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Jesus makes it clear that He has a mission for the world. Jesus said to them again, 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, even so I am sending you.' John 20:21 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 1:8 If witness to the world is so important, why does it end up being one of the scariest acts for Christians, and especially Lutherans, to share their faith? There is a way to look at this fear. Think of the industri- al revolution. As more factories popped up and prod- ucts were being pushed into the market, there was a problem. Creating unique products slowed down the manufacturing process. Time was money, so speed was primary as it became obvious that faster production would create more profit. Interchangeable parts and the assembly line were created so factories could vastly increase their speed of manufacturing. Products flew off the assembly line and into the hands of consumers. It is easy to view witness as a process of interchange- able parts and assembly lines. All one has to do is get the right information, apply it at the right moment, and then out comes a new Christian. Then, simply repeat the process over again. But what if the wrong part is put in at the wrong time or place? Will the process be completely fouled by one Christian who, in trying to tell someone about Jesus, doesn't have the right answer for the exact right moment? Fear of failure overtakes the process. Fear of looking like an idiot in front of friends, neighbors, or co-work- ers halts any kind of witness. Even worse, it equates people to machines that only need the right part or leverage added by the right person to bring them into faith. Rather than being souls longing for hope, people become tallies on the spreadsheet of a strange "witnessing industry." But what if witness was viewed like the work of a local artisan or craftsperson? There is no need to mass pro- duce; rather, the goal is to walk with a person through life. Witness, then, isn't about mass production, but is instead about a connection to a person. So what would this kind of "bespoke witness" look like? I'm glad you asked. It always leads with prayer, like the personal prayer, "Lord, who needs Your hope today?" Asking for God to push you in the right direction, to connect you with the people He needs you to witness to. It is a prayer that doesn't live in fear. It is a prayer of anticipation and ex- pectation that the Lord will work as He promised. Want to get uncomfortable? At a place you frequent (coffee shop, PTA, grocery store, etc.), ask someone how you can pray for him or her. If the person declines, don't worry. But if the person shares a request with you, follow up with that person later. Stop worrying about numbers. Yes, God is calling you to share hope wherever you go. But you are not an assembly line; you are a craftsperson. While you should still feel the urgency of sharing Jesus, stop worrying about pushing as many people through as possible. In- stead, focus on the people with whom you already have contact in your given vocations. Invest time with them. Actions are the front line of witness. Is there someone who God keeps putting in your way? Find out how to care for and then serve that person. Love that neighbor as yourself. Your actions are not for yourself; they are for the love of your neighbor. Defend your hope. Peter writes that we should have a defense (explanation) for the hope within us (1 Peter 3:15). That defense isn't a logical argument about how you are right, though—it is sharing what Jesus has done for you. It is sharing what your Baptism means to you. It is inviting someone to come to church to see firsthand the Body of Christ in community. It is saying the words "Jesus came to die for you." Stop trying to "assembly line" your witness, and start looking for one person. Begin there, and the Holy Spirit will do His work through Jesus' words. w Discipleship doesn't have to be difficult. Find a new outlook on discipleship, simply trusting, seeking, and following Christ. Gather a group together and learn how to become disciples through your head, heart, hands, and the Holy Spirit. Find this title and others listed in this magazine at cph.org/llresources. WALKING TOGETHER: SIMPLE STEPS FOR DISCIPLESHIP Lutheran Life 9

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