Joe Aldrich on Ineffective Forms of Evangelism
May 29, 2008
This post is for any pastor that has found a way to make every passage in the Bible evangelistic and worthy of an invitation. This post is for the preacher who needs all five stanzas of the invitation to convince someone in his congregation that he or she has doubts about their salvation and needs to be saved. Don’t get me wrong, I want to see churches grow by conversion, but I just don’t believe in the idea of a plateaued church, “adding to their numbers daily those who are being saved” (Acts 2) when they have no visitors and no desire to see the gospel go beyond the walls of their church.
Joe Aldrich further elaborates on ineffective forms of evangelism:
“Some churches fail to grow because they do not evangelize, others fail to grow because they do - but in outmoded, ineffective forms. For many, evangelism is what the pastor does on Sunday morning as he throws the lure over the pulpit, hoping some fish in the stain-glass aquarium will bite. The layman’s job is simply to herd fish within the reach of the big fisherman. Week after week the pastor evangelizes the evangelized. His people will grow weak on a diet of evangelistic sermons…” (from introduction to Aldrich’s Lifestyle Evangelism).
The word “Go” in the Great Commission phrase, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” is an imperative. If you have not been trained in personal evangelism, visit Evangelism.net and EvanTell.org for more information on how you can be connected to the life-changing Great Commission through proven evangelism tools and training.
Dr. Haddon W. Robinson on Relationships with Non-Christians
May 27, 2008
It has been said that it does not take new believers very long to distance themselves from their non-Christian friends and neighbors after their salvation experience. What a tremendous witnessing opportunity he or she is missing as a result of the misguided influence of self-righteous Christians. Are we supposed to be “set apart” and pursue holiness to the extreme that we miss the opportunity to tell of the same grace by which we were saved? No! By all means, convince a new believer that they are a missionary to those in their lives that are lost. Encourage them to take the Good News of their salvation to their friends, neighbors, and colleagues. Remind them to “make the most of every opportunity” (Col. 4:5). Realize that a new believer is instantly qualified for evangelism. He can share his testimony of the trust he is placing in Christ for his salvation. Or he can tell of the security he has of knowing that he will spend eternity in heaven.
Relationships with non-Christians should be maintained regardless of the amount of effort it may take. According to Dr. Haddon W. Robinson:
“Making a place in your life for non-Christian neighbors demands effort, thought, and at times risk. Bridges are harder to construct than walls. But that doesn’t alter this reality: Outsiders to faith are first drawn to Christians and then to Christ. Unfortunately, not all Christians attract. Like a turned magnet, some repel. Yet Christians, alive to God, loving, caring, laughing, sharing, involved at the point of people’s needs, present an undeniable witness for Christ in their society” (from the foreword of Aldrich’s “Lifestyle Evangelism”).
God may use your relationship with that person to draw your friend to Himself. God may use you to share the gospel with your friend. If He did provide that opportunity, would you be prepared? If not, visit Evangelism.net and EvanTell.org for resources and training to help you overcome any obstacles that would render you ineffective if an opportunity to share the gospel comes your way.
Acts 2 DNA: NewSpring Church - South Carolina
May 20, 2008
One of my favorite passages of Scripture is found in the Book of Acts, specifically the closing portion of chapter two that describes the beginning of the first church, just after Pentecost:
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer…All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
Very rarely do churches today enjoy the favor of all the people in their community. In fact, it is quite often the opposite of favor. High profile Christians have made certain that we are known more today for what we are against than what we are for and that is sad.
There are however churches today that I believe have Acts 2 DNA. They are committed to sound biblical teaching, fellowship, worship, prayer, meeting needs and evangelism.
One church in South Carolina provides inspiration to me that churches in 2008 can still “enjoy the favor of all the people.” Perry Noble, Tony Morgan, and the community-minded congregation of NewSpring Church in Anderson, South Carolina, give testimony of a church that has returned to the first century church model to be relevant in the 21st century. Check out the following video giving glory to the God of This City (Tomlin):
How Will You Respond to the Myanmar Tragedy?
May 11, 2008
Join EvanTell and respond to the desperate situation in Myanmar. Reports confirm that the junta government of Myanmar is turning back aid workers in spite of the growing food, water and humanitarian crisis of its people. We are resolved to help our brothers and sisters on the ground in Myanmar who desperately want to bring relief and the gospel to those in need.
EvanTell has 67 indigenous partners that are certified evangelism trainers in Myanmar who we’ve worked with for the past six years. These trusted Christian partners need your financial support to get directly involved in relief efforts and to activate the 16,513 other believers they’ve already trained in evangelism. They are already engaged in relief efforts in their local areas. They are trusted partners who are sharing the gospel as part of the relief they provide.
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