Evangelism

 Jesus, Missional  No Responses »
Jul 192007
 

In the scripture, the word evangelism means “communicating or announcing good news”.

Evangelism in our church culture has become a program, an event, a church leadership position, or an activity to pacify our religious guilt to absolve us from TRULY investing in relationships and friendships.

Evangelism is simply getting close enough to people to journey through life with them for the purpose of sharing the truth, reality, grace, love and message of Jesus Christ.

I recently read Rick Richardson’s Re-Imagining Evangelism.  He emphasizes that much of evangelism in our current church culture has been reduced to “closing the deal on a sales call”. 

Before I go further, let me assure you that I DO BELIEVE that evangelism is more than a “warm fuzzy” friendship with someone and that we do have to “cross the line” at some point and actually verbally share the truth of scripture.  I do believe, however, we must wrestle with the tough reality that there are a multitude of approaches to communicate the good news in a society of multitudes of different people.

Here are few changes in paradigm that he recommends for a refreshing approach to evangelism:

  • We are travel guides vs Salespeople:  We need to be willing to roll our sleeves up with people and journey in friendship with them rather than hand them a tract or verbally “dump” truth on them so we can sleep better at night.
  • Collaboration vs Activism:  How exciting would it be to be aware of where God is already at work rather than taking the role of an activist!  Evangelism can be an adventure rather than a burden.
  • Community vs Individual:  The responsibility of evangelism is everyone’s responsibility but biblically it is more effective in the context of “community”.  This means the local church as a community reflects Christ as a whole.  People are often “belonging” to the local church community even before they are “believing” in Christ.
  • Friendship vs Agenda:  The old evangelism is focused on downloading our content and closing the deal.  The new paradiam challenges us to truly engage in authentic friendship with people that matter to God.  This challenges me to examine my heart and determine to love people with no strings attached.  Am I willing to be someone’s friend whether or not they come to my church or believe the same as I do?
  • Story vs. Dogma:  We will do well to learn to tell “the story of God” and transition to how the “meta-narrative” of God transitions to our “personal story” of life transformation through Jesus.  We must introduce people to Jesus first before we shape their theology.
  • The “outside-the-box” Jesus vs the “cliche” Jesus:  The Jesus of modern culture often looks very different than the Jesus of the Bible.  We must reflect and communicate the Jesus of scripture rather than the Jesus of “western” or “American” culture.
  • Good News about God’s Kingdom vs good new about afterlife:  This is a personal soapbox for me!  Jesus makes a difference in our life NOW!  Yes, He assures us of an eternal life in Heaven, but He brings the Kingdom of God HERE and makes this life more meaningful, significant, and purposeful.  Jesus even prayed, “your Kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven”.  God cares and impacts our life HERE, NOW!
  • Journey vs Event:  Evangelism in the mission field takes lots of time and is a journey over an event.  It isn’t any different for us now in the United States!  We are the mission field!  We must be willing to dig in, roll our sleeves up build long term relationships with people to share Jesus!  It is a journey rather than an event!

We don’t live in Kansas anymore!  Well, of course, unless you actually live in Kansas!  Anyway, things have changed, we must be willing to grow to share Jesus!

 Posted by at 4:55 pm

What am I counting on?

 Church Planting  No Responses »
Jul 182007
 

Every Monday and/or Tuesday I wait with anticipation on hearing what the dollar amount of our Sunday offering is.  Very often my demeanor and peace of mind is directly impacted based on whether or not our offering is deemed acceptable or not.  If we have a “good” offering I will be full of joy and in a good mood or if we have a “bad” offering I may be a little down or solemn.  Of course if the offering is “good” it is because our people are “getting” it and if the offering is “bad” we simply have to be dependent on God for more.

We are 10 months into this church planting adventure and you would think by now that I would be learning to trust God more on things of this nature.  Shouldn’t I completely trust God daily, weekly and every moment that He knows what is best for me, our staff and CATG?  Why do we question God’s faithfulness when we have a “bad” offering and rejoice in His faithfulness when we have a “good” offering? 

I have a few friends that have taken the leap into the church planting world and they are writing their ministry plans and considering budgets.  They will get bent out of shape sometimes about where the money will come from for their new church.  I tell them with utmost confidence not to worry about it because God is in control!  “He will provide for every need that you have.”  I tell them.  “Simply focus on people, share the vision with as many people as possible, and God will provide!”  I will even give them a scripture to drive home my point. 

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

HA!  HA!  Sounds great doesn’t it!  I am such a hypocrite!  I can preach it!  I can shout it, but to tell you the truth, I am scared to death each and every week and often count our success according to our own performance and those that journey with us. 

The truth is:

  • God is faithful each and every moment regardless of our offering and regardless of our circumstances.
  • God’s goodness and faithfulness should never be measured according to OUR standards.
  • My response should be to depend on Him and trust Him in such a way that transcends my circumstances and the circumstances of our church plant. 
  • I can trust Him and can COUNT ON HIM!

Whether it is a church planting adventure, a business, your children, your marriage, your soberness, your health, your faith, your salvation or your sanity, what or WHOM are you counting on? 

