I have found over the years that whenever a new members/believers class is announced that there is usually a response. People often come for this class when they wouldn't walk down the aisle or "come forward" as we traditionally practice.
It took me a while in past years to figure out that it is ok if they don't come forward in a church service before new believers or members can join the church. I wasn't sure if you could do it without voting "to receive them as candidates for baptism and upon their baptism into full fellowship of the church". This formality is unnecessary. However, taking new believers/members through spiritual preparation before they join the church is far more effective in producing long term spiritual results.
Announcing a new believers/members class will enable newcomers/guests/new believers to assimilate much more readily into the church and receive the spiritual direction and counselling that they need.
Start a New Members/Believers Class even if you don't need one!
David
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
What is New is Old, and What is Old is New
The things that I am trying in evangelism and missions is not new. It's been around for a long, long time. I am always amused at those who think that some of these methods of ministry that are being introduced are new. They are not.
Opinion Polls for instance:
In the 40's and 50's many evangelistic churches were taking religious surveys in their communities. It was a very successful way to find out who was in their neighborhoods that needed a church home or needed to be saved.
Having 'invitations' at the altar:
Prior to the turn of the last century most churches would never have had an altar call much less an invitation. Spurgeon had the 'inquiry room' where serious inquirers (seekers?) were asked to meet him for further information regarding how they might be saved. But he strongly resisted the altar call.
Having an invitation is a traditional element that is quite new when you consider it only began in the last 100 years. (I have no problem with invitations).
"What is often shocking to many who use the modern invitation system is that the altar call is just that modern. The practice, although widespread, is a very new phenomenon in the Christian church. For nearly nineteen centuries no one had ever heard of the practice. Such well known evangelists as George Whitefield, Jonathan Edwards, and even John Wesley had never even heard of such a custom. And Charles Spurgeon, that passionate winner of souls par excellence, although well acquainted with the practice, firmly refused to adopt it and even criticized it severely.
Ironically, "the old fashioned altar call" was unheard of until the nineteenth century. It first came into being by the influence of Charles Finney, the pioneer of modern evangelistic methods. In Finney's crusades (c. 1830) seats at the front were reserved for those who, after the sermon, would respond to the challenge to come to the Lord's side. Those who were thus "anxious" for their souls were invited to walk forward to the "anxious seat" where counsel and prayer would be given them.
The following quote from Finney's Lectures on Revival explains his view well.
"Preach to him, and at the moment he thinks he is willing to do anything . . . bring him to the test; call on him to do one thing, to make one step that shall identify him with the people of God. . . . If you say to him, "there is the anxious seat, come out and avow your determination to be on the Lord's side," and if he is not willing to do a small thing as that, then he is not willing to do anything for Christ."
The practice was designed to force decisions, to get results. So it did, and with slight variations the new method spread with increasing popularity through Finney and, later, Dwight L. Moody, and finally into virtually all of nineteenth and twentieth century evangelicalism. Peter Cartwright, Sam Jones, R. A. Torrey, Billy Sunday, Bob Jones, Gipsy Smith, Mordacai Ham, John R. Rice, Billy Graham all employed the method with impressive success. The invitation system had come to stay."(by Fred G. Zaspel)
The old is the new and the new is the old.
David
Opinion Polls for instance:
In the 40's and 50's many evangelistic churches were taking religious surveys in their communities. It was a very successful way to find out who was in their neighborhoods that needed a church home or needed to be saved.
Having 'invitations' at the altar:
Prior to the turn of the last century most churches would never have had an altar call much less an invitation. Spurgeon had the 'inquiry room' where serious inquirers (seekers?) were asked to meet him for further information regarding how they might be saved. But he strongly resisted the altar call.
Having an invitation is a traditional element that is quite new when you consider it only began in the last 100 years. (I have no problem with invitations).
"What is often shocking to many who use the modern invitation system is that the altar call is just that modern. The practice, although widespread, is a very new phenomenon in the Christian church. For nearly nineteen centuries no one had ever heard of the practice. Such well known evangelists as George Whitefield, Jonathan Edwards, and even John Wesley had never even heard of such a custom. And Charles Spurgeon, that passionate winner of souls par excellence, although well acquainted with the practice, firmly refused to adopt it and even criticized it severely.
Ironically, "the old fashioned altar call" was unheard of until the nineteenth century. It first came into being by the influence of Charles Finney, the pioneer of modern evangelistic methods. In Finney's crusades (c. 1830) seats at the front were reserved for those who, after the sermon, would respond to the challenge to come to the Lord's side. Those who were thus "anxious" for their souls were invited to walk forward to the "anxious seat" where counsel and prayer would be given them.
