de Deus a todo momento.

Jesus vivenciou todo tipo de situação, e Sua resposta foi testemunhar, ensinar, amar, curar, perdoar e confortar. Ele estava disposto a ministrar aos rejeitados, aos desprezados cobradores de impostos e aos pecadores, aos considerados impuros e indignos. Foi criticado quando estendeu a mão aos que viviam às margens da sociedade, mas expressou por Suas ações o quão importante cada alma é para Deus.

Deus deseja que cada pessoa receba Jesus como Senhor e Salvador e Se alegra quando isso acontece. Deus não faz acepção de pessoas. Todos são pecadores diante dEle e precisam de Seu amor e redenção — não importa sua posição, seu passado ou sua condição atual. O cristão deve estar preparado para compartilhar as boas novas do Evangelho com aqueles que Deus coloca em seu caminho, não importa sua origem, ocupação ou quaisquer outras características pessoais.

Dependemos de que outros nos falem ou ensinem sobre Jesus para recebermos a Salvação. Aqueles que testemunharam, por sua vez, também dependeram de alguém que lhes deu a mensagem. O cristianismo permanece vivo porque os crentes, ao longo da história, obedeceram ao que Jesus ensinou aos primeiros seguidores: pregar o Evangelho e fazer discípulos.

Talvez a sua situação não lhe permita proclamar o Evangelho a centenas de pessoas, mas cada um de nós pode alcançar quem está à nossa frente e fazer algo para lhe ensinar sobre Jesus e estar um passo mais próxima de recebê-lO. Podemos criar nossos filhos para conhecerem e amarem a Jesus, dando-lhes a oportunidade de seguir a Ele de forma independente quando crescerem.

Cada um de nós tem seu lugar no plano universal de Deus para o resgate, a redenção e a reconciliação do ser humano. São muitas as necessidades ao nosso redor – tantas vidas desajustadas, corações quebrantados e espíritos abatidos. Só Deus pode trazer a cura, a ajuda e a restauração de que nosso mundo quebrado precisa. Por sermos Seus discípulos, somos Seus mensageiros, proclamando Sua mensagem de esperança, amor e paz e levando às pessoas o conhecimento da Salvação por meio de Jesus.

Os planos de Deus para alcançar o mundo

Deus não apenas tem planos para este mundo, mas também neste mundo. Seus propósitos se realizam a cada novo dia. Como? A resposta é surpreendente: os propósitos de Deus se cumprem principalmente por meio de pessoas, em sua maioria,  gente comum.

Não sei como você conheceu Jesus, mas certamente, foi por intermédio de alguém. Talvez você tenha ouvido uma pregação, e o Espírito Santo o convenceu de sua necessidade e da suficiência de Cristo para suprir. É possível que tenha lido um livro ou a Bíblia, que foi escrita por homens inspirados pelo Espírito, e como resultado veio a conhecer a Cristo. Pode ter sido no local de trabalho ou estudo, ou ao observar um vizinho cuja vida era tão diferente que despertou se interesse… e descobriu que a diferença era Cristo. Qualquer que seja a causa, em algum momento, Deus usou pessoas para falar com você sobre Si mesmo... E se Ele agiu por meio de outros para alcançá-lo, Seu plano é agir por meio de você para alcançar outros.—Charles Price1

Evangelismo: amor por Deus e pelos outros

Dois motivos que devem nos estimular constantemente a evangelizar: o amor por Deus, para glorificar a Ele; e o amor pelo próximo, com interesse por seu bem-estar. —J. I. Packer

Não espere até sentir amor para compartilhar Cristo com um estranho. Você já ama seu Pai celestial e sabe que essa pessoa foi criada por Ele, mas está separada dEle, então dê os primeiros passos no evangelismo porque você ama a Deus. —John Piper

O evangelismo ocorre todos os dias e de todas as formas, com o objetivo de ajudar amigos não crentes a se aproximarem de Jesus Cristo. Na prática, isso significa que precisamos nos perguntar todos os dias: “O que preciso fazer hoje para ajudar meus amigos não crentes a dar um passo para ficar mais perto de Jesus?” —Norman e David Geisler

Evangelismo diário

Todos os cristãos são chamados a compartilhar o Evangelho e incumbidos pelo próprio Jesus a divulgar o grandioso plano de salvação de Deus. As pessoas geralmente não chegam à fé a menos que nós, cristãos, compartilhemos o Evangelho com elas. “Como, pois, invocarão aquele em quem não creram? E como crerão naquele de quem não ouviram falar? E como ouvirão, se não houver quem pregue?” (Romanos 10:14).

