This is What Ministry is All About

Tonight we’re going to do something a little different.

            You may remember last week I preached about the purpose of the church being ministry—

to be a community of people who love others as we love ourselves

to love your neighbor by caring enough to minister to their needs. 

            Tonight I want to take a closer look at the ministry of Gray’s Chapel FWB church. I want to do this in 3 ways:

            First, I want to look back on a week of ministry during VBS. We’ll look at a slide presentation of photos from the week. Then I’ll ask a few folks to tell us about the ministry that went on during this week.

            Then I want to introduce you to a way you can minister to lost and unchurched people in the next few weeks which is called Operation Andrew.

            Then I want to observe an ordinance that celebrates the fruit of our ministry in a baptismal service.            

            First, let’s watch the slide show.

            Now I wonder who would like to share with us very briefly about the ministry that went on during VBS last week?

            Now I want to introduce you to a way each and every one of you can practice the ministry of the church in the next few weeks. It’s called Operation Andrew, and it’s based on John 1:35-42.

            In this passage, a man named Andrew is introduced to Jesus by John the Baptist by the announcement Behold the Lamb of God! Andrew and another man follow Jesus to where He is staying, and stayed with Him the rest of the day.

            But early the next morning Andrew goes running off to find his brother Simon, a fellow fisherman. Notice again what Andrew says to Peter in vs. 41 We have found the Messiah!

            Andrew couldn’t keep the news to himself. He has to go and share Christ with somebody else. But he goes further in vs. 42.

            This is why we call this campaign Operation Andrew. The goal is to bring people to where Jesus is—first to believe in Him as Savior, and then to commit themselves to Him as Lord. We want to bring people into fellowship with the  Lord and fellowship with His church. So how do we go about doing this?

            Everybody should have a copy of this form in their hands. Let me explain how it works.

            You fill out the form and invite them. Remember: the focus is not on folks who go to church, but on folks who do not currently go to church. No sheep stealing, please.

We make it a point to pray over each person and family. We make sure the week before Aug 10 they get a letter and phone call from the church.

Then, we plan on Aug. 10 to go all out to welcome all of the visitors who come---greet them at the door, feed them a meal. I preach a message on why they need Jesus, and why they should consider coming to church. Then we trust God for the harvest of souls.

The plan is simple. Anybody can come up with 5 names of people they know who don’t come to church. Statistics say 82% of the people you invite will come. The only question is: will you be a part of this ministry of the church?

Now let’s celebrate the fruit of the ministry of our church with a baptism.

Benediction:

Eph 3:20-21 20Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.