 Posted by at 11:40 am

Monday Mind Dump!

 Community, Random Thoughts  No Responses »
Jul 162007
 

Although it seems as if I can’t remember much about last week, I think it was one of my busiest weeks in a long time.  It made for a weak week of blogging.  So here goes more catching up:

  • Please pray for my friends Seth and Leslie Wallace.  Leslie had colon surgery on Friday morning at Northeast GA hospital in Gainesville.  The prognosis is great right now, but she obviously wants to heal and go home to continue recovery.  Seth served with me on staff at my first church, Concord Baptist in Clermont, GA and we have been friends since.  He is one of the smartest people I know.  (Please don’t tell him I said that, he might get a BIG head!)  He has always challenged me to think and to grow in my theology.  We also have a lot of fun talking about gadgets and Starbucks!  It is amazing how we can keep track of people’s journey through the internet and blogging.  Check out Seth’s blog and Leslie’s blog and you can get a peek in how they are dealing with cancer and how it impacts their faith.
  • Brian Batterton is a teenager that went to Mississippi with us and he had major surgery on Friday evening.  He is doing well but needs prayer for continued healing.  He has a great family.  I so appreciate Bob, Dena and Bridgett! 
  • Steve Williams is one of my best friends in life.  I can be stressed out and simply talking to him for a few minutes can help me get perspective and refocus my trust on God.  His twin brother Scott is fighting cancer and needs prayer. 
  • Yesterday was another awesome day at CATG!  God continues to take our gatherings to new levels in regard to worship and community! 
  • David Odom and Amanda celebrate their anniversary today!  Dave O has big plans!  I wonder what they will do with Noah.  Plan to call them this evening while they are out to congratulate them.  Just kidding.
  • We HAVE TO STEP UP with our strategic ministry teams for this fall to accommodate the growth at CATG.  We need more set up and breakdown people, more greeters, more ushers, more parking lot people and more people serving with our children!  I am praying for many more people because I believe that God will bring people that need Jesus in direct proportion to our ability to accommodate them!  JUMP IN!
  • We have baptism this Sunday night at the home of Marty and Julie Carr.  It will be 6-8pm at their home.  Bring food and we will provide drinks.  Marty and Julie are servants of Christ.  They are always willing to do anything asked!
  • Our student ministry community group is growing!  They meet on Wednesday nights at 6:30pm.  Nathan Boyd and Katelyn Acuff are awesome and they lead the group each week.  If you have a 6th grader through 12th grader make sure you get them to our church office on Wednesday nights.
  • My heart aches for the people in this community that have yet to follow Christ!  The journey we began over two years ago that culminated in launching CATG last September is JUST BEGINNING!  We need to reach this community with the message and love of Jesus.  Get out of your house this week and talk with a neighbor!  Go ahead, walk across the street and start a discussion.
  • Check out Craig’s blog on friendship and slow down long enough to simply BE with people!
  • Invite someone to our gathering this Sunday!
 Posted by at 10:07 am

Why get Baptized?

 Bible, Church, Jesus  1 Response »
Jul 122007
 

Here are a few scriptural references that explain why we baptize. 

1.   What is Baptism?

Baptism is the act of a Christ Follower who wants to publicly confess their commitment to Jesus Christ.  It is the symbolic WASHING AWAY of one’s old, sinful past and RISING again to life in God’s grace. The act of baptism is an outward expression of an inward decision. 

2.  What does Baptism mean?

Baptism illustrates Jesus’ BURAL & RESURRECTION. “Christ died for our sins… He was buried… and He rose again.”~ 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. Baptism illustrates NEW LIFE as a Christian. “BY our baptism then, we were buried with Him and shared His death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead…so we also may live a NEW LIFE.” ~ Romans 6:4. Baptism does not make you Christ Follower. It is a demonstration that you already have turned to follow Christ. It is important to understand that baptism does not “save” you. You are “saved” only by your faith in Jesus. 

3. Why do we get baptized?

To follow the example set by CHRIST. Because Christ COMMANDED it. “… Jesus came from

Nazareth and was baptized by John in the river.” ~ Mark 1:9. “Jesus said, ‘go then, to all people everywhere and make them my disciples, baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son , and the Holy Spirit…” ~Matthew 28:19-20. 

4. When is a good time to get baptized? 

As soon as you turn to Follow Christ. There is no reason to delay. As soon as you have decided to trust Christ with your life, you can and should be baptized. If you’re waiting until you’re perfect, you’ll never be ready. “Those who believe… were baptized… that day!” ~Acts 8:35-38. 

5. Why do we do it by immersion?

 This is the example set by Christ according to the greek wording.  The Greek word “baptizo” comes from a textile word meaning to “dip” a piece of cloth into a dye to completely change the color.  In scripture, baptism was always by complete immersion (completely going under water) and it was only those who had already turned to follow Christ.  It symbolizes our death to our old life and being raised to walk in our new life in Christ, thus being lowered into the water is scripturally accurate to this symbolic picture.

 Posted by at 12:26 pm
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