Focus on Why You are Sent

Many of us have been taught that evangelism is not merely introducing someone to Jesus, but it is then getting the candidate to the point of accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior and helping them into the waters of baptism. It’s as though we feel an obligation to facilitate and implement some sort of Christian conversion program. In reality, each of us may play a small part in another’s acceptance of Jesus, but their conversion is not our job. I appreciate Paul’s ability to focus on why he was sent. Paul said, “I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power” (1 Cor 1:17 NIV).