The following quote from Finney's Lectures on Revival explains his view well.
"Preach to him, and at the moment he thinks he is willing to do anything . . . bring him to the test; call on him to do one thing, to make one step that shall identify him with the people of God. . . . If you say to him, "there is the anxious seat, come out and avow your determination to be on the Lord's side," and if he is not willing to do a small thing as that, then he is not willing to do anything for Christ."
The practice was designed to force decisions, to get results. So it did, and with slight variations the new method spread with increasing popularity through Finney and, later, Dwight L. Moody, and finally into virtually all of nineteenth and twentieth century evangelicalism. Peter Cartwright, Sam Jones, R. A. Torrey, Billy Sunday, Bob Jones, Gipsy Smith, Mordacai Ham, John R. Rice, Billy Graham all employed the method with impressive success. The invitation system had come to stay."(by Fred G. Zaspel)
The old is the new and the new is the old.
David
Total of 14 saved to date!
God just keeps on blessing! I am amazed at what God is doing. Every week we are seeing folks get saved in their homes or at their doors. Some of these folks have begun to come to our services.
Two weeks ago I left my car for repairs at the Auto-Center and was driven to the office by their shuttle service. I had met the driver before and had learned his name. This time I witnessed to him and he was very ready to receive Christ right there in the car outside of my office. Praise God. He now has a bible (his first) and good discipleship material. Last Saturday night his wife got saved!
People have told me for years. Going to door-to-door just doesn't work anymore. These folks have been misinformed. We are going door to door in a small town where there are churches everywhere. We are confirming the statistics that over 80% of Americans are unchurched. Among these unchurched a staggering number have never been in church or ever held a Bible in their hands. I've given over a dozen bibles away to people just like that.
There's something different about going to a door doing a religious opinion poll. It's not at all like going 'cold turkey'. Using an opinion poll breaks down a lot of barriers that might otherwise be present.
Of course, opinion polls are not the only way to reach out to the Lost. But it is one very effective way that is working for us right now.
David
Two weeks ago I left my car for repairs at the Auto-Center and was driven to the office by their shuttle service. I had met the driver before and had learned his name. This time I witnessed to him and he was very ready to receive Christ right there in the car outside of my office. Praise God. He now has a bible (his first) and good discipleship material. Last Saturday night his wife got saved!
People have told me for years. Going to door-to-door just doesn't work anymore. These folks have been misinformed. We are going door to door in a small town where there are churches everywhere. We are confirming the statistics that over 80% of Americans are unchurched. Among these unchurched a staggering number have never been in church or ever held a Bible in their hands. I've given over a dozen bibles away to people just like that.
There's something different about going to a door doing a religious opinion poll. It's not at all like going 'cold turkey'. Using an opinion poll breaks down a lot of barriers that might otherwise be present.
Of course, opinion polls are not the only way to reach out to the Lost. But it is one very effective way that is working for us right now.
David
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
No Invitation and 4 Come for Baptism
For nearly 40 years I have had the "invitation" after the end of the sermon nearly every time. Some exceptions may have occurred at different times for various reasons. However, last Sunday I felt lead not to have an "invitation". What followed was most refreshing.
When I had finished my sermon I told the folks that there would be no invitation so that no one needed to feel that they would be ambarrassed or too intimidated to walk 'forward'. I explained that the believers present could come to the altar and pray for those that were seeking for answers in their lives. Then I explained how one receives Christ. Then I explained that if someone was saved that they needed to be baptized. But I asked everyone that desired to either be saved or baptized to speak with me after the service. After our dismissal four people (two adults & two children) asked for baptism! These same people had been in church several times in the past several months and heard invitation after invitation. It was interesting to me that they chose this way to make their desire for baptism known.
I am all for invitations and will not cease having them, but I found that this approach opened a door wide open for those who might not have made the decision so easily. I will do it again in the future.
When I had finished my sermon I told the folks that there would be no invitation so that no one needed to feel that they would be ambarrassed or too intimidated to walk 'forward'. I explained that the believers present could come to the altar and pray for those that were seeking for answers in their lives. Then I explained how one receives Christ. Then I explained that if someone was saved that they needed to be baptized. But I asked everyone that desired to either be saved or baptized to speak with me after the service. After our dismissal four people (two adults & two children) asked for baptism! These same people had been in church several times in the past several months and heard invitation after invitation. It was interesting to me that they chose this way to make their desire for baptism known.
I am all for invitations and will not cease having them, but I found that this approach opened a door wide open for those who might not have made the decision so easily. I will do it again in the future.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Momentum
Momentum is what a train has once it leaves the station. It builds speed and then maintains the optimum speed. If it loses that momentum it will take a great deal of acceleration to regain it.
