We drastically overestimate what we can accomplish in one year and underestimate what God will accomplish in five.
Most of us enter ministry driven by a desire to spread the joy we’ve found in Jesus. We have audacious, God-sized dreams of what God can and will do. Even if we experience some initial success, we inevitably are confronted with the ups and downs of ministry. The slowness of reaching those far from God. The patience required to shepherd people toward maturity in Jesus.
Our natural bent is to measure our effectiveness in evangelism and discipleship weekly through the number of people showing up or responding in Sunday gatherings. Such a shortsighted perspective will erode and eventually demolish our joy.
We become blind to the pace of God’s work around us. Jesus constantly compares God’s kingdom to farming and the slow work of tilling, planting, watering, and waiting for the seed to grow, bear fruit, and multiply. Rushing out to the field day after day to check on the growth and measure the fruit will crush our souls. (Not that measuring progress isn’t important, we just need the right perspective and measures. But that’s an article for another day.)
Our short-term thinking also leads us to become increasingly rooted in our effectiveness: our sermon, our leadership, our services, or our first impressions. Anxiety and depression are inevitable, no matter how gifted we may be. We’ll never measure up, never accomplish enough. Our gospel joy will be sucked dry and – the ironic part – our effectiveness will be undermined as well. Why?
Gospel joy inspires others
Our world is consumed with anxiety today, and nothing is more distinct and compelling than a joyful, non-anxious presence. When we root our joy for evangelism and discipleship in God’s presence and promises, we discover a confident peace in our mission. In a world frenzied with the fear and frustrations of the moment, a non-anxious presence showing and telling Jesus’ love inspires others to follow Him.
Those who don’t know Jesus will be captivated by a life not tossed by every wind of the latest news cycle. They will recognize something better, even if they can’t name it. And as your gospel joy overflows into praise for God in everyday conversation (Luke 6:45), they’ll clearly hear the truth: Jesus is the only hope for true and lasting joy.
People in the pews will be challenged by this, too. They’ll be encouraged by the steadfast joy of their leaders. They’ll be reminded of the incomparable steadfast love and grace of God. They’ll be compelled to follow Jesus despite their fears.
But what does gospel joy in evangelism and discipleship look like and how do we cultivate it in our own lives?
Gospel joy fuels us
When we experience seasons of decline in worship attendance or giving, when we watch another family leave our church for one with more for their kids, when we disciple someone only to watch them deconstruct their faith seemingly overnight, gospel joy can sustain us.
Gospel joy is rooted in the presence and promises of God, rather than the bodies and budgets of the church.
Gospel joy is rooted in God’s promise that His Word will not return void. He will save some. No matter how feeble our efforts, the gospel is the power of God for salvation!
Gospel joy is rooted in the reality that God’s kingdom is bigger than us. When families move or leave for another church, He will use your investment in them to continue expanding His kingdom work elsewhere.
Gospel joy is rooted in God’s patient work with us (2 Pet. 3:8-11). He will mature and preserve his people, though often not at our pace or by our design.
So how do we cultivate this gospel joy in our evangelism and discipleship?
Take heart in the victory of Jesus
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
These are Jesus’ final instructions to His disciples before He prays for them in the upper room. He gives these even as He is about to watch his disciples scatter and seemingly walk away from the one they left everything to follow (John 16:32). Jesus models what it looks like to take heart, to strengthen our joy in the hope and peace the Lord provides.
Let me suggest three ways to experience gospel joy in evangelism and discipleship.
1. Depend on God’s power and presence (John 17:1-5)
Jesus takes heart in His moment of greatest temptation and distress by radically depending on the Father through prayer. He recognizes the authority and power behind His mission. He remembers His deep need for God to go before Him in the work. And He rests in His unchanging relationship with the Father.
How can you start or expand your habit of missional prayer? What time can you begin to set aside regularly to cultivate a heart of dependence?
TIP: Set 2 or 3 alarms on your phone to remind you to pause and pray. Even if you can’t pray in the moment due to a meeting or such, let the chime alert you to your ongoing need for the Lord in whatever you are seeking to accomplish that day.
2. Devote yourself to pray for specific people (John 17:6-19)
Jesus takes heart on the precipice of despair when all who followed Him would scatter. He doesn’t become frustrated or make excuses but labors for them in prayer. He specifically lifts up His disciples, taking confidence in the fact that they are the Lord’s. He prays for their joyful perseverance, knowing He will soon leave them but His Spirit will continue with them.
TIP: Create a list of people you are praying for. Commit to pray through the membership of your church monthly and key leaders weekly. Identify specific neighbors or community members who don’t know Jesus and pray for them with a regular rhythm as well.
3. Deepen your connection to God’s people (John 17:20-26)
Jesus prays for an essential in our mission: unity with one another. He knows the encouragement and support of God’s people is essential to our joyful perseverance in our walk with Him and our mission for Him. We must pursue what Jesus prayed for us.
Who in your church or beyond can provide mutual ongoing encouragement, support, and accountability in evangelism and discipleship?
In these three ways, our joy is fueled by the victory of Jesus. He has overcome the world, and we can be confident He will produce fruit from our labors. Even in the darkest seasons of ministry, Jesus is at work.
He has won and, in Him, so do we.
Published October 21, 2024