Penn Jillette of Penn & Teller, the Las Vegas magicians, said, “How much must you hate someone to not proselytize someone?” In other words, how much must you hate someone to not try to convince them of something of eternal importance? What makes his question so shocking is that Penn is an atheist.
If an atheist encourages Christians to be disciple-makers, why wouldn’t we listen to Jesus command all the more seriously?
Mark 16:14-15 says, “Afterward he {Jesus} appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. 15 And he said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.'”
This is Jesus’ great commission. He was commanding His followers—His disciples—to go into all the world and preach the gospel. We are to go into all the world and make disciples who make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20).
We know that the call to discipleship will be filled with rejections and adversity, but when we know it is the only hope for the world, how can we not go and deliver the gospel.
Reflect: Read Romans 10:13-17. What is the purpose of Paul’s questions in this passage? What does this teach us about making disciples?
Respond: Who is one person who needs to hear the gospel? Pray for their heart to be opened to the gospel. Pray for an opportunity to share the gospel. Go and share it with them.
We look forward to your comments and questions below!If you want to share this Bible reading plan with friends and family, here is the link:
https://bttb.org/is-christianity-for-you