What you'll learn
This topic examines how Christians understand their calling to follow Jesus Christ and share their faith with others. The CIE IGCSE Religious Studies syllabus requires detailed knowledge of what it means to be a disciple, the different approaches to mission work, and the methods Christians use to evangelise. Exam questions regularly test your ability to explain these concepts, evaluate their effectiveness, and assess how different Christian traditions approach outreach.
Key terms and definitions
Discipleship — the practice of following Jesus Christ's teachings and example in daily life, involving prayer, worship, service and moral living based on biblical principles.
Mission — the organised effort by Christians to carry out Christ's Great Commission, typically involving spreading the Gospel, establishing churches, and serving communities both locally and internationally.
Evangelism — the active proclamation of the Christian Gospel message with the intention of converting others to faith in Jesus Christ.
The Great Commission — Jesus's command in Matthew 28:19-20 to "go and make disciples of all nations," which forms the biblical foundation for Christian mission work.
Witness — demonstrating Christian faith through words and actions, serving as a living example of Christian values to inspire others.
Conversion — the process of turning to faith in Christ, involving repentance from sin and acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Saviour.
Social action — practical efforts to address poverty, injustice and suffering as an expression of Christian love and mission.
Apologetics — the rational defence and explanation of Christian beliefs to persuade non-believers of Christianity's truth claims.
Core concepts
Biblical foundations of discipleship
The concept of discipleship originates in the New Testament, where Jesus called twelve apostles to follow him and learn from his teaching. The Gospel accounts show disciples leaving their occupations (Matthew 4:18-22) to accompany Jesus, observe his ministry, and eventually continue his work after the resurrection.
Jesus outlined the cost of discipleship in passages such as Luke 14:27: "Whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." This indicates that discipleship requires:
- Self-sacrifice and willingness to suffer for faith
- Prioritising spiritual commitment over worldly concerns
- Ongoing study of scripture and prayer
- Participation in Christian community and worship
- Moral transformation according to Christ's teaching
The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) provides core ethical teaching for disciples, including the Beatitudes, instructions on prayer (the Lord's Prayer), and calls to love enemies and avoid judgment. Modern Christians interpret discipleship as applying these principles in contemporary contexts, whether in family life, work, or social relationships.
The Great Commission and mission
Mission work stems directly from Jesus's final instruction to his disciples in Matthew 28:19-20. This passage commands Christians to make disciples of all nations, baptising them and teaching them to obey Christ's commands. Different Christian denominations interpret this mandate in varying ways:
Evangelical Protestant approach: Emphasises direct evangelism and personal conversion. Organisations like the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association conduct large-scale rallies and media campaigns to proclaim the Gospel message. Alpha courses run in churches worldwide use discussion-based sessions to introduce non-believers to Christian faith.
Catholic approach: Combines evangelisation with sacramental life and social teaching. Catholic mission has historically involved establishing schools, hospitals and social services alongside churches. Organisations like CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development) integrate proclamation of faith with development work.
Orthodox approach: Focuses on preserving apostolic tradition and liturgical worship. Mission often involves establishing Orthodox communities among diaspora populations while maintaining connection to ancient practices.
Liberal Protestant approach: Emphasises social justice and dialogue with other faiths. The World Council of Churches promotes mission as partnership rather than conversion-focused evangelism.
Methods of evangelism
Christians employ diverse strategies to share their faith, each with theological justifications and practical applications:
Personal evangelism involves one-to-one conversations where Christians share testimony about their faith experience. This approach follows the example of Jesus with the Samaritan woman (John 4) and Philip with the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26-40). Training programmes like Evangelism Explosion teach Christians to present the Gospel message systematically in personal encounters.
Mass evangelism uses large gatherings to preach to crowds. Billy Graham's crusades exemplified this approach, drawing millions worldwide. Modern equivalents include festivals like Soul Survivor in the UK, which combines worship, teaching and evangelistic appeals for young people.
Lifestyle evangelism emphasises living according to Christian values as witness to faith. 1 Peter 3:15 instructs believers to "always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." This approach assumes that authentic Christian living prompts questions from non-believers.
Media evangelism exploits modern communication technologies. Christian television networks, radio programmes, websites and social media platforms reach global audiences. The Bible Project creates animated videos explaining biblical books, while evangelists maintain active YouTube channels and podcasts.
Literature distribution has historically played a crucial role. Gideons International places Bibles in hotels and hospitals. Tract distribution involves giving out leaflets explaining the Gospel message, though this method has declined in Western contexts.
Mission in practice: case studies
Street Pastors operates in over 300 UK towns and cities, with volunteers from multiple churches patrolling streets during night-time hours. They provide practical help to vulnerable people, care for those affected by alcohol, and work with police and local authorities. This initiative exemplifies mission through presence and service rather than direct proclamation.
