A challenge for the church is to continually reach out. It’s too easy, even lazy, to perpetually take in. Our calls to take stands can indicate merely standing still. It is often the nature of Christ to call his people to the outside of the camp where wear and tear are defined.
If we are fundamentally the church only when we are inside the building, we tend to lose the real heart for life. We dumb down to winning arguments and choosing sides. When we hit the streets the life of Jesus buried in our hearts has a place of fulfillment….sharing. Too many believers may not be believers. They may be habitual attenders hoping this life-after-death thing turns out to be true.
When we enter our buildings to fulfill the attendance-chart religion, our faith basically has nowhere to go except back home ‘til the next appointed time. But when our faith has a place to go---which is outward---then fulfillment of faith is natural. Our hearts are built for expression of our Living God. Just as cars are not built for showrooms, but for carrying passengers, our hearts are not built to register at the door but to carry the good news of Jesus to common, normal acquaintances.
We fear this isn’t true and that no one out there really wants to know. But they do. I was as shocked as anyone when I discovered this, but be encouraged, people want to know about Him. Go out and see people. Move out and sow seed. If you haven’t gotten our newest 100% Natural Evangelism DVDs to show in your classes, you may want to obtain a copy because they are the real deal. They inspire members that they can move out effectively; one of the things they always dreamed about, but feared they could not accomplish.
The darker the times, the brighter the Christ. We live in the perfect moment. I urge you to discard the rote religion of intake without output. This leads to stagnation with certain frustration. Keep trying to move out where the risks, and the unknowns, and the mysteries are. It will scare you but how exciting to find God will be with you.
4 comments:
thanks Terry for a meaningful post. I sent you a copy of an e-mail I sent to a lot of people. combined your march 3 post and this one. hope all is well, God Bless, Jim Cooke
How can we get the 100% Natural Evangelism DVDs? You need to know how important your blog encourages us to keep on running...
Email me at trush@memorialdrive.org and I'll give you details regarding the DVDs.
Basically the set contains four segments forty minutes each for classes and small groups...$39.99 for the set.
spot on as usual, my friend! God Bless
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