10 ways the internet is changing evangelism and missions: “Have you thought about how the internet is changing missions?

John Edmiston certainly has. In an article at the Lausanne World Pulse, he lists 10 ways the internet is changing evangelism and missions. It’s clear from his

There was a great session at the 2007 Internet Ministry Conference that
dealt with this very idea of understanding evangelism. Robby Richardson
led a session called, “ReThinking Evangelism.” I encourage you to
listen to this session. It is a discussion of this category of ministry
and it is really helpful.

Everyone seems to have a slightly different perspective on what it means to “do ministry.” For the sake of clarity I am going to begin to lay out the basis for ministry that we are using to understand what online ministry looks like. It really all starts with Jesus. He left us a perfect example of how to do ministry effectively.

Back in first century Jewish culture, Jesus taught utilizing a system referred to as the Rabbi-Talmid system. This meant that a Rabbi or teacher would choose those disciples that he felt had both the potential and the commitment to learn the his ways.

I like to think of this as the next step in the education process of young Jewish men. Up to this point, they had already gone through years of education. So this was a type of secondary education, if you will. Typically the best and the brightest were chosen to move on to this next level of learning.

After being chosen, a disciple had certain goals that were expected from him from the Rabbi.

Begin to understand and interpret scriptures in the same way as the Rabbi
Apply the lessons taught by the Rabbi to their life
Interact with others in a similar way as the Rabbi
Eventually become the “Disciple Maker” or Rabbi
The second category of ministry that we want to look at is Evangelism. It’s also the fourth goal of the disciple that we talked about in an earlier post.Jesus had a lot to say about becoming the “disciple maker” and inviting people into relationship with Himself.Most people will turn first to Matthew 28:19-20:
Matthew 28-19-20 – “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Known to many as the Great Commission, this command given by Jesus at the end of the book of Matthew really defines what is expected of us in relation to evangelism.

It was Jesus’ way of saying, “Now it’s your turn…” As you live life, invite people to come into relationship with Jesus as you have opportunity. Then be sure take the new follower on as your disciple teaching them to imitate what you are doing as you imitate the example Jesus lived.

Based on this command from Jesus, I would break out my understanding of evangelism into two parts…

1. “go and make disciples of all nations”
- as you live your life, both online and offline, be inviting people into relationship with Jesus at every opportunity

2. “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you”
- Assist them as they begin to grow in that new relationship with Jesus

Everyone seems to have a slightly different perspective on what it means to “do ministry.” For the sake of clarity I am going to begin to lay out the basis for ministry that we are using to understand what online ministry looks like. It really all starts with Jesus. He left us a perfect example of how to do ministry effectively.