{"id":31142,"date":"2022-09-10T15:18:33","date_gmt":"2022-09-10T20:18:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/3-ways-to-create-excitement-for-evangelism-in-your-church\/"},"modified":"2022-09-10T15:18:33","modified_gmt":"2022-09-10T20:18:33","slug":"3-ways-to-create-excitement-for-evangelism-in-your-church","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/3-ways-to-create-excitement-for-evangelism-in-your-church\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Ways to Create Excitement for Evangelism in Your Church"},"content":{"rendered":"
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fizkes photo – Getty<\/div>\n

By Ben Mandrell<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cPastor, we need you to announce this from the pulpit.\u201d<\/p>\n

I wish I had a nickel for every time I heard that. Staff and lay leaders are constantly handing their pastor a note and saying, \u201cCould you give this a quick plug?\u201d<\/p>\n

Why do they do this? Because they\u2019ve learned that the enthusiastic support of the pastor is the most effective way to get a church to take action toward any initiative.<\/p>\n

The pastor is uniquely able to \u201cpreach the announcement,\u201d challenging people to sign up and get in the game.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s simply the way it is.<\/p>\n

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When it comes to evangelism, the same rule applies. The congregation will never be more stirred to share the gospel than their pastor.<\/p>\n

The congregation will never be more stirred to share the gospel than their pastor. \u2014 @BenMandrell Click To Tweet <\/p>\n

Paul told Timothy: \u201cKeep your attention on Jesus Christ as risen from the dead\u2026 (2 Timothy 2:8).\u201d Then he went on to say, \u201cDo the work of an evangelist\u201d (4:8).<\/p>\n

Why would Paul waste ink on such obvious appeals? Did Timothy lack common sense? I don\u2019t think so.<\/p>\n

Paul had seen firsthand how people quickly move beyond the gospel to lesser things.<\/p>\n

In a recent meeting I attended with International Mission Board President Paul Chitwood, he said, \u201cWhen the Great Commission is not the lead topic of conversation \u2026 other topics usually end up dividing us.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s paramount that we keep the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus the driving force of our churches.<\/p>\n

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Lifeway Research reported that less than half (45%) of churchgoers say they had shared the gospel with someone in the past six months.<\/p>\n

And those 65 and older were the age demographic most likely to say they had no evangelistic conversations recently (62%).<\/p>\n

I suspect those numbers have worsened given the stay-at-home season we\u2019ve endured.<\/p>\n

We must refocus our churches on the work of evangelism. In light of these sobering statistics, here are three ways to get your church excited for evangelism:<\/p>\n

1. Keep Jesus at the center of your preaching.  <\/strong><\/h3>\n

I was recently invited to fill in for a pastor on a Sunday morning. I preached from a classic Old Testament passage related to faith.<\/p>\n

I walked through the text, set the context, explained its meaning, and tried to bring modern application.<\/p>\n

When I was walking to my car after church I felt the Holy Spirit say, \u201cYou never used the name of Jesus.\u201d I sat down in my vehicle and tried to rehearse the message, recalling a moment when I explicitly shared the gospel.<\/p>\n

Perhaps I had \u201ctied it in\u201d during the closing prayer?<\/p>\n

Most pastors can feel my pain. Preachers know how tempting it is to do the work of the ministry without doing much with His Name. The person of Jesus Christ easily becomes a sidebar to our sermons.<\/p>\n

If your church has lost a passion for sharing Christ, it\u2019s time to examine yourself and consider where you\u2019ve gotten off track. If it can happen to Timothy, it can happen to any of us.<\/p>\n

2. Challenge people to pursue a cross-cultural friendship. <\/strong><\/h3>\n

The \u201cWho\u2019s Your One\u201d challenge is an incredible, practical place to start.<\/p>\n

Birds of a feather flock together, and Christians must be challenged to \u201csee\u201d people who are far from God\u2014whether it\u2019s the neighbor across the street or the barista who serves your daily latte at the coffee shop. Start with one.<\/p>\n

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See also  What Churches Must Do to Reach Gen Z<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The work of leading an organization, ministry, or church can easily overshadow a commitment to personal evangelism.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a current example from my own life: As I write these words, a family from India is moving into the house next door. Finishing this post feels<\/em> more important than walking across the street and offering a basket of food. I\u2019ve got a deadline, after all.<\/p>\n

Life will always provide a fresh reason to push off the work of evangelism. It\u2019s never going to feel convenient. The intentionality required to embody a welcoming spirit and share the gospel will force us to turn off the \u201ccruise control\u201d of our day-to-day lives.<\/p>\n

As a church leader, you must keep your heart warm toward the lost, building relationships and telling stories of your personal attempts to spread the gospel. The flock will follow your lead and share in your passion.<\/p>\n

3. Create outreach opportunities for your church. <\/strong><\/h3>\n

In this COVID-19 season, it\u2019s easy to hunker down and ride it out. While you have to be careful and wise in your interactions with others, there are ways to get your people engaged in outreach. Help them think beyond the walls of the church.<\/p>\n

I recently received a text message from a church planter friend whose wife is a public-school teacher. He asks for prayer because the teaching experience is so draining in this season of on-again, off-again education.<\/p>\n

Teachers everywhere are coasting on fumes. What if your church adopted a school? What if people started showering the teachers and staff with cookies and cards?<\/p>\n

These acts of kindness will help develop their heart for the mission.<\/p>\n

Police officers, medical professionals, and other frontline heroes have never been more exhausted. Get creative. Lead your church to take action\u2014to tangibly show the love of Christ.<\/p>\n

These experiences will not only ignite your church for evangelism, they will refresh your commitment to make disciples\u2014the ones who don\u2019t darken the doors of your church.<\/p>\n

Evangelistic drift is real, and it\u2019s dangerous. And it can happen to any of us\u2014whether you stand at a podium or sit in a pew on Sundays. \u2014 @BenMandrell Click To Tweet <\/p>\n

Evangelistic drift is real, and it\u2019s dangerous. And it can happen to any of us\u2014whether you stand at a podium or sit in a pew on Sundays. We certainly should recommit ourselves to evangelism.<\/p>\n

But we must first deepen our personal discipleship. The amount of time spent with Christ often has a direct relationship with how likely a person is to share their faith with others.<\/p>\n

And remember this: God has specifically stationed you where you are to draw His people into a lifetime excitement for evangelism. Don\u2019t miss these critical opportunities that have eternal impact.<\/p>\n

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Ben Mandrell<\/h2>\n

@BenMandrell<\/p>\n

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Ben is the president and CEO of Lifeway Christian Resources. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n