Eternity can put into perspective the life we now live. For instance, the further you get away from something you did twenty years ago, the less you remember the details. The short 60 or 70 years we have on this earth is often taken too seriously; for instance, we worry, we don’t think we are sure of God’s will, we feel like every decision has to be so definite, and really, if we are doing God’s work, we are in God’s will. Just go add value to people everyday. The two things that will matter during those eternal years are: 1) Did you make a decision to cross the line of faith and follow Jesus? 2) Did you share that news with as many people as you could? That is what the difference is in making this a life that counts and one that doesn’t. We just need to be open and ready to respond at God’s call…let’s stop making success man-made and go realize our department and calling for the kingdom. It will help us put into clarity why we are here.
Archive for the ‘Evangelism’ Category
A good friend of mine, Mark Randolph, was recently building a new relationship with some mormons in his community and just caring for them and loving on them the way Jesus would. He even invited them to a church block party, and they came. He said these words to them: “I appreciate the good work you guys do by going door to door through these years.” They replied, “Oh, door to door doesn’t work anymore; we have found that making friends and inviting them to church is what works.” No doubt, the way of Jesus always works: Befriend a person authentically, gain their trust, and later share your core. Further still, should they not accept your core or embrace your core, you are still their friend! How could we have gotten so far off track through the years?
Origin Church and the Ringgold Downtown Partners presented the first annual Helicopter Easter Egg Drop this past Saturday. Over 5,000 people were in attendance! It was a beautiful site!
Who Can Come To Origin Church?
Posted: February 4, 2009 in EvangelismTags: john burke, no perfect people allowed
the “spiritual”, the “irreligious”, the “bad”, the “broken”, the “bored”, the “agnostic”, the “atheist”, the “guilty”, the “shameful”, the “saintly”, the “stagnant”
What we’re trying to say is that you don’t have to have it all together to come to Origin Church. We like to say “No perfect people allowed.” I love that phrase from my friend John Burke. We’re trying to create a safe environment where people can discover God’s potential for their lives.
History Of The “Come-Forward” Invitation
Posted: January 12, 2009 in Evangelism, UncategorizedTags: charles finney, come forward invitations
We know that people didn’t walk the aisles of the churches in the first 300 years of the church because there were no church buildings – so there were no aisles. There is debate over the exact origins of the practice, but most do agree that it came into prominence in the late 1830’s under the leadership and influence of Charles Finney. He popularized this approach through what he called “the mourner’s bench.” Now, prior to him, it was only used here and there—just occasionally.
Others in history that followed: Billy Sunday, D.L. Moody, Billy Graham… contributed to the widespread acceptance of it. And I think that most would say that, when it comes to the contemporary form of the altar call we see today, that Billy Graham would be the one who’s most related to how it’s been used today.
Personally, all my life I’ve given a “come-forward” invitation. I’ve also not given “come-forward invitations” each week. I’ve also given creative and varieties of styles of invitations. I heard Manley Beasley in an old revival meeting one time say, “Now, if you would like to have Christ in your life, you go home tonight and think about it, and if you’re sincerely ready, you come back tomorrow night and we’ll see.”
Traditionally, churches ask people to make the most important decision of their life in front of a bunch of other people they’ve never met. We forget how intimidating that can be. So many of us have said, “Let’s make it easy to come to Christ, and then make it more difficult for them to join the church.” Now, I know what you’re thinking – “If they’re not coming forward, where is their public profession of faith?” My answer to that is to look in the New Testament. Baptism is the public profession of faith in the New Testament. Here’s a thought: I wonder if we’ve made “coming forward” a sacred cow in our churches and have fallen into the belief that it is the only way to proclaim a public commitment to Christ.
Now, I’m not against a “come-forward” invitation at all. There’s nothing wrong with them. I’ve had success with them for years, but I’ve also had success with a card being filled out after they pray in their seat to let us know. I’ve also had success letting weeks go by and building up to a great harvest day with an intentional invitation. So, I don’t think it’s an either-or but a both-and creativity for the greatest effectiveness. Might it be that there are many people who would become a Christ follower sooner if we didn’t urge them walk down in front of a bunch of strangers. Their public profession will come later during baptism.
Concentrate on the ONE Who Gave the Bible
Posted: December 20, 2008 in EvangelismTags: atheist, authenticity, Evangelism, gospel, witness
The Bible giver’s heart, attitude, genuineness, and lack of condemnation, will ALWAYS get the attention of people who don’t like church, don’t like God, or who’ve just given up on the whole thing. It’s exactly what we’re all about at Origin Church. Saw this on Vince Antonucci’s blog; it’s worth sharing. Watch:
Ben did a great job on this one. Read it here.
Bill does an amazing job of re-casting where Willow Creek is going. It has a fresh touch on it for all of us to more effectively reach the seeker and thrill the believer. Love it!
