Last week in the first part of this blog series, I explained that a new trend is emerging in parts of the country — places that traditionally have been more religious are now starting to resemble highly unchurched areas, like New York and California. Recent studies from Pew Research Center confirm this decline of Christianity and the increasing secularization of … Read More
Rise of the “Nones”: A New Evangelism Challenge – Part 1 of 2
Early on in my ministry, I started working in highly “unchurched” areas. When I walked down the streets of Orange County, California, I was struck by how many people would admit their religious NON-affiliation — that they either used to be a Christian, grew up Christian or they didn’t go to church at all. Since then all The Journey Church … Read More
Carey’s Missionary Motto
“Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.” – William Carey, “Father of Modern Missions”, Particular Baptist minister, and founder of Serampore College in India August 17, 1761 – June 9, 1834
Don’t Overcomplicate Evangelism
Today’s guest post comes to us from Tony Merida for OutreachMagazine.com. “If you build it, they will come.” I like the movie Field of Dreams, but it’s a terrible evangelism strategy for church planters. Most unbelievers have no interest in joining you this Sunday. Simply offering a “good product” isn’t enough in this post-Christian world. It doesn’t matter how cool … Read More
Wagner on Effective Evangelism
“The single most effective evangelistic method under heaven is planting new churches.” – C. Peter Wagner, theologian, missionary, writer, teacher, and church growth specialist
Summer is for Outreach (Part 2 of 2)
In the first of this two-part blog post, I defined Servant Evangelism as doing intentional acts of kindness with the express purpose of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. It’s a powerful tool, especially when it comes to reaching the unchurched. It’s called Servant Evangelism (SE), and it can easily become part of a healthy evangelism system inside of your … Read More
Summer is for Outreach (Part 1 of 2)
Kindness can be a powerful tool, especially when it comes to reaching the unchurched. It’s called Servant Evangelism (SE), and it can easily become part of a healthy evangelism system inside of your church. Let’s start with the formal definition: Servant evangelism is doing intentional acts of kindness with the express purpose of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. … Read More
One Powerful Evangelism Question
Today’s guest blog comes to us from James Emery White for ChurchandCulture.com. Former Harvard Chaplain George Buttrick had students who would come into his office and say, “I don’t believe in God.” His standard reply was: “Sit down and tell me what kind of God you don’t believe in. I probably don’t believe in that God either.” His point was that the … Read More
Why You Can’t Just ‘Give Them the Gospel’
Today’s post comes to us from Sam Chan for ChristianityToday.com. Christians believe that the gospel is universal and normative for all peoples at all times and in all places. But we often forget that the gospel is not acultural, as if it hovers above culture and is devoid of any culture. Instead, the gospel is deeply enculturated. That is why … Read More
Spurgeon on an Epitome of Christianity
“If any of you should ask me for an epitome of the Christian religion, I should say that it is in one word: prayer. Live and die without prayer, and you will pray long enough when you get to hell.” – Charles Haddon Spurgeon, influential 19th Century Pastor and author, known as the “Prince of Preachers”