"Lighting the Fire"
Jotting – Week 27

Tell Your Community

“And [Jesus] called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits. He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff–no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belt–but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics. Also He said to them, ‘In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place. And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!’ So they went out and preached that people should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.” (Mark 6:7-13).

“After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. Then He said to them, ‘The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves’” (Luke 10:1-3).

Telling others the Good News of Jesus isn’t always easy–not because of our hesitation or reluctance or timidity (Acts 1:8; 2 Timothy 1:7), but because of how the world–indeed those in our own families and communities will react to hearing the Gospel. Some will not want to hear it and walk away. Others will be offended by it and stop up their ears. Still others may verbally mock what we want them to hear. And still others may literally take up sticks and stones to physically harm us. And yet we keep telling because there are those who will “immediately receive [the Word] with gladness” (Mark 4:16).

How do we reach the community? By preaching the Word, by telling others, one by one, the Good News of Jesus Christ. In his book Revolution in World Missions, K. P. Yohannan says that above all else, the Gospel must be preached first. He sites examples of how western civilizations have gone into parts of the “uncivilized world” to give them a better life–many times starting out with the desire to bring Christ to those people. But often, in concentrating on “programs,” even building hospitals and schools, the main focus was forgotten and people in those countries are still going to hell–healthier and more educated, but still going to hell.

How can your church tell the Good News of Jesus?

• Make sure every guest, every visitor hears the name of Jesus and what He has done for him or her.
• Gather a group of prayer warriors once or twice a week to walk around the neighborhood and pray over it.
• Have teams of people knock on doors in the community and ask people what prayer needs they have.
• Set up a “coffee shop” for the specific purpose of telling those who come the Gospel message–let no one leave without accomplishing that purpose.
• During VBS, get the names and addresses of non-churched children who attend, and send the family an invitation to church. Follow up with a personal visit, asking for prayer needs and telling the story of Jesus to the family.
• During VBS, Sunday school or worship time, set up a “prayer corner” where prayer warriors will pray with people who come.
• Hold a Welcome Fest in September for the new Sunday school year (go to http://www.lcms.org/graphics/assets/media/DCS/07-CEM.pdf for a complete planning guide for Christian Education Month). This resource contains many ideas for reaching out to the community.
• Evaluate each program of your congregation and determine if its first goal is to proclaim Christ. Change what is necessary to achieve that objective. Review each program monthly/quarterly/yearly to confirm that Jesus is declared at all times.
• Hand out invitations and/or gospel portions (available from http://shop3.gospelcom.net/epages/ibsdirect.storefront at neighborhood markets or strip malls, or hang them on door knobs of homes in your community.
• Carry gospel portions (see previous web site) with you and give them away to store clerks, waiters or waitresses, toll booth keepers, airline personnel, plane seat mates; leave at the library, dentist’s or doctor’s office waiting rooms, on a grocery store shelf; in other words, wherever you go, to whom ever you see.
• Gather a task force for the express purpose of brainstorming other ideas for reaching out to the community with the Good News. Pray before, during, and after. Plan ways to implement the ideas and evaluate progress.

Pray: Dear Lord Jesus, You suffered and died for the sins of all people, even the people in our congregation’s neighborhood, even in my community. There are so many who may live next door, across the street, and around the corner that don’t know You as their Friend and Savior. Forgive our neglect of these people. Forgive our self-indulgence and inward focus. Send Your Holy Spirit to flood us with love for others, empower us with strength of purpose and the diligence to carry out Your command to tell the Gospel to all. Make our path clear. Lord Jesus, let Your Kingdom come among us. In Your strong name we pray. Amen.