Every church is different in their ministries to the world. Some have mission trips. Others have homeless outreaches. Some even facilitate substance abuse rehabilitation programs. The Great Commission can sometimes be overlooked in today’s society with all the commotion of everyday life. Just getting the church prepared for the week’s regular services is a full-time job, usually involving the assistance of several people. But aren’t we called to share the Gospel? Didn’t Christ tell us to bear our crosses, rather than live in our comfort zone?
The Great…. Suggestion?
The book of James says in 1:23-27, “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”
What outreach ministry(s) does your church participate in?
- Street witnessing: There are many ways we can witness in the streets to the lost or desperately seeking. Examples of these would be:
- Homeless outreach
- Street preaching
- Volunteering in the community
- Missions:
- International
- Interstate
- Intercity
- Public events:
- Public Worship
- Fundraisers for the Needy
- Hosting community picnics and get-togethers
What are ways that we can answer God’s calling to reach the lost? Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:16, “For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!” What a powerful statement to make to ourselves!
We are given countless opportunities by God to reach out to someone every day, so let’s ask ourselves this: “Am I making every effort to reach the lost?”
Then we need to ask, “Is my church being effective and actively reaching out to the lost?”
We’d love to hear the ministries happening right now in your churches as well as hear from those who wish to learn how to reach out to their communities or even the world, in general. Let’s take some time to edify each other for the sake of banding the body of Christ together to reach out to the lost in this world!