Beyond the Bubble
If the previous article was about the internal life of a disciple—prayer and the Word—this one is about going external. It’s about turning that inward growth into outward action. Because while it’s nice to stay in our Christian bubbles, sipping fair-trade coffee and quoting C.S. Lewis, Jesus had other plans. Big, bold, often uncomfortable ones.
That transformation—the shift from internal devotion to external mission—naturally leads us to the next part of discipleship: sharing our faith. Yep, that scary thought. Sharing your faith can feel awkward, intimidating, and downright terrifying. But it’s also the natural next step of following Jesus. The good news of Jesus isn’t meant to stay bottled up.
A Disciple Consistently Witnesses to Others: Not Just for the Extroverts
Luke 19:10 (ESV) gives us Jesus’ mission in one sentence: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” If we are His disciples, shouldn’t our mission mirror His? Jesus didn’t come just to gather crowds or preach good sermons. He came to pursue people who were far from God. And He invites us to do the same.
But let’s be real. Witnessing is hard. It feels risky. What if we say the wrong thing? What if we get rejected? What if we look like that person on the street corner with the bullhorn? The struggle is real.
Still, witnessing isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence. It’s about being willing to share your story—your real, messy, unfinished story—with someone else. Because your story, when surrendered to God, becomes a megaphone for grace.
The Great Commission: It’s Not Optional
That same mindset—that witnessing isn’t about having it all figured out but being willing to step out—leads us right into one of the most foundational mandates of the Christian life. We don’t have to guess at our purpose or wonder if we’re qualified. Jesus spelled it out plainly.
Jesus was clear. In Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV), He said: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” and again in Mark 16:15-18 (ESV): “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” That’s not a suggestion. It’s a command.
And the wild thing? He didn’t say it just to pastors or missionaries. He said it to all of us. As Richard Rogers once said, “We are all commanded, compelled, and assigned to go make disciples of all nations.” Every believer is on mission. Every follower of Jesus is also a messenger.
Making It Part of Everyday Life
Witnessing doesn’t have to be an event with a sign-up sheet. I remember once chatting with a worker at a book store who simply asked about what brought me into the store. That turned into a short but powerful conversation about hope—and all I did was show up and listen. It can be woven into your everyday routines: a kind word at work, an invitation to church, a willingness to listen, a moment of vulnerability that opens the door to deeper conversation.
It starts small. And like anything else, it gets easier with practice. A disciple witnesses regularly and consistently—not because they have all the answers, but because they know the Answer.
What Would Change?
Imagine if every Christian truly took up the call to witness. What would your workplace look like? Your neighborhood? Your city? The outcome wouldn’t just be more converts—it would be more compassion, more conversations, and more people walking in hope.
So let’s keep it simple: stay connected to God in prayer, stay rooted in the Word, and don’t keep the good news to yourself. Discipleship is more than learning; it’s about living. And sometimes, that means sharing your faith over coffee, with shaking hands and a trusting heart.
It’s okay to be nervous. Just don’t let that stop you. After all, Jesus is with us always, even to the end of the age.
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