This month we will highlight the Spiritual Discipline of witnessing. Let’s begin with two passages of Scripture that speak directly to this discipline. Matthew 28:19 states, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…”.  Acts 1:8 states, “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.” Taken together, Jesus gives us a clear mandate to share the good news of Christ’s reign, rule, and redemption as part of the Kingdom of God. Whitney offers us a definition of evangelism. He states, “[E]vangelism is presenting Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit to sinful people, in order that they may come to put their trust in God through Him, to receive Him as their Savior, and to serve Him as their King in the fellowship of His church (Whitney, 120).

Whitney’s definition is fairly comprehensive. Whitney argues that evangelism is expected (120), evangelism is empowered (Whitney, 122), and evangelism is a discipline (127). That evangelism is expected and empowered are readily seen in the passages in Matthew and Acts. As a follower of Jesus, we must take Christ’s charge to us to make disciples seriously. Christ has given us the power through the Spirit to live out, and carry this good news to others. We simply have to “testify” of the life change Jesus has brought to our life and be salt and light in the world. Spiritual Disciplines according to Whitney are ”things you do” (Whitney, 6). James would simply say, “Faith, without works, is dead” (James 2:17). The practice of the Spiritual Disciplines are an indicator of our growth in spiritual maturity. Each healthy member of the body of Christ, contributes to the overall health of the church through the Spirit.