Tearing Down Walls
Outreach is only a starting point for many people on their path to a relationship with Jesus. Our weekend services pick up where outreach ends, providing worship, fellowship, and discipleship opportunities.
The role of community outreach is to persuade people to come to church, where they will have the opportunity to enter into the discipleship process- fulfilling the Great Commission. People within our church must be motivated and equipped to go beyond our four walls and do the persuading – through meeting people's practical needs and illustrating God's love. Many people are skeptical about Christianity and churches. Reaching out to these types of people in a practical and loving way is far more effective than advertisements or general invitation.
Outreach should also be encouraging for our volunteers. This is an essential part of the process for growing disciples and promoting fellowship. Fellowship involves bringing people together around a common purpose. There isn't a more significant cause or life purpose for someone than bringing people into God's eternal family. Our mission of reaching out to the community in love and service, with the ultimate purpose of "Helping people MAKE A MOVE towards REAL life with Jesus†unifies our church. Our church must involve outreach in the common goal of each ministry.
Outreach isn't in terms of Sunday morning. It is answered or defined by what the church should look like in the community and how we are supposed to live the other six days a week.
The natural dynamic of any group is to focus inward. If we exist for nothing greater than ourselves, an isolation mentality can set in. Think about it, if a group of people are asked to hold hands and form a circle the group is always facing inward. We must continually watch for and steer away from that mindset. We cannot isolate ourselves from the community and end up existing for nothing more significant than us.
"I LOVE MY CITY" week is a great opportunity for us to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Love is a verb, let's show our community what that looks like. Let's GO, church!
The role of community outreach is to persuade people to come to church, where they will have the opportunity to enter into the discipleship process- fulfilling the Great Commission. People within our church must be motivated and equipped to go beyond our four walls and do the persuading – through meeting people's practical needs and illustrating God's love. Many people are skeptical about Christianity and churches. Reaching out to these types of people in a practical and loving way is far more effective than advertisements or general invitation.
Outreach should also be encouraging for our volunteers. This is an essential part of the process for growing disciples and promoting fellowship. Fellowship involves bringing people together around a common purpose. There isn't a more significant cause or life purpose for someone than bringing people into God's eternal family. Our mission of reaching out to the community in love and service, with the ultimate purpose of "Helping people MAKE A MOVE towards REAL life with Jesus†unifies our church. Our church must involve outreach in the common goal of each ministry.
Outreach isn't in terms of Sunday morning. It is answered or defined by what the church should look like in the community and how we are supposed to live the other six days a week.
The natural dynamic of any group is to focus inward. If we exist for nothing greater than ourselves, an isolation mentality can set in. Think about it, if a group of people are asked to hold hands and form a circle the group is always facing inward. We must continually watch for and steer away from that mindset. We cannot isolate ourselves from the community and end up existing for nothing more significant than us.
"I LOVE MY CITY" week is a great opportunity for us to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Love is a verb, let's show our community what that looks like. Let's GO, church!
Posted in Outreach