Once a church loses its momentum in ministry it takes a lot longer to regain it. Discouragement can be one of the results of losing momentum, because it takes so much more work to regain it.
The key to maintaining momentum is keeping focused on the task at hand. Sharing Jesus as often as possible to as many as possible with a view for serious and consistent follow-up in discipleship.
Hurrican Ike put the brakes on a lot of ministry here at Greater Heights. But we must continue with a view to regaining all momentum and more.
Easy to say, hard to do.
But it works.
David
Once a church loses its momentum in ministry it takes a lot longer to regain it. Discouragement can be one of the results of losing momentum, because it takes so much more work to regain it.
The key to maintaining momentum is keeping focused on the task at hand. Sharing Jesus as often as possible to as many as possible with a view for serious and consistent follow-up in discipleship.
Hurrican Ike put the brakes on a lot of ministry here at Greater Heights. But we must continue with a view to regaining all momentum and more.
Easy to say, hard to do.
But it works.
David
Friday, September 12, 2008
Hurricane Ike
Well, it looks like Hurricane Ike has created a forced evacuation for us. I will miss going out this week in our outreach efforts.
Pray for our church. Most of the folks have gone to places of refuge and safety.
We'll be posting more soulwinning and church planting articles in the near future.
David
Pray for our church. Most of the folks have gone to places of refuge and safety.
We'll be posting more soulwinning and church planting articles in the near future.
David
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
The Challenge of Follow-Up
Winning people to Christ can actually be easier than the making of a disciple.
But until a new believer is discipled to reproduce himself the work of a discipler is not finished. Winning that person to Christ is only the first step of bringing someone to a meaningful relationship with Christ. That relationship will necessitate producing fruit: another believer.
Once a person is saved the challenge of getting them into the Word and in fellowship with other believers will require many touches (cards, letters, phone calls, personal visits, care, compassion). It will be a great challenge to get them connected. But the must get connected either in church or in a small group. There the new believer should meet acceptance and embracing from everyone in his/her new family; just like a new baby born into the family.
Churches that do evangelism will need to spend quality time in developing discipling teams who will make sure that new believers do not fall through the cracks.
Each believer that wins a person to Christ ought to be made responsible to follow-up and bond with that person they lead to Christ. They are the best ones to start the follow-up.
But it is a challenge that must be met.
David
But until a new believer is discipled to reproduce himself the work of a discipler is not finished. Winning that person to Christ is only the first step of bringing someone to a meaningful relationship with Christ. That relationship will necessitate producing fruit: another believer.
Once a person is saved the challenge of getting them into the Word and in fellowship with other believers will require many touches (cards, letters, phone calls, personal visits, care, compassion). It will be a great challenge to get them connected. But the must get connected either in church or in a small group. There the new believer should meet acceptance and embracing from everyone in his/her new family; just like a new baby born into the family.
Churches that do evangelism will need to spend quality time in developing discipling teams who will make sure that new believers do not fall through the cracks.
Each believer that wins a person to Christ ought to be made responsible to follow-up and bond with that person they lead to Christ. They are the best ones to start the follow-up.
But it is a challenge that must be met.
David
Church Members Can Win People to Christ
Last week was the first week that we saw two saved as a result of our opinion poll outreach. We now have had 13 saved in the last several months. Church members are winning people to Christ!
More of our members are becoming involved in the opinion poll outreach because they have seen their friends and fellow believers rejoicing over souls they were privileged to lead to Christ. It takes a little while but it catches on. They've never seen it this way before and they want some of that joy. The joy of the Lord.
For years the average church has expected their pastors to win people to Christ. But the pastors weren't doing much of that and so seeing people come to Christ has become an unusual experience for everyone except during VBS or Youth Camp. And even then most of those that were saved were children of church members. We call that biological growth.
Pastors, help your people to win people to Christ and see them rejoicing as they bring in the sheaves!
David
More of our members are becoming involved in the opinion poll outreach because they have seen their friends and fellow believers rejoicing over souls they were privileged to lead to Christ. It takes a little while but it catches on. They've never seen it this way before and they want some of that joy. The joy of the Lord.
For years the average church has expected their pastors to win people to Christ. But the pastors weren't doing much of that and so seeing people come to Christ has become an unusual experience for everyone except during VBS or Youth Camp. And even then most of those that were saved were children of church members. We call that biological growth.
Pastors, help your people to win people to Christ and see them rejoicing as they bring in the sheaves!
David
Fruit Producers
John 15:16 "...I appointed you that you should go out and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain,..." (HCSB)
The fruit of a disciple is another disciple. You can't get around it. Those are Jesus' own words. Then Jesus said, "My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples". John 15:8. (HSCB) Producing fruit glorifies the Father and proves that we are disciples of the Lord Jesus.
