Can Discipleship and Evangelism Coexist? Jordan & Ernest Easley

GA Baptist Discipleship

In this episode: Dr. Ernest Easley earned a bachelor’s degree from Dallas Baptist University, master’s from SWBTS, and doctoral degree from Luther Rice. Ernest served over 31 years as senior pastor and his impact among Southern Baptists is immeasurable. His voice of reason and wisdom brought confidence and peace helping to make decisions that strengthened the Southern Baptist Convention. Ernest was the first professor of Evangelism in school history at Union University in Jackson, TN and is now the teaching pastor at FBC Cleveland where his son Jordan pastors. Jordan Easley is Senior Pastor of First Baptist Cleveland, TN after serving with some of the country’s most influential ministries including Long Hollow Baptist Church (David Landrith), Second Baptist Houston (Ed Young), First Baptist Atlanta (Charles Stanley) and Prestonwood Baptist Church (Jack Graham). He earned his bachelor’s degree at Dallas Baptist University and is concluding his master’s degree at Union University. He is an author, national speaker, and most recently he co-authored Resuscitating Evangelism with Earnest Easley. Ernest shares: • what it is like now serving alongside his son and pastor, Jordan • on the national level there is a great concern about the decline of evangelism across the SBC (40+ years) • when the decline of evangelism and baptism began • the destructive temptation of tying your identity as a leader to what you do rather than who you are in Christ • talks about the critical role of the Holy Spirit in making disciples through the local church • fleshes out the principle of Strategy + Synergy + Systematic=Success • speaks a word to bi-vocational pastors Jordan shares: • talks about sharing the gospel with OJ Simpson in an airport • about the importance of having wisdom around you when making decisions • Talks about their new book Resuscitating Evangelism and how evangelism and discipleship are necessary • explains the concept of giving “an anemic gospel presentation” from the book • talks about the need for leaders being able to close the sermon • unpacks the discipleship strategy at First Cleveland Scott shares: • how FBC Haughton added 1800 members in 10 years and why they failed to grow in years 6-10. • that the older he gets the better he was • that unhealthy churches with a lack of disciple making presence is the unpaid bill of the 20th century • how healthy churches multiply disciples, groups, and churches