Im Confused.....whats going on?

[JohnnyReb]

My church and it's leaders habe declared themselves as failures on this subject. I have lived here 3 years just a half mile up the road from them. When I showed up and started attending church they realized that they have failed to reach the local community.

I don't think they are failures, that's their own words. I suppose they feel they should have been visiting people who are within walking distance of the church and invite them in. They feel I may have been in church 3 years ago if they had taken the time to visit the locals and extend their hands and tell them about the gospel. I think they are beating themselves up too much about it but its understandable.

So to correct this they have decided this Saturday at 3pm we are going to meet up and visit people in the local community and invite them to church. I am going to take my tractor and hay wagon and use it to go up the road and visit....and give the kids a fun hay ride while we are at it. Sounds like a good time to me and maybe we will get lucky and bring the gospel to some new ears.

A lesson I have learned from this is that a mission not only includes far away lands......but people right down the street.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

My church and it's leaders habe declared themselves as failures on this subject. I have lived here 3 years just a half mile up the road from them. When I showed up and started attending church they realized that they have failed to reach the local community.

I don't think they are failures, that's their own words. I suppose they feel they should have been visiting people who are within walking distance of the church and invite them in. They feel I may have been in church 3 years ago if they had taken the time to visit the locals and extend their hands and tell them about the gospel. I think they are beating themselves up too much about it but its understandable.

So to correct this they have decided this Saturday at 3pm we are going to meet up and visit people in the local community and invite them to church. I am going to take my tractor and hay wagon and use it to go up the road and visit....and give the kids a fun hay ride while we are at it. Sounds like a good time to me and maybe we will get lucky and bring the gospel to some new ears.

A lesson I have learned from this is that a mission not only includes far away lands......but people right down the street.

Yes...excellent point.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

No, they aren't doomed to fail. Stop looking at God's heritage as a human resources pool. See them as sheep needing a shepherd. Feed God's sheep, and they will come.

So your saying that everyone should beat a path to the church.....then when does the church go out to the people, or dont they?

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

No, they aren't doomed to fail. Stop looking at God's heritage as a human resources pool. See them as sheep needing a shepherd. Feed God's sheep, and they will come.

When the sheep are lost, the Shepherd has to go to them. We are the shepherds, those of us in the local church.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

When the sheep are lost, the Shepherd has to go to them. We are the shepherds, those of us in the local church.

Good point....there are the lost sheep!:thumbsup:

 

[Revmitchell]

OK so I am concerned about my community & ive complained about nobody (IE Churches) having any outreach.

So at services yesterday, an Elder indicated he wanted to discuss community outreach & he had a room reserved & it would only take a few minutes. So I go to this meeting & 6 people show up & the Elder expresses surprise cause he thought it would be a no show or only one or two bodies would show.

That alone concerned me as well as some negative comments that nothing will ever get off the ground.

I reminded these people that this was part of The Great Commission...to do local work as well as sending missionaries..... but really it was a "I really dont want to be bothered" kinda meeting. What is going on in our churches when we dont do any outreach? Frankly, I dont want to be part of any place that only cares about their own wants & needs.....thats not Christ!

They are spiritually dead and most likely need to close their doors. However, it is possible that a few who know better and are faithful go out and share the gospel and bring them in. Then teach them what the right thing to do is and repopulate the church with new converts who are reaching out and change the make up of the church.

 

[Luke2427]

No, they aren't doomed to fail. Stop looking at God's heritage as a human resources pool. See them as sheep needing a shepherd. Feed God's sheep, and they will come.

God uses means to accomplish his will. He does not HAVE to- but he has PLAINLY revealed in Scripture and history that that is what he has chosen to do.

The most important two things any Christian can ever do, two things which every able Christian is commanded to do and is held accountable by God to do is exalting the King and expanding the Kingdom.

The world is in the shape it is in because Christians are not doing their job.

We are to be feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the imprisoned, caring for widows and preaching the Gospel to all.

Churches that have philosophies of ministry similar to that which you espouse are the biggest problem in the world today.

Judgment begins at the house of God.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

God uses means to accomplish his will. He does not HAVE to- but he has PLAINLY revealed in Scripture and history that that is what he has chosen to do.

The most important two things any Christian can ever do, two things which every able Christian is commanded to do and is held accountable by God to do is exalting the King and expanding the Kingdom.

The world is in the shape it is in because Christians are not doing their job.

We are to be feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the imprisoned, caring for widows and preaching the Gospel to all.

Churches that have philosophies of ministry similar to that which you espouse are the biggest problem in the world today.

Judgment begins at the house of God.

