Reaching Our Community
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Reaching Our community
Reaching Our community
KJV 1900
KJV 1900
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
The mall in Independence Mo.
Used to be the place to go
The entire community shopped there
Busy and full parking lot
Left to go away to college and work for 15 years
The mall was on its last legs - 50% of the stores were closed
Two years later it was bulldozed over for a development
What happened - shopping patterns changed , the community changed and the mall just stayed the same with over priced speciality stores that did not know the community in which they resided.
People used to come because it was the mall. The mall used to meed a need for consumer products that need is still there but the methods of purchase and items demanded by the community have changed.
Now the are is thriving with a Super Walmart, Target and Costco
The Church
People moved into an area they would look for a church - now not even a thought
Parents desired their to attend a Sunday school - what is Sunday school?
Church would have revivals and the community would attend- now only other believers from other churches visit
VBS they would just come - now an concentrated effort is required to educate the community on what VBS actually is
The culture and the community would attend - the community and the culture has changed
some fight change many don't like the changes in the culture and the only place they can go and feel at home is the church and ts just like the 70’s and has not changed at all except the sized of the church and the average age. That is idolatry worshiping the methods and means of the past . In a bubble
Evangelism used to be low hanging fruit from door to door or walk-ins
Every year more than 4000 churches close their doors
10,000 chuch
Every year, 2.7 million church members fall into inactivity. This translates into the realization that people are leaving the church
The United States now ranks third (3rd) following China and India in the number of people who are not professing Christians; in other words, the U.S. is becoming an ever increasing "un-reached people group."
What we hear as responses from most of our church leaders are the excuses of "cultural decay" and "changing values" and that "the average American views the church with little regard."
Some even go as far as to despise the community they reside in “what wrong with those people”
If we just did church they way we did 30 years ago........
We must reach our community in Fair view, Mill Creek, Erie and West County and Eastern,OH
If that's not enough even members dint attend like they used to:
They are more mobile.
They are more affluent.
They are more mobile.They are more affluent.They have more options.They consider church optional.They have not been challenged.They are likely not active in a small group.
They have more options.
They consider church optional.
They have not been challenged.
They are likely not active in a small group.
We as a church exist to make a difference in our community, proclaiming the Gospel by:
We as a church exist to make a difference in our community, proclaiming the Gospel by:
· Worshiping the Lord
· Praying Corporately
· Growing in Grace
· Reaching Our Community
Giving of Our Resources
We must fall on their faces before God and ask Him to Walnut Creek Baptist with an evangelistic passion. When evangelism dies as a priority in the church, the church has already begun to die.
Most growth in churches is from transfers, not conversions.
93-94% of churches are not effectively evangelistic.
Churches have lost their intentionality in evangelism.
Evangelism is falling off the radar for many churches.
Churches that are intentional about evangelism are evangelistic churches.
Evangelism is often the least natural ministry in many churches.
If there is not explicit intentionality about evangelism, it will wane in a church.
Evangelism is not the sole responsibility of the pastor and church staff.
If we depend on a single evangelistic event, we abdicate our daily evangelistic responsibility.
Don’t think of evangelism as a once-a-year church event.
We should be highly intentional and prayerful about connecting with unbelievers.
The most effective evangelistic churches have two main characteristics: obedience and prayer.
Evangelism is dying.
Reaching our Community Requires
Reaching our Community Requires
I A Conviction that Salvation is for Everybody
I A Conviction that Salvation is for Everybody
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Romans 10:
No difference between Jew and Greek
Because Christ is the only way of salvation.
There is no way around it.
Salvation is exclusive. There is only one way. Jesus could not have made it clearer in
Because Christ is the only way of salvation. There is no way around it. Salvation is exclusive. There is only one way. Jesus could not have made it clearer in : “Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” Jesus had an urgent message. He had an exclusive message. We must be conveyors of that narrowly-defined hope.
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Jesus had an urgent message.
He had an exclusive message.
: “Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” Jesus had an urgent message. He had an exclusive message. We must be conveyors of that narrowly-defined hope.
We must be conveyors of that narrowly-defined hope.
Because Christ died for the world.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
jio There is a reason is the most familiar and most quoted verse in the history of humanity. Jesus died for the world. He is the only way, but He has provided a way for everyone. That is a message that is urgent and worth telling. Indeed it’s the greatest message ever.
There is a reason is the most familiar and most quoted verse in the history of humanity. Jesus died for the world.
He is the only way, but He has provided a way for everyone.
That is a message that is urgent and worth telling. Indeed it’s the greatest message ever.