Tearfund combines Christian witness with development work in over 50 countries. Projects address poverty through sustainable agriculture, clean water provision, and disaster relief. Staff explicitly identify as Christian but focus on practical service, seeing this as embodying the Gospel message.
Missionary Aviation Fellowship provides aviation services to remote areas, enabling medical care, emergency relief and church support in regions without road infrastructure. Pilots and engineers view their technical skills as expressing Christian service.
Missionaries overseas traditionally moved from Western countries to Africa, Asia and Latin America to establish churches and convert populations. Contemporary mission increasingly involves partnerships between churches in different countries, with resources and personnel flowing in multiple directions. Some missionaries focus on unreached people groups who have minimal Christian presence.
Challenges to mission and evangelism
Modern mission faces significant obstacles and criticisms:
Secularisation in Western societies means many people have minimal religious knowledge or interest. Traditional evangelistic approaches often fail to connect with post-Christian populations.
Religious pluralism raises questions about whether Christians should seek to convert people from other faiths. Interfaith dialogue movements emphasise cooperation and mutual understanding rather than conversion.
Historical legacy of colonialism complicates mission work. Critics argue that historical missionaries destroyed indigenous cultures and supported imperial projects. Modern missionaries must address this problematic heritage.
Syncretism occurs when Christian teaching blends with local religious practices, creating hybrid forms that differ from orthodox Christianity. Missionaries must decide how to respond to cultural adaptation of Christian faith.
Persecution of Christians in some countries makes evangelism dangerous or illegal. Open Doors monitors restrictions on Christian witness and supports believers facing opposition.
Social action as mission
Many Christians understand mission to include addressing material needs and injustices. This approach finds biblical warrant in Jesus's concern for the poor, healing ministry, and teaching that service to "the least of these" constitutes service to Christ (Matthew 25:31-46).
Integral mission views evangelism and social action as inseparable. The Lausanne Movement's Micah Declaration states that proclamation and demonstration of the Gospel both constitute mission. Christian relief organisations like World Vision provide humanitarian aid while maintaining Christian identity.
Liberation theology interprets the Gospel as demanding justice for the oppressed. Emerging from Latin America, this approach emphasises structural change to address poverty and inequality as central to Christian mission.
Campaigning organisations like the Jubilee Debt Campaign combine Christian motivation with advocacy for policy changes on issues like international debt relief and climate justice.
Worked examples
Example 1: Part (a) question
Question: Describe Christian teaching about discipleship. [6 marks]
Model answer:
Discipleship means following Jesus Christ as Lord and learning from his teaching and example. The New Testament shows Jesus calling disciples such as Peter and Andrew, commanding them to leave their fishing nets and follow him (Matthew 4:19).
Christian teaching emphasises that discipleship requires self-sacrifice, as Jesus stated: "Whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:27). This means being willing to face suffering or hardship for faith.
Disciples are expected to study scripture, pray regularly, participate in worship, and live according to Christian moral teaching. The Sermon on the Mount provides key ethical guidance including loving enemies and avoiding judgment.
Discipleship also involves sharing faith with others, as Jesus commissioned his followers to "make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19). Modern Christians express discipleship through church involvement, charitable service, and applying biblical principles in daily decisions.
Example 2: Part (b) question
Question: Explain why Christians engage in mission work. [8 marks]
Model answer:
Christians undertake mission because of Jesus's Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20, where he commanded disciples to "go and make disciples of all nations." This direct instruction from Christ creates an obligation for believers to spread the Gospel message.
Christians believe people need to hear about Jesus to receive salvation. As Acts 4:12 states, "Salvation is found in no one else," making evangelism essential for others' eternal destiny. This motivates evangelistic campaigns and missionary work in areas with limited Christian presence.
Mission also expresses Christian love and compassion. Jesus demonstrated concern for people's physical and spiritual needs through healing and teaching. Christians follow this example through medical missions, education projects, and development work that address poverty and suffering.
Additionally, Christians believe the Gospel transforms individuals and societies. Mission work aims to bring about positive change through conversion, moral reformation, and establishment of churches that serve communities. Historical examples include missionaries establishing schools and hospitals alongside evangelism.
Some Christians engage in mission as response to God's love. Having experienced forgiveness and new life through faith, they desire others to know the same transformation. This personal motivation combines with theological conviction about obeying Christ's commands.
Example 3: Part (c) question
Question: "Social action is more important than evangelism." Discuss this statement, showing you have considered different points of view. You must refer to Christianity in your answer. [12 marks]
Model answer:
Some Christians would agree because Jesus showed great concern for the poor and suffering. His ministry included healing the sick and feeding the hungry, not just preaching. Matthew 25:31-46 suggests that serving "the least of these" through practical care constitutes serving Christ himself, making social action central to Christian faith.
