Think of your current level of evangelism as a reading on a thermometer. What is the evangelistic temperature in your church right now, in 2025?
Hot, cold, or somewhere in the middle?
When it comes to evangelism, the pastor’s primary role is to keep the evangelistic temperature red-hot inside the church.
If you are the pastor, it doesn’t matter whether you are a gifted evangelist or not. You may have someone else in your church who loves evangelism so much that you are tempted to turn over the reins on this issue.
Don’t do it. YOU must lead.
The church will head in the direction you lead them. You have to put in the work to keep your church people looking outside themselves — instead of being inwardly-focused.
As a pastor you have three avenues you can use to keep the temperature hot: the stage, the staff, and the structure. In this 3-part article series, we’ll explore each of these in more detail, starting today with the stage.
SETTING THE STAGE
Those of us who are pastors have been given a unique opportunity, one we often take for granted. Each and every time you step in front of your crowd, you have the chance to influence them for Jesus.
You have the opportunity to speak truth into their lives — truth that God wants them to hear.
I’ve noticed that what gets presented from the stage is more likely to get accomplished in the pews. Your strategic use of sermons, announcements, and vision casting from the stage can raise the evangelistic temperature quicker than anything else.
At The Journey we issue the same challenge every Sunday. After every service we say, “If you found today’s message helpful, why not invite a friend next week?” Regularly challenging your people to reach out and invite friends is one of the ways you can use to raise the temperature.
From the stage you can also:
- Tell your own evangelism stories
- Have members share their testimonies
- Give opportunities for action
- And much more!
You can’t keep quiet and assume that your people will do anything. You can’t hope that something is going to happen. Hope is not a strategy. You have to challenge, encourage, and even push a little.
As you use the stage wisely, you’ll be cooperating with God in reaching people for his glory.
Stay tuned for the rest of the series, to discover the second and third ways you as a pastor can keep the evangelistic temperature in your church red-hot.
Your partner in ministry,
Nelson
P.S. As a fellow pastor, I realize that growing a church can seem overwhelming. That’s why I want to help your church grow and reach more people than ever this year.
So this week only you can select a FREE Church Growth audio resource of your choice (a $49.95 value!).
And be sure to share this link with other pastors you know so they can also choose their FREE Church Growth resource!
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