Because Christ commanded it. We typically refer to the Great Commission of as our evangelistic and disciples-making command. But there are many other places in the New Testament where the priority of evangelism is clearly evident. Christ commanded it. We must do it.
Reaching our Community Requires
Reaching our Community Requires
II Knowledge of the Community
II Knowledge of the Community
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
II Know Your Community
Romans 10.
Do we know our community .
Look what Paul said as he walked through Athens.
16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. 17 Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him. 18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection. 19 And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is? 20 For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. 21 (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)
Acts 17.16-21
Race
Race
Blood Drives
Community service
Too many churches resent their communities and do not even have one relationship in the community they reside.
Teens - children
Then get to know their parent
Paul spent three years at Ephesus
s
31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
In Athens he roamed the streets and got to know the unknown God of their culture.
In Corinth he saw the heathen God they were up against.
He did not just sit in the Synagogue or the home church
16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.
acts 17.16
illustration - worked as a lay person in the business world. I know what you are up against.
Reaching our Community Requires
Reaching our Community Requires
III The Building of Relationships
III The Building of Relationships
III Build Relationships
III Build Relationships
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Churches tend to obsess inwardly when they fail to move outwardly.
How much of our time is outward focused
How much of our time is focused on inward drama of who got offended in what ministry. Which our community gets ignored
We have to earn the right to be heard.
We as a church family must have access to our community and daily exchanges with our community
Township boards
Helping those in need
People won't care how much you know until they know how much you care.
Paul stayed and got to know they communities he started churches in
the Jews however never ventured outside they walls of the synagogue to visit the dirty gentiles.
Reaching our Community Requires
Reaching our Community Requires
IV Shareing the Truth Without Compromise
IV Shareing the Truth Without Compromise
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
One Side - entertain them until they like us;
The other side if they are called are chosen they will come. They not really saved unless they are like us
Gimmicks and worldly entertainment to trick people to come to church will not work.
It comes off as disingenuous and offensive
People are not prospects they are families with problems
The message is there is a God that has a plan for for them
God loves them
They are sinners
Jesus paid the price for our sin
They will spend eternity in either heaven or hell!
They don't need an academic lecture on predestination or a cool band to make them feel comfortable.
They need to be loved and convicted of their sin.\
We as a church exist to make a difference in our community, proclaiming the Gospel by:
· Worshiping the Lord
· Praying Corporately
· Growing in Grace
· Reaching Our Community
Giving of Our Resources
VI Stop Inward Focus Where has a lot of your church’s energy been expended lately? Rancorous business meetings? Expressions of petty church preferences? Worship wars? Power struggles? Those are inward obsessions. Lead your church to an evangelistic priority and watch the focus shift for the better.
Because churches tend to obsess inwardly when they fail to move outwardly. Where has a lot of your church’s energy been expended lately? Rancorous business meetings? Expressions of petty church preferences? Worship wars? Power struggles? Those are inward obsessions. Lead your church to an evangelistic priority and watch the focus shift for the better.
Because churches become content and complacent with transfer growth. Some churches are growing. Others are adding members without significant numerical growth. But many in both categories are growing at the expense of other churches. Some may be reaching unchurched Christians. That’s good, but that’s not evangelism. We can fool ourselves into thinking we are evangelistic when we are simply recirculating the saints.
Because evangelistic Christians actually grow stronger as better discipled Christians. Those who are evangelistic are obedient to Christ. Being obedient to Christ means that we are following His teachings and becoming a better fruit-bearing disciple.
Most churches are busy with activities, programs, and ministries. Few churches are truly sending out their members to evangelize those in their communities. The Great Commission has fast become the Great Omission.
Evangelism is dying.
Churches are dying.
People are going to hell without Christ.
It is perhaps the greatest tragedy today.
What are you doing to lead your church to become more evangelistic?
Evangelism is dying in many churches today.
Most growth in churches is from transfers, not conversions.
93-94% of churches are not effectively evangelistic.
Churches have lost their intentionality in evangelism.
Evangelism is falling off the radar for many churches.
Churches that are intentional about evangelism are evangelistic churches.
Evangelism is often the least natural ministry in many churches.
If there is not explicit intentionality about evangelism, it will wane in a church.
Evangelism is not the sole responsibility of the pastor and church staff.
If we depend on a single evangelistic event, we abdicate our daily evangelistic responsibility.
Don’t think of evangelism as a once-a-year church event.
We should be highly intentional and prayerful about connecting with unbelievers.
The most effective evangelistic churches have two main characteristics: obedience and prayer.
Evangelism is dying.