Evangelism and Spiritual Warfare, Mentor's Guide, MG08

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E V A N G E L I S M A N D S P I R I T U A L W A R F A R E

The Bible is a book of analogies and metaphors, all of which “image forth” the truth and provide us with meaning through concrete pictures. One of the more graphic pictures of ministry is viewing those whom we lead to the Lord as our spiritual children, our offspring, our newborns. Placing new believers in this analogy provides us with loads of concrete insight into the nature of ministry. If evangelism is conception and birth, then follow-up and incorporation is raising your children in the Lord. It would be entirely irresponsible to go around and, for the sheer pleasure of sexual intercourse and fruitful abundance, have as many children as we could with no thought of parenting the offspring that was conceived. While it only requires genetics to be a father, it takes commitment and love to become a daddy, and patience and perseverance to become a grandpa. Paul envisioned himself as a parent, a papa, a daddy who was raising his children in the Lord, feeding them, disciplining them, strengthening them, and nurturing them. His kindly exhortation and encouragement to the young Thessalonian believers was like a father exhorting and encouraging his own children. What a wonderful picture of the kind of affection, care, and protection our evangelism should lead to. Evangelism without nurture is loving the pleasure of conception and running away from the responsibility of delivery, infancy, childhood, and child rearing. No system of evangelism is good that ignores the obvious responsibility to raise your spiritual children in the Lord. If you enjoy birth, you are responsible for growth. There is no way around it.

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After reciting and/or singing the Nicene Creed (located in the Appendix), pray the following prayer: Faithful God, you formed your Church from the despised of the earth and showed them mercy, that they might proclaim your salvation to all. Strengthen those whom you choose today, that they may faithfully endure all trials by which you conform your Church to the cross of Christ.

Nicene Creed and Prayer

~ Presbyterian Church (USA). Book of Common Worship . Louisville, KY: Westminister/John Knox Press, 1993. p. 103.