O evangelismo começa com o compromisso de permitir que Deus use você como mensageiro no seu dia a dia. Talvez seja um sacrifício reservar tempo para compartilhar sua fé, mas os resultados eternos valem muito mais a pena. Dar a alguém um folheto ou outra literatura cristã, encontrar um colega para um café, construir relacionamentos com não cristãos, visitar seus vizinhos —muitas vezes essas coisas só acontecem se planejá-las, se buscar ativamente oportunidades.

Nem sempre temos chance de longas conversas, com as pessoas que encontramos no dia a dia, mas podemos plantar sementes do Evangelho. Podemos dar um folheto; perguntar se a pessoa precisa de oração; ser gentil e dizer que Jesus a ama. Mesmo que a ocasião não permita um testemunho mais profundo, é possível preparar o solo dos corações demonstrando o amor e a preocupação de Deus por elas. Peça ao Senhor para ajudá-lo a testemunhar e lhe mostrar o método mais adequado para suas circunstâncias. Ele pode lhe dar ideias e oportunidades.

Em muitos casos, só conseguirá preparar, sem plantar a semente. Essa etapa inicial é chamada de pré-evangelização . Como Norman Geisler explica:

Se a evangelização é plantar sementes do Evangelho, então a pré- evangelização é preparar o solo das mentes e corações para estarem mais receptivas à verdade (1 Coríntios 3:6). ... Atualmente, talvez seja necessário plantar muitas sementes espirituais por um tempo antes que a pessoa pense seriamente em Cristo. Talvez tenhamos de preparar o terreno antes de termos a oportunidade de plantar. Não somos chamados para levar todas as pessoas a Cristo, mas simplesmente para levar Cristo a todas as pessoas.2

Claro, não há um único cenário ou maneira de compartilhar o Evangelho efetivamente. A maneira de levar a mensagem e obter uma resposta positiva varia de uma pessoa para outra. Assim, enquanto nós, discípulos, somos comissionados a compartilhar o Evangelho com a unção do Espírito Santo, as pessoas que alcançamos e a abordagem utilizada vai depender da situação e da orientação divina. Mas sabemos que, se estivermos dispostos, Deus usará cada um de nós, não importam nossas circunstâncias.

Compartilhar o Evangelho com os outros é o chamado de Cristo para todo cristão. Estamos cercados de pessoas que não conhecem as boas novas de que Deus as ama e enviou Seu Filho para que todo aquele que nEle crê seja salvo e tenha um relacionamento com Ele. Precisam que alguém lhes explique como receber a dádiva gratuita da salvação de Deus, ensinando-lhes a estudar a Palavra de Deus e a serem transformadas espiritualmente, e guiá-las no seu desenvolvimento espiritual.

Em 2 Coríntios 5:20 lemos que “somos embaixadores de Cristo, como se Deus estivesse fazendo o seu apelo por nosso intermédio”. É uma afirmação impressionante. Representamos Jesus e temos a tarefa de dar Sua mensagem ao mundo. E qual é essa mensagem? A segunda metade do versículo apresenta a mensagem a ser difundida: “Por isso, em nome de Cristo, suplicamos: Reconciliem-se com Deus”.

Há milhões, até bilhões, de pessoas que não conhecem Deus pessoalmente, nunca ouviram falar de Jesus, da salvação ou do tesouro da vida eterna reservado aos que aceitam Jesus como Salvador. Temos o privilégio de compartilhar essa boa notícia, apresentar Jesus às pessoas e, por fim, ajudá-las para que cheguem ao conhecimento do salvador (1 Timóteo 2:3-4).

A semeadura

O trabalho do agricultor não é fácil. Os bons agricultores trabalham arduamente para preparar o solo, semear, regar e manter as plantações livres de ervas daninhas. Tudo isso com uma expectativa: a colheita! Aguardam ansiosos o momento de encher cestos e celeiros com frutos frescos.

