Saturday, June 27, 2009

Apostolic Way (6) - New Testament Way

Jesus spelt out a very clear strategy for evangelism and church growth.

  • Go where the Holy Spirit is moving
  • Seek the person of peace
  • Get established in a house
  • Heal the sick
  • Preach the gospel
  • Make disciples
  • Establish a Church
  • Train elders
  • Go out again
Jesus gave us a very clear strategy and promised that it would be effective. Unfortunately, for the last 2000 years, Christians have consistently and deliberately refused to adopt it. In fact, the church has consciously done the opposite of what Jesus said. For a long time the goal has been to get people to come to the church to hear the gospel. The problem with this approach is that in many cultures, most non-Christians will not come into a church service.

Even the house church movement has ignored Jesus strategy. Unbelievers are still expected to come to the homes of the church members, which is the opposite of Jesus approach.

Jesus never said we should get people to come; he always said the church should go to where the people are (Matt 28:19; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8). The advantage of the New Testament way outlined here is that the Church goes to where the people live. They will see real hard-core Christianity being lived out in their living room or in the house next door.

Implementing Jesus strategy will require a radical change in the mindset of the church. Unfortunately, other strategies will not be successful.

Jesus was willing to leave a brilliant worship service in heaven and come and live in this doghouse of an earth. He was the prototype apostle. He needs people who will follow his example.

This series of posts are excerpted from my book Being Church Where We Live.

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