In the past I have heard the teaching on the "Fruit of the Spirit" emphasized over the fruit of a disciple. This kind of emphasis has overshadowed the very thing that glorifies the Father. I believe that each believer ought to exhibit the fruit of the spirit but not at the expense of producing fruit as a disciple. One fruit is of the disciple, the other fruit is of the Spirit. Which one specifically glorifies the Father?
Let's be fruit producers. Disciples reproducing disciples.
David
The fruit of a disciple is another disciple. You can't get around it. Those are Jesus' own words. Then Jesus said, "My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples". John 15:8. (HSCB) Producing fruit glorifies the Father and proves that we are disciples of the Lord Jesus.
In the past I have heard the teaching on the "Fruit of the Spirit" emphasized over the fruit of a disciple. This kind of emphasis has overshadowed the very thing that glorifies the Father. I believe that each believer ought to exhibit the fruit of the spirit but not at the expense of producing fruit as a disciple. One fruit is of the disciple, the other fruit is of the Spirit. Which one specifically glorifies the Father?
Let's be fruit producers. Disciples reproducing disciples.
David
Friday, September 5, 2008
12 Saved
We now rejoice in 12 saved over the last several months. Last night our follow-up team lead a 16 year old African American girl to the Lord. She had already been contacted in our first outreach through the Opinion Poll. Last night she was ready to be saved. After she prayed to ask for God's forgiveness and receive Christ she asked, "Can I bring my sister to church too?" Praise God for His goodness.
I want you to know we are not bragging but rejoicing! We are not trying to make anyone feel badly by these reports of souls being saved. We are simply rejoicing and want to share it with others.
It is our prayer that many others be encouraged and stirred up to reach out for lost souls around them. They are everywhere. And many are ready to receive Christ.
David
I want you to know we are not bragging but rejoicing! We are not trying to make anyone feel badly by these reports of souls being saved. We are simply rejoicing and want to share it with others.
It is our prayer that many others be encouraged and stirred up to reach out for lost souls around them. They are everywhere. And many are ready to receive Christ.
David
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Starting New Works Needed
So far this year only 2 new churches/missions have been started in the USA. I am now aware of 5 new works globally. Praise God!
However, on the basis of last years church/mission planting we are not moving very well at all. It might pick up towards the Fall and Spring.
Starting new churches/missions is still the best form of evangelism that there is. It gets a lot of fresh activity going for the kingdom of God. Many souls are saved and discipled when new works get started.
We need to get a momentum going for new works! There is an urgency at hand and I'm not sure that this urgency is felt by the mainstream of our work. I pray that starting new works will be high on the agenda of our churches and our associated work for this next year.
David
However, on the basis of last years church/mission planting we are not moving very well at all. It might pick up towards the Fall and Spring.
Starting new churches/missions is still the best form of evangelism that there is. It gets a lot of fresh activity going for the kingdom of God. Many souls are saved and discipled when new works get started.
We need to get a momentum going for new works! There is an urgency at hand and I'm not sure that this urgency is felt by the mainstream of our work. I pray that starting new works will be high on the agenda of our churches and our associated work for this next year.
David
Opinion Poll Survey
50 years ago religious surveys were being used by evangelistic churches. They were successful then and now. The survey has changed in its format but the idea is the same; to make contact with total strangers for the purpose of gathering information that will lead to new prospects for both Sunday School and church.
The "Two Minute Religious Opinion Poll" has been used most successfully by a number of churches and outreach groups over the last several years. We have consistently seen souls saved as a result of this kind of method. It has also produced many good prospects for follow-up.
Our church has been using it for the last several months with great success. We have seen 11 saved and dozens of good prospects as a result of mobilizing our church members to help take the survey.
The benefits of this go far beyond expectations. Church members are encouraged to get involved in the taking of the survey. They learn how to lead people to Christ and discover the joy of seeing souls saved. Then they become involved with the discipleship process. It is a very fruitful outreach ministry.
If you would like to know more please contact us.
David
The "Two Minute Religious Opinion Poll" has been used most successfully by a number of churches and outreach groups over the last several years. We have consistently seen souls saved as a result of this kind of method. It has also produced many good prospects for follow-up.
Our church has been using it for the last several months with great success. We have seen 11 saved and dozens of good prospects as a result of mobilizing our church members to help take the survey.
The benefits of this go far beyond expectations. Church members are encouraged to get involved in the taking of the survey. They learn how to lead people to Christ and discover the joy of seeing souls saved. Then they become involved with the discipleship process. It is a very fruitful outreach ministry.
If you would like to know more please contact us.
David
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