À medida que engajamos nessa tarefa incrível de testemunhar, podemos e devemos ficar na expectativa da colheita. Deus está pronto para que nossas vidas e nossas orações frutifiquem para o Seu reino. Vidas serão transformadas pela mensagem do Evangelho. Corações de homens, mulheres e crianças serão transformados e curados por toda a eternidade quando depositarem a fé em Jesus Cristo. Este é o quadro que Jesus pintou para quando falou da colheita: “Outra parte caiu em boa terra. Cresceu e deu boa colheita a cem por um” (Lucas 8:8).

É por isso que preparamos o solo diligentemente, espalhamos a semente liberalmente e regamos o solo fielmente. Deus nos convidou a participar de Sua colheita — e Deus ama frutos!—Kevin G. Harney3

Para refletir

Uma das razões pelas quais Deus o salvou é para que você dê frutos. Você vive em um mundo faminto, onde as pessoas estão morrendo de fome espiritual.—Warren W. Wiersbe

Evangelismo não é uma atividade passiva. Todos somos chamados a participar. Deus convida todo seguidor de Jesus a sair da arquibancada e entrar em campo... No plano de Deus para a difusão do Evangelho, todos jogam. Não há espectadores nem reservas. Deus quer todos em campo, mesmo aqueles que não se sentem capazes ou acham que não têm nada a contribuir. Deus quer que você se envolva. O mundo precisa que você entre no jogo.—Kevin G. Harney

A tarefa contínua da igreja é ir para o mundo para proclamar as boas novas de Jesus Cristo a todas as pessoas. Sim, devemos ajudar os pobres, defender os oprimidos, visitar os presos, amparar os indefesos, mas tudo isso é, na melhor das hipóteses, parte da tarefa. Também devemos declarar, local e globalmente, que Deus veio em Jesus para nos oferecer perdão dos pecados. Jesus nos envia para os becos, favelas, fábricas onde se exploram a mão de obra, escolas, subúrbios, para convidar as pessoas a tomarem sobre si o jugo de Jesus, descobrindo que nosso Mestre é bom e que Seu amor dura para sempre.—N. T. Wright

O que a Bíblia diz

“Ao ver as multidões, teve compaixão delas, porque estavam aflitas e desamparadas, como ovelhas sem pastor. Então disse aos seus discípulos: ‘A colheita é grande, mas os trabalhadores são poucos. Peçam, pois, ao Senhor da colheita que envie trabalhadores para a sua colheita’” (Mateus 9:36-38).

“Mas graças a Deus, que sempre nos conduz vitoriosamente em Cristo e por nosso intermédio exala em todo lugar a fragrância do seu conhecimento. Porque para Deus somos o aroma de Cristo entre os que estão sendo salvos e os que estão perecendo” (2 Coríntios 2:14-15).

“Em Cristo, falamos diante de Deus com sinceridade, como homens enviados por Deus” (2 Coríntios 2:17).

Oração

Senhor, oro por um compromisso firme e inabalável em obedecer à Grande Comissão. Ajude-me a sempre lembrar da urgência e importância de proclamar Sua verdade ao mundo necessitado. Dê-me um coração disposto a ir em fé, a superar o medo e compartilhar o Evangelho com coragem. Capacite-me com os dons, habilidades e recursos necessários para uma comunicação efetiva do Seu amor e mensagem de salvação. Abra portas e encaminhe oportunidades para eu compartilhar as Boas Novas com outros.

Renove meu amor pelos perdidos e encha-me com profunda compaixão por aqueles que ainda não conhecem Você. Ajude-me a ver as pessoas como Você as vê, com suas necessidades únicas, lutas e corações sedentos... Obrigado, Senhor, por confiar-me a tarefa incrível de participar da Grande Comissão. Oro para que me use como um instrumento do Seu amor, graça e verdade. Que minha vida seja um testemunho vivo do Seu poder transformador, atraindo outros para um relacionamento com Você. Em nome de Jesus, eu oro. Amém.4

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1 Charles Price, Christ for Real: How to Grow into God’s Likeness (Kregel Publications, 2011).

2 Norman e David Geisler, Conversational Evangelism (Harvest House Publishers, 2009), 22–23.

3 Kevin G. Harney, Organic Outreach for Ordinary People (Zondervan, 2009).

4 “7 Prayers To Boldly Share The Gospel Of Jesus,” Daily Prayers, 26 de maio de 2025, https://dailyprayers.com/7-prayers-to-boldly-share-the-gospel-of-jesus/.

