Increasing Church Membership, Continued!

I agree.

 

Perhaps I do not make myself clear. I am trying to say that we, as sinful human beings, cannot make believers of people. That is the work of the Holy Spirit as directed by God. I do not mean to imply that non-believers cannot become beleivers. If that were the case, we would all be doomed to Hell.

 

Yes, the Lord made a believer out of me. He did use one of his workers to bring the truth to me, to plant the seed. I thank the Lord for sending him to me, and I am thankful he was willing. My life the life of my family and several other lives were changed.

 

I guess I am confused. Why is it not enough to get them to church to hear the gospel? That is of course, if the gospel is being preached. That is called invitational evangelism, getting someone to a place that they can hear the Gospel.

While I don't agree with programs that just target numbers, but what is wrong with the average church member asking his neighbor to go to church next Sunday, knowing his neighbor will have a chance to hear the gospel? That is evangelism. Not everyone uses the same style of evangelism.

This has been going on for years in Revivals, Gospel sings, etc.

 

Both right. It is enough to get them into church to hear the gospel. That is step number one. And Bruren is correct once that gospel is accepted new belevers need to be discipled by someone. Not necessesaraly the person who invited them to church where they heard the gospel.

However the original post seems to indicate a problem useing "items" to attract people to church functions.

Have we all agreed that "items" can be used to attract people to church functions where they will here the gospel. So that they have a chance to beleve so we will have a chance to disciple them if/when they do.

 

COuld this not be a valid way to build a prospect list? There are many methods for this.

After the listr is compiled, you then go about finding ways to minister to these people, some of which will havea life changing experience with Jesus.

I am not supporting this method, personally I don't like it, but I have known churches who use an item like this as a genuine technique for finding needs.

Tim

 

One on One is the best way to evangelize,not the last resort.

 

There is actually a church a few miles from us that runs about 2000 on Sundays. The church has a sign out front that it is going to hold a "Texas Holdem Poker Tournament" to raise funds for some charity. I dont really invision that this is what the Bible had in mind for the church raising funds.

Bro Tony

 

Can we end the practice of calling this practice a bribe? Typically, a bribe is a payment made to a person in authority to corrupt his/her judgment. I can think of no scenario where a bribe is seen as something positive, but offering something to get people in church is a positive, isn't it? If a church offers something to the unsaved, and it gets the unsaved into the church to hear a clear presentation of the gospel, I don't see the negative and don't think it ought to be called a bribe.

 

GAthering a list in this way in no way negates "one on one." The one on one occurs after the event has been held.

Tim