Starting a Church with Evangalism

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Permalink Reply by Steven Shapiro on February 4, 2010 at 5:57am

I hear you man. I as well feel led to begin a simpler (organic if you will) work, but sometimes feel overwhelmed with how to start. Obviously, not wanting to "pick off" people from other churches, creates a desire to see new believers incorporated.

Prayer is the main thing; I mean if God wants us to go forward, then what have we to worry about? At the same time, I as well would love to hear from other planters who have "been there, done that".

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Permalink Reply by Scott on February 4, 2010 at 8:19am

I am seeing God lead me step by step.

First counseling with a man at a homeless shelter
2nd encouraging people at a retirement home.
3rd Preaching at the retirement home
4th handing out tracts to people.

The Lord has brought to my heart the importance of humility and meekness. If I can do all things then Christ is not needed! If I can do nothing then Christ is all. The problem is that I can do stuff. But as far as the kingdom is concerned what I do is not effective or lasting. It is only as Christ works through me that the church is build. He builds the church not me.

I am seeing that the time in prayer is related to what I believe is important and how I look to myself in doing the work. The more I pray the more I trust Christ. The less I pray by default the more I trust myself.

What I need now is a longing for the lost to see the light of God and the hope of salvation.
I think/sense this is the key to breaking through my timidity is approaching people with the gospel.
This morning I sensed that I should pray for God to give me love and compassion for the lost.

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Permalink Reply by Scott on February 5, 2010 at 9:33pm

My evangelism is not very good but its a start. Now I just read a blog that gives me the next step in helping me gain momentum in winning people to Christ and making disciples.

http://www.simplychurch.com/2010/02/were-at-war.html#comments

Praying with spiritual warfare

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Permalink Reply by Ron Kellington on February 7, 2010 at 2:52pm

Scott, the New Testament model uses "workers"... The New Testament pages ( from Acts to Revelation ) are covered with three main themes that are missed (for some reason) by 'organized Christianity: The pages are full of