Copyright © 2026 A Família Internacional. 

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The Life of Discipleship, Part 8: Sharing Our Faith

 

P. Amsterdam

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Jesus’ last instruction to those who believed in Him was to share the gospel everywhere to everyone and to teach others everything He had taught them. In the Gospel of Mark, some of His last words before He ascended to heaven were the mission statement for His disciples: “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15). And in the last verses of the Gospel of Matthew, He said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19–20).

Jesus had died on the cross forty-three days earlier, and after three days He had risen from the dead and appeared to His disciples and over 500 of His followers, and imparted His final instructions to them (1 Corinthians 15:3–7). The purpose of His death and resurrection was so that humankind could have the opportunity to be forgiven for their sins, and enter into a relationship with God (John 3:3). Jesus fulfilled His mission on earth, and His death and resurrection made it possible for us to be reconciled to God and to receive His gift of eternal salvation.

Jesus’ years of public ministry were spent preaching, teaching, and training His disciples to carry on His salvation mission. He proclaimed that His preaching of the gospel was one of the reasons He was on earth when He said, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God … for I was sent for this purpose” (Luke 4:43). He was sent to preach the gospel, and He taught His disciples to do the same. “He sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick” (Luke 9:2) and to “proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near’” (Matthew 10:7 NIV).

After His death and resurrection, Jesus said to them: “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you” (John 20:21–22). And before ascending into heaven, He declared: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8). Shortly thereafter, on the Day of Pentecost, the early disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and they began to powerfully proclaim the gospel (Acts 2:4).

It’s through sharing the gospel that Christianity spreads and the gift of salvation that Jesus died to bring is given to others. If the first disciples hadn’t proclaimed the good news and taught others to do the same, then the gospel would have ceased to be known. God has given us something so great, so eternally life changing, it’s our responsibility as disciples to share it with others so that they will have the opportunity to receive Jesus and to know the truth that will set them free (John 8:32).

The gospel is proclaimed through the words disciples speak, through Christian literature they share with others, through the witness they share online, as well as through the lives they lead, and the manifestation of God’s Spirit within them. An important part of proclaiming the gospel is living your life in such a manner that people see God’s love manifested in you, through the love and concern you have for others, and your joy, integrity, peace, faith, and purpose.

Disciples are called to be prepared to witness, pray for, and minister to whomever God brings across their path. Second Timothy 4:2 expresses this concept quite well with the words “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season.” The phrase “in season and out of season” is translated in some Bible versions as persisting in it whether convenient or not or whether the time is favorable or not, and continuing to do so in opportune times and in untimely situations. There’s no telling when we will cross paths with someone who needs God’s message, and when we do, as disciples, we are called to be prepared to share God’s love and truth with them.

Jesus was faced with a multitude of different situations, and His response was to witness, to teach, to love, to heal, to forgive, and to comfort. He was willing to minister to those whom others rejected—the hated tax collectors, the sinners, those deemed unclean and unworthy. He was criticized when He reached out to those who were on the margins of society, but He expressed by His actions how important every soul is to the heart of God.

God’s desire is that every person would receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and He rejoices when they do. God is no respecter of persons. Everyone—no matter what their status, their past or their current condition—is a sinner before Him and in need of His love and redemption. As Christians, we are called to be prepared to share the good news of the gospel with those whom He brings across our paths, regardless of their background, occupation, or any other distinguishing factors.

Our salvation depended on others telling us or teaching us about Jesus, and those who told us were dependent on someone else giving them the message at some point in their lives. Christianity exists today because believers throughout history have done what Jesus taught the first disciples to do—to preach the gospel and make disciples.

You may not be in a situation where you can proclaim the gospel to hundreds of people, but we can each reach out to the person before us and do our part to help one person learn about and take a step toward coming to faith in Christ. As parents, we can raise our children to know and love Jesus, so that they will have the opportunity to follow Him when they come of age.

There is a God-ordained place for each one of us in God’s universal story of rescue, redemption, and reconciliation. There are so many needs in the world around us—so many broken lives, hurting hearts, and crushed spirits. The healing, help, and restoration that our broken world needs can only come from God’s hand. As His disciples, we are His messengers to the world—proclaiming His message of hope, love, and peace and bringing a saving knowledge of Jesus to people.