Liberation theology emphasises that the Gospel demands justice for the oppressed. Proponents argue that addressing structural poverty and inequality fulfils God's purposes better than individual conversion without social transformation. Christian organisations like CAFOD demonstrate faith through development projects that improve lives, which may be more persuasive than verbal proclamation.
Social action also meets immediate needs in ways that evangelism cannot. Providing clean water, medical care, or disaster relief helps people regardless of their beliefs, reflecting Christian love without coercion. This approach avoids accusations that evangelism manipulates vulnerable people or destroys indigenous cultures.
However, many Christians would disagree, arguing that evangelism addresses eternal spiritual needs which outweigh temporary physical concerns. Jesus stated "what good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?" (Mark 8:36), suggesting spiritual salvation has ultimate importance. From this perspective, failing to evangelise leaves people without opportunity for eternal life.
Evangelical Christians emphasise the Great Commission's command to make disciples and proclaim the Gospel. They argue that changed hearts through conversion naturally lead to transformed behaviour and communities, making evangelism the foundation for lasting social improvement.
A balanced view recognises that integral mission combines both elements. The Lausanne Movement teaches that proclamation and demonstration of the Gospel both constitute Christian mission. James 2:14-17 argues that faith without works is dead, suggesting authentic Christianity requires both verbal witness and practical service.
In conclusion, most Christians would reject the either/or framing, instead seeing evangelism and social action as complementary expressions of mission that together fulfil Christ's teaching and example.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Mistake: Treating discipleship, mission and evangelism as identical concepts. Correction: Discipleship refers to following Christ personally; mission is the broader activity of spreading Christianity; evangelism specifically means proclaiming the Gospel for conversion. Demonstrate understanding of these distinct but related concepts.
Mistake: Describing only historical missionary activity without contemporary examples. Correction: Include modern organisations and approaches such as Street Pastors, Alpha courses, and media evangelism to show mission continues in adapted forms.
Mistake: Presenting mission as uniquely Christian when discussing part (c) evaluation questions. Correction: Acknowledge that other religions also engage in outreach and conversion efforts, but explain distinctively Christian motivations rooted in the Great Commission and salvation theology.
Mistake: Ignoring criticisms of evangelism and mission work. Correction: Address concerns about cultural imperialism, manipulation of vulnerable populations, and the problematic colonial legacy to demonstrate balanced understanding required for higher-level marks.
Mistake: Quoting biblical passages without explaining their relevance. Correction: Always explain how scriptural quotations support your point about discipleship or mission, showing understanding rather than mere memorisation.
Mistake: Failing to distinguish between different Christian denominational approaches. Correction: Recognise that evangelicals, Catholics, and liberal Protestants interpret mission differently, and explain these variations where relevant to demonstrate sophisticated knowledge.
Exam technique for Christian discipleship, mission and evangelism
Command word awareness: "Describe" questions (6 marks) require factual accounts of Christian teaching or practice without evaluation. "Explain" questions (8 marks) need reasons and causes, using "because" and "this means that" constructions. "Discuss" questions (12 marks) demand arguments for and against with explicit evaluation.
Structure for evaluation questions: Present arguments supporting the statement (3-4 marks), then arguments against (3-4 marks), with biblical references and examples throughout. Conclude with reasoned judgment (2-3 marks). The conclusion can support either position or argue for a middle ground, provided it's justified.
Biblical references add credibility: Learn 4-5 key passages such as Matthew 28:19-20 (Great Commission), Luke 14:27 (cost of discipleship), Matthew 25:31-46 (serving the least), and Acts 4:12 (salvation through Christ). Quote accurately or paraphrase with references.
Contemporary examples demonstrate application: Examiners reward specific named organisations (Alpha, Street Pastors, Tearfund, CAFOD) and real practices rather than vague generalisations about "Christians helping people." This shows genuine understanding of how theological concepts translate into action.
Quick revision summary
Christian discipleship involves following Jesus's teaching and example through prayer, worship, moral living and service. Mission encompasses all efforts to spread Christianity, rooted in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). Evangelism specifically aims to convert non-believers through personal witness, mass events, media, or lifestyle example. Christians justify mission through biblical commands, belief in salvation through Christ alone, and desire to express love practically. Contemporary approaches include direct proclamation (Alpha courses, crusades), social action (Tearfund, CAFOD), and presence-based witness (Street Pastors). Debates continue about balancing evangelism with social justice, respecting other faiths, and addressing mission's colonial legacy.