By: C!…
I’m sure you would like to see your church reach those who don’t know Jesus in your community and beyond.
Outreach has three parts:
(1) Evangelism: telling others about Jesus
- Some people have the gift of evangelist (about 10% of most congregations).
- Most of us do not have the gift.
- Nowhere in the Bible does it say that everyone should do evangelism.
- The Bible calls us to be witnesses (Acts 1:8).
- A witness is like being an eyewitness.
- This is like telling your God stories. Matthew 13: the disciples asked Jesus “Why do you tell stories (parables)?”
- Jesus explained to the disciples that they had been with Him and understood much about the Kingdom of God. But for new people, He told stories (parables) to “nudge them to receptive insight” (The Message version of the Bible).
- You have hundreds of God stories. You just need to learn to share them when you know that a person is receptive—open to hearing what you have to say.
- You can start changing your friends at church, in your Bible study, or your whole church, simply by starting every small group meeting with the question, “What is God doing in your life?” What they share is God stories.
- When they get used to sharing God stories, they will start sharing them with unchurched people in their social networks.
(2) Beyond evangelism, the other part of outreach is discipling. That is growing others in the faith and Christian service.
(3) The third part of outreach is sending: going out beyond your immediate circle of friends. This is when you are a witness to people beyond those in your church.
Share what God is doing in your life. It is more productive than inviting non-Christians to church.
After you have shared your faith and they have shown some interest and you have discipled them, then, when they’re interested, bring them to church.
Kent Hunter, founder of Church Doctor Ministries, is known as the Church Doctor. His most recent e-books are The Future Is Now and The J-Dog Journey, available at no cost. Contact him at (800) 626-8515, by email, Twitter, Facebook, or visit www.churchdoctor.org.
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