God’s Plans for Reaching the World

God not only has plans for this world, but He also has plans in this world. Every new day brings its outworking of the purposes of God. But how are they accomplished? The remarkable answer is that His purposes are primarily accomplished through people, and what is more, through very ordinary people…

I do not know how you personally may have come to know Christ, except for one thing. There was some human agency involved. Perhaps you listened to someone preaching the gospel, and through such means the Holy Spirit convicted you of your need and of the sufficiency of Christ to meet that need. Perhaps you read a book that someone had written or you read the Bible, which was written by men under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and as a result you came to know Christ. It could be that in your place of work or study or as you observed a neighbor, you saw a life that was so different that it created an appetite to seek for what he or she so obviously had, and you discovered it was Christ. Whatever the cause, somewhere along the line, God used people to speak to you about Himself… If God has worked through others to reach you, His plan is that He might now work through you to reach others.—Charles Price1

Evangelism: Love for God and Love for Others

There are, in fact, two motives that should spur us constantly to evangelize. The first is love for God and concern for his glory; the second is love for man and concern for his welfare.—J. I. Packer

Don’t wait for a feeling of love in order to share Christ with a stranger. You already love your heavenly Father, and you know that this stranger is created by Him, but separated from Him, so take those first steps in evangelism because you love God.—John Piper

Evangelism is every day, and in every way, helping your nonbelieving friends to take one step closer to Jesus Christ. This means in practice that every day we need to ask ourselves, “What do I need to do today to help my nonbelieving friends take one step closer to Jesus?”—Norman and David Geisler

Everyday Evangelism

All Christians are called to share the gospel and are commissioned by Jesus Himself to be communicators of God’s great plan of salvation to others. People do not usually come to faith unless we, as Christians, share the gospel with them. “How can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?” (Romans 10:14 NLT).

Evangelism starts with the commitment to letting God use you to be His messenger to others in your everyday life. It can be a sacrifice to intentionally make time to share your faith with others, but the eternal results of witnessing are more than worth it. Giving someone a tract or other Christian literature, meeting a colleague for coffee, building a relationship with non-Christian friends, visiting your neighbors—these things often only happen if you plan for them, if you intentionally seek opportunities for sharing the gospel.

We may not always be able to have long conversations with the people we encounter in a day, but we can still plant seeds of the gospel. We can give someone a tract. We can ask them if there is something we can pray for. We can show them kindness and tell them Jesus loves them. Even if the occasion doesn’t allow for in-depth witnessing, you can prepare the ground of people’s hearts through showing God’s love and concern for them. If you are praying for the Lord to help you witness and to show you what method will work in your circumstances, He can give you ideas and opportunities.

In many cases, the furthest you will get in your witness will be to “till the ground” rather than actually “planting the seed.” This initial period is sometimes called “pre-evangelism.” This quote from Norman Geisler explains it well.

If evangelism is planting seeds of the Gospel, then pre-evangelism is tilling the soil of people’s minds and hearts to help them be more willing to listen to the truth (1 Corinthians 3:6). … In the world we live in today, we may have to plant many spiritual seeds for a period of time before someone will seriously consider the person of Christ. We may have to till the ground before we have the opportunity to plant a seed. We are not called to bring all persons to Christ but simply to bring Christ to all persons.2

Of course, there’s no single setting or way of sharing the gospel effectively. The manner in which the message can be delivered to each individual so that they will respond positively will vary. So while we, as disciples, are all commissioned to share the gospel and are empowered by the Holy Spirit to do so, who you reach and how you reach them will be different depending on the situation and how God leads you. But we know that God will use each of us to reach others in whatever circumstance we are in—if we are willing.

Sharing the gospel with others is the call of Christ to every Christian. All around us are people who have yet to hear the great news that God loves them, that He sent His Son so that all who believe in Him will be saved and will enter into relationship with Him. They need someone to explain how to receive God’s free gift of salvation, to teach them how to study God’s Word and be spiritually transformed, and to guide them in their spiritual growth.

