Do You Have an Evangelistic Church?
Evangelistic churches begin with a culture of evangelism rooted in a heart for the spiritually lost. But first, it’s helpful to understand what we mean by “culture.” Culture is the shared beliefs, values, and behaviors of a group. A church culture, then, is simply what the members collectively believe, value, and do.
If your church does not yet have an evangelistic culture, changing it requires intentionality. Culture shifts when the people in the church change their beliefs, values, and behaviors. To become personally evangelistic—and to see our churches become evangelistic—we must believe that when God said “Go,” He really meant it, and that we are the ones who should go. A culture of going with the Gospel is essential for obedience to Christ and must therefore be at the core of every church. That only happens when it is first at the core of each member personally.
So, where do we start?
1
Revisit the Mission of the Church – Matthew 28:18-20
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
2
Make a list of spiritually lost people and begin praying for them. Challenge every member to write down the names of family, friends, coworkers, or neighbors who need Jesus and to pray for them regularly.
3
Make a list of all the current activities and ministries in your church and evaluate how each activity by asking: “Does this help us fulfill the Great Commission?”
For activities that do not directly advance the Great Commission, ask:
- Can we reshape this activity to become a tool for reaching the lost?
- If not, do we really need this activity?
For activities that do advance the Great Commission, ask:
- Can we improve its kingdom impact?
- If yes, how can we increase or multiply what we’re already doing?
4
What new activities or events could we add to our calendar that would directly help us reach and disciple the spiritually lost?
5
Preach evangelism from the pulpit and regularly invite people to begin a personal relationship with Jesus.
6
Provide regular evangelism training for your members.
7
Encourage lifestyle evangelism: every member telling somebody about Jesus wherever they are.
8
Encourage lifestyle evangelism: every member telling somebody about Jesus wherever they are. Being a witness must become part of everyday life. That will happen naturally when we stay sensitive to the Holy Spirit and keep our eyes open for Gospel opportunities.
Tennessee Baptists have stated their desire for every Tennessean to have multiple opportunities to hear and respond to the Gospel. This vision becomes reality when every follower of Christ captures the desperate spiritual need of our family, friends, and neighbors and chooses to live in joyful obedience to the Great Commission. As we change the culture of our churches, we will, by God’s grace, change the culture of our state.