Making Heaven Crowded

We are called to evangelize

Over the next serval weeks leading up to our 21 days of hope challenge. It’s a digital journey that will show you just how easy it is to evangelize to your family and friends. More and more people come to my office and ask:

Pastor, what is my purpose or calling?

And the answer is simple: tO invite people into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, but here’s the kicker. It used to be get me believe what you beleive then invite me to church. That isn’t the culture around us anymore.

New statistics tell us that:

People want a place to belong before they are willing to believe.

This is why inviting people to church is more important now than it has ever been. The reality is

Growth isn’t about numbers it’s about souls

Last week we broke the 100 person ceiling. For the first time since I’ve been here on a normal Sunday we had 108 people in this church. Why is this exciting? Because the more we populate the church the more crowded heaven will be.

After Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection the women were making their way to Jesus’ tomb. When they got there there was an angel of the Lord waiting to give them two point of instruction.

Matthew 28:6–7 ESV

6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.”

Come and see—which if you’re in the church you already have that command down, but then Go and tell.

I’ve heard Pastor’s say that their church is the best kept secret in the town and it breaks my heart. If we keep the miracles that happen at this church a secret we are doing heaven a great diservice.

Jesus wants you to Go and Tell

We are casting what is going to be called the 10% vision. Through my studies there are about 110,000 people in a 30 miles radios of this church. I believe God is asking us to reach 1,100 people. I get that we are building a 1000 seat sanctuary, but I also understand that not everyone shows up to church at the same time on the same Sunday.

10% vision

I had a company do a demographic study of that 110,000 people there are 5,881 households (average 4 people a household) that would fit a church culture like our church. That’s 23,524 people that need an evangelical forward thinking church like ours that has vision ,excitement, and is family friendly.

Our goal this year is to reach

300 people, 100 new salvations.

But Pastor that’s impossible. Realistically if each of us get 2 people to come to church we’ve reached that number. And statistically speaking everyone of us know more than two people who don’t call upon Jesus as Lord and Savior.

How do we evangelize?

Acts 16:25–34 ESV

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.

Paul and Silas didn’t have a mission on their heart, but they had praise on their lips.

We lose our desire to witness when we lose grip on our relationship with God

Ultimately I know people’s marriages are in trouble by how they don’t talk about their spouse. When people first get married everyone else gets tired of hearing about the marriage, but as time progressess and comfort and familiarity sets in people talk less and less about their marriage and more and more about their struggles. Tha’t’s when I start to see people “fall out of love.’ The same is true with their relationship with God.

If you want to keep your relationship with God feeling like the first day of salvation than you must live a life glorifying his name and doing that will cause people to ask questions. All Paul and Silas did was praise God where they were at. God showed up and the jailer and his family were saved. When you truly carry around the power and presence of Holy Spirit people will take notice.

Freedom is not a means of escape, however, it’s an opportunity to witness.

What it requires is

Care about others more than yourself

Maximize what God is doing in your life and in your church

Use your testimony to share with other people

This guard was on the verge of killing himself. He had given up. How many of us know people who have given up spiritually or physically? They need purpose in their life?

People need a come and see moment

People are tired of a powerless religion they want to see what a powerful relaitonship can do.

They may not be ready for a miracle in their life yet, but they may be ready to join you in the miracle that is happening in your life. If you can get them to come and see that miracle than it will ready their faith to believe in a miracle for themselves.

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Make disciples—bring people to Jesus-Bring people to church, we can get them baptized, then we must take time and teach them how to expect and receive their miracles.

So what are our next steps”

Pray-Be intentional about who you invite to church. Ask for Holy Spirit to guide you. Continue to pray for them by name. Declare salvation over their lives. Ask God to soften their hearts.

Commit in this next month and half prior to Easter to invite 5 people to church. The 21 days of hope challenge will help with that. It’ll give you started texts. It’ll give you conversation starters.

Then Pursue them- follow up.

Because here’s your message

Jesus, died for your sins. He died to take your grief and turn it into joy. He died on the cross so he could take our bandage and give us freedom. God desires you to live and abundant life. Not a life marked with sorrow and pain, but with joy and peace. The reality is that your situation doesn’t have to determine your peace. Knowing God will take care of your will determine your peace. Paul and silas, although