In 2 Corinthians 5:20 we read that “we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.” That is an awesome statement. We represent Jesus and are tasked with giving His message to the world. And what is that message? The second half of the verse presents the message that we are to give: “We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”

There are millions, even billions, of people who do not know God personally, who have never heard of Jesus and who have no knowledge of the gift of salvation and the treasure of eternal life that awaits them at their acceptance of Jesus as their Savior. Our privilege is to share that good news, to introduce people to Jesus, and ultimately to help them to come to a saving knowledge of Him (1 Timothy 2:3–4).

Sowing the Seed

The work of a farmer is not easy. But good farmers work hard to prepare the soil, plant the seeds, water them, and keep the fields free from weeds, all for a very good reason—they anticipate the time of the harvest! They look forward to hauling in bushel baskets of fresh fruit and filling their barns full of crops.

As we engage in this amazing task of outreach, we can and should anticipate the harvest that will come. God is ready for our lives and our prayers to bear his kingdom fruit. Lives will be changed by the message of the gospel, and the hearts of men, women, and children will be transformed and healed for all of eternity when they place their faith in Jesus Christ. This is the vision Jesus painted for us when he spoke of the harvest, saying, “Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown” (Luke 8:8).

That’s why we prepare the soil diligently, scatter the seed liber­ally, and water the ground faithfully. God has invited us to be part of his harvest—and God loves fruit!—Kevin G. Harney3

Thoughts to Ponder

One of the reasons God saved you is so that you might bear fruit in this world. You are living in a hungry world where people are starving for spiritual reality.—Warren W. Wiersbe

Evangelism is not a spectator sport. We are all called to get into the game. God invites every follower of Jesus to get off the sidelines and onto the field… In God’s plan for outreach, everyone plays. There are no spec­tators or bench warmers when it comes to evangelism. God wants everyone on the field, even those who feel like they can’t do it or have nothing to contribute. God wants you to get involved. The world needs you to get in the game.—Kevin G. Harney

The church’s unfinished task is to keep going out into the world to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to all people. Yes, we are to help the poor, speak up for the oppressed, visit those in prison, defend the defenceless, but all that is at best only part of the task. We are also to declare to people, locally and globally, that God has come to us in Jesus to offer us the forgiveness of sins. Jesus sends us into the street corners, the slums, the sweatshops, the schools, the suburbs, to invite people to take the yoke of Jesus upon them, to discover that our master is good, and that his love endures forever.—N. T. Wright

What the Bible Says

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest’” (Matthew 9:36–38).

“But thanks be to God, who always puts us on display in Christ and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing” (2 Corinthians 2:14–15 HCSB).

“We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us” (2 Corinthians 2:17 NLT).

Prayer

Lord, I pray for a steadfast and unwavering commitment to obedience in fulfilling the Great Commission. Help me always remember the urgency and importance of proclaiming your truth to a world in need. Give me a heart that is willing to step out in faith, to overcome fear, and boldly share the Gospel with those around me… Equip me with the necessary gifts, skills, and resources to communicate your love and salvation message effectively. Open doors of opportunity and give me divine appointments to share the Good News with others…

Renew my love for the lost, and burden me with deep compassion for those who do not yet know you. Help me to see people as you see them, with their unique needs, struggles, and searching hearts… Thank you, Lord, for entrusting me with the incredible task of participating in the Great Commission. I pray you will use me as an instrument of your love, grace, and truth. May my life be a living testimony of your transforming power, drawing others into a relationship with you. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.4

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1 Charles Price, Christ for Real: How to Grow into God’s Likeness (Kregel Publications, 2011).

2 Norman and David Geisler, Conversational Evangelism (Harvest House Publishers, 2009), 22–23.

3 Kevin G. Harney, Organic Outreach for Ordinary People (Zondervan, 2009).

4 “7 Prayers To Boldly Share The Gospel Of Jesus,” Daily Prayers, May 26, 2025, https://dailyprayers.com/7-prayers-to-boldly-share-the-gospel-of-jesus/.

 https://directors.tfionline.com/post/the-life-of-discipleship-part-8-sharing-our-faith/

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Jesus - His Life and Message: The Feast of Tabernacles - part 2

When we left off in the previous article, Jesus had just made the point that the Jewish listeners who were claiming Abraham as their father were not truly his children.