Yes....Thank you. Please lets all pray for this Church to lead the way & reach out to both Saved & Unsaved..... I can tell you that this community desperately needs outreach & spiritual renewal to walk humbly with our God.

 

[Aaron]

The acts of devotion of every believer are prayer, fasting and the giving of alms. Ministers are to give attendance to reading, doctrine and exhortation. Deacons are to give attendance to tables, and the tables are not the ones in the soup kitchens who indiscriminately disburse to the sober and the drunken alike, but the tables of widows and orphans, who are widows and orphans indeed, and who qualify to receive that ministry.

If EWF is concerned for the poor, then he can give his alms without sounding a trumpet before him. If he is concerned with one who needs bread, then he can fast and deal his own bread to him. If he sees something lacking in a ministry, then he can go into his closet and pray. It is the Holy Spirit that gives gifts for the edification of the saints.

 

[preacher4truth]

God uses means to accomplish his will. He does not HAVE to- but he has PLAINLY revealed in Scripture and history that that is what he has chosen to do.

The most important two things any Christian can ever do, two things which every able Christian is commanded to do and is held accountable by God to do is exalting the King and expanding the Kingdom.

The world is in the shape it is in because Christians are not doing their job.

We are to be feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the imprisoned, caring for widows and preaching the Gospel to all.

Churches that have philosophies of ministry similar to that which you espouse are the biggest problem in the world today.

Judgment begins at the house of God.

Yep.

The acts of devotion of every believer are prayer, fasting and the giving of alms. Ministers are to give attendance to reading, doctrine and exhortation. Deacons are to give attendance to tables, and the tables are not the ones in the soup kitchens who indiscriminately disburse to the sober and the drunken alike, but the tables of widows and orphans, who are widows and orphans indeed, and who qualify to receive that ministry.

If EWF is concerned for the poor, then he can give his alms without sounding a trumpet before him. If he is concerned with one who needs bread, then he can fast and deal his own bread to him. If he sees something lacking in a ministry, then he can go into his closet and pray. It is the Holy Spirit that gives gifts for the edification of the saints.

...and this too.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

The acts of devotion of every believer are prayer, fasting and the giving of alms. Ministers are to give attendance to reading, doctrine and exhortation. Deacons are to give attendance to tables, and the tables are not the ones in the soup kitchens who indiscriminately disburse to the sober and the drunken alike, but the tables of widows and orphans, who are widows and orphans indeed, and who qualify to receive that ministry.

If EWF is concerned for the poor, then he can give his alms without sounding a trumpet before him. If he is concerned with one who needs bread, then he can fast and deal his own bread to him. If he sees something lacking in a ministry, then he can go into his closet and pray. It is the Holy Spirit that gives gifts for the edification of the saints.

Out of curiosity do you tell that to missionaries that come to your church looking for help?

 

[Aaron]

Just turning the judgment of the O.P. on the judge.

What is called outreach in so many circles is not outreach. The congregation are not resources to be employed in one's pet projects. They are God's sheep, and if they are living righteously, and not being overtly persecuted, they are bearing losses and enduring sorrows and trials of conscience which are hard to be imagined by those who have not forsaken their sins, and only which the preaching of the doctrines of Christ can salve.

The call is to take up Christ's yoke, and learn of Him, but His yoke is easy. His burden is light. And they will find rest for their souls. Not labor.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Just turning the judgment of the O.P. on the judge.

What is called outreach in so many circles is not outreach. The congregation are not resources to be employed in one's pet projects. They are God's sheep, and if they are living righteously, and not being overtly persecuted, they are bearing losses and enduring sorrows and trials of conscience which are hard to be imagined by those who have not forsaken their sins, and only which the preaching of the doctrines of Christ can salve.

The call is to take up Christ's yoke, and learn of Him, but His yoke is easy. His burden is light. And they will find rest for their souls. Not labor.

This is not "My Pet Project".... Rather the Church came up with the idea.

I just made several recommendations & indicated I would help them.

Ephesians 4:11-12

New International Version (NIV)

11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.

 

[Aaron]

This is not "My Pet Project"....

Didn't mean to imply you particularly. Generally, where "outreach" is preached, it's really just marketing.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Didn't mean to imply you particularly. Generally, where "outreach" is preached, it's really just marketing.

Than how do we go from mere talk to implementation?

 

[Aaron]

You can implement it everyday. What has EWF done for the poor today?

 

[Yeshua1]

I can do that at my kitchen table.

the NT example seems to be that the local church meant to worship/praise/be taught/give, and be equipped to minister outside building...

6 days of the week interact and witnes/live as outreaches to sinners at work/home/neighborhoods etc!

the early church HAD to do outreach, as they 'burned" with the passion to live for Jesus, and to tell others about Him!