“If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did.”1

“You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me.”2

He then asked:

Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.3

Jesus asked and then answered His own question. They didn’t spiritually comprehend what He was teaching because they had no understanding of who He was or what He stood for. As He had told them earlier in this chapter:

You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.4

They claimed that God was their Father, but Jesus told them, If God were your Father, you would love me.5 Since they didn’t truly know God, they couldn’t understand Jesus.

Jesus then forcefully stated who their true father is.

You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.6

In direct contradiction to their statement that we have one Father—even God, Jesus explicitly stated that they took their origin from their father the devil. He went on to say that their desire was to carry out their father’s desires. They voluntarily chose to do Satan’s will. Jesus contrasted that relationship with the relationship that He had with His Father—as stated earlier in the chapter, the Father who sent me,7 who bears witness about me,8 and who taught me.9

By contrast, the Pharisees’ desires and actions were in alignment with the devil’s. He was a murderer from the beginning. Jesus may have been referring to the murder of Abel in Genesis chapter four, but more likely He was referring to Satan’s role in tempting Adam to disobey God—which resulted in all of humanity becoming mortal and therefore suffering death. He continued speaking of their father the devil, stating that he has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. Truth is associated with God and with Jesus. Satan isn’t interested in God or the truth. He is the father of lies.

Because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.10

Jesus spoke strongly to these Jewish “believers,” stating that they were not God’s children, they didn’t love God’s messenger (v. 42), they didn’t understand Him, and weren’t able to hear His word (v. 43). He explicitly stated that they were unbelievers. And as the devil’s children, they were inclined to believe his lies instead of God’s truth.

Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.11

Jesus asked His accusers two questions. The first was in reference to sin. In this instance He wasn’t referring to sin in general, but to the events that had just transpired. He had already claimed to speak the truth (v. 45), so in not believing in Him, they were in effect calling Him a liar. Jesus challenged them to prove it by asking who could convict Him of sin, knowing that none of them could do so.

Jesus asked and then answered the second question: If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? He explicitly stated the reason they didn't believe Him: They were not of God. This statement echoed what was said elsewhere in the Gospel of John: they were not “born again,”12 or “born of God,”13 or entitled to call God “Father.”14 They weren’t from God, therefore they were unable to hear His word, meaning that they could not recognize Jesus’ words as God’s words.

Jesus’ opponents then proceeded to accuse Him falsely, like their father the devil.

The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?”15

They were not right in saying Jesus was a Samaritan. Earlier in this Gospel it was quite clear to the Samaritan woman who spoke with Jesus at the well that He was a Jew.

The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)16 

Jesus’ accusers only called Him a Samaritan to slander Him, as in general the Jews looked down on the Samaritans because of their centuries-old reputation of worshiping many gods.17 Jesus Himself had said of them, You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.18

Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me.”19

Jesus repudiated their false accusation of His having a demon, and then turned the tables on them by pointing out that while He honored His Father, they dishonored Him. Earlier in this Gospel, Jesus stated that whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.20 In dishonoring Him, they were dishonoring God, who they claimed as their “one Father.”21

I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge.22

In clarifying that He wasn’t seeking glory, Jesus implied that His accusers were, which He had also said to some of His opponents earlier in this Gospel.

How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?23 

Jesus only sought the Father’s glory. He had also said: The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.24

Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.25

Jesus emphatically stated that those who keep His word, meaning the whole of Jesus’ message, will not die. He was not saying that those who believe will not experience physical death, but rather that they will not experience spiritual death, eternal condemnation. He made this clear later in this Gospel when He said to Martha, I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.26

Those listening to Him took His words literally.

The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?”27

His Jewish listeners were convinced that their earlier statements about Jesus were now proven, for in their eyes only someone who had a demon could say such things. Abraham, the father of the Jewish people and the father of faith, had died, as had all the prophets who were sent from God to Israel. Jesus’ listeners understood Him to be promising eternal life, while only someone with superhuman powers—namely God—was able to deliver someone from death. They asked who Jesus was making Himself out to be—though they knew the answer to this question.

Throughout this Gospel, the religious leaders understood that Jesus spoke in a manner that indicated He was claiming to be God’s Son.

This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.28

The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.”29

The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.”30

Returning to John 8:

Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word.”31

Jesus made the point that He was not glorifying Himself. But that did not mean He didn’t receive glory. He reminded them that His Father is God, and that it was God who glorified Jesus. Since this is the same God that His accusers claimed as their own, and because their “Father” glorified the Son, it would logically follow that they should also glorify the Son. However, since they didn’t, Jesus said you have not known him. This was the third time Jesus had stated that these Jewish leaders didn’t know the Father.

He who sent me is true, and him you do not know.32

You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.33

Unlike them, He does know the Father. He then made another important claim: I keep his word. Because Jesus kept His Father’s word, it is necessary for us to keep Jesus’ word—as Jesus’ word, which gives eternal life, is the Father’s word.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.34

Jesus then returned to speaking of Abraham, whom they claimed was their spiritual father.

“Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.”35 

Rather than being opposed to Jesus, Abraham rejoiced at His “day.” And if he rejoiced and was glad, they should have done likewise. Bible commentators point out that this verse raises some difficult questions. First, what precisely does Jesus mean by “my day”? Second, when did Abraham “rejoice” at the promise of seeing Jesus’ day? Third, when and how did it finally come about that “he saw and was glad”? Rather than going into a variety of interpretations, none of which are certain, I will simply quote what one commentator wrote:

We cannot, however, feel confidence in any of the proposed occasions [the possible event in Abraham’s life which this could be referring to] and it may be significant that Jesus does not refer to any. In other words, he may well mean that Abraham’s general attitude to this day was one of exultation, rather than referring to any one specific occasion in the life of the patriarch.36

So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?”37

Jesus was likely in His thirties, and Abraham had died almost two millennia prior. Those listening to Jesus knew that it was impossible that He could have seen Abraham, therefore they understood this to mean that Jesus was making a claim to pre-existence. Jesus wasn’t making that claim. Rather He was saying that Abraham saw the future (Jesus’ own “day”), and He implied that Abraham still lives (not physically, but in the afterlife). Jesus was not the one who brought up the topic of pre-existence, but since they had, He then addressed it in reference to Himself.

Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”38 

Other Bible translations add in the word born so that it reads “before Abraham was born, I am!”39 This was an explicit statement of Jesus’ pre-existence. The “truly truly” is an expression that adds weight to the veracity of the statement.

Jesus’ use of the phrase I Am was significant. Throughout the Old Testament, God Himself made a number of “I Am” statements.

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”40

“See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.”41

“Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.”42

“You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. I, I am the LORD, and besides me there is no savior.”43

“Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called! I am he; I am the first, and I am the last.”44

When Jesus stated that “before Abraham was born, I am!” those listening knew exactly the point He was making—it was a claim of Deity. Because they considered His claims to be blasphemy, they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.45

When Jesus first went to the Feast of Tabernacles, He went up, not publicly but in private.46 After speaking publicly in the temple throughout the feast, and being faced with stoning because He made a claim to Deity by stating I Am, we are told that in order to avoid being stoned to death for blasphemy, He took defensive measures by hiding and leaving the temple. This brought an end to Jesus’ interactions with the Jewish religious leadership during the Feast of Tabernacles.

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Note

Unless otherwise indicated, all scriptures are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

1 John 8:39–40.

2 John 8:41–42.

3 John 8:43.

4 John 8:23.

5 John 8:42.

6 John 8:44.

7 John 8:16.

8 John 8:18.

9 John 8:28.

10 John 8:45.

11 John 8:46–47.

12 John 3:3.

13 John 1:13.

14 John 8:42.

15 John 8:48.

16 John 4:9.

17 2 Kings 17:24–41.

18 John 4:22.

19 John 8:49.

20 John 5:23.

21 John 8:41.

22 John 8:50.

23 John 5:44.

24 John 7:18.

25 John 8:51.

26 John 11:25–26.

27 John 8:52–53.

28 John 5:18.

29 John 10:33.

30 John 19:7.

31 John 8:54–55.

32 John 7:28.

33 John 8:19.

34 John 1:1.

35 John 8:56.

36 Morris, The Gospel According to John, 419.

37 John 8:57.

38 John 8:58.

39 John 8:58 NIV.

40 Exodus 3:14.

41 Deuteronomy 32:39.

42 Isaiah 41:4.

43 Isaiah 43:10–11.

44 Isaiah 48:12.

45 John 8:59.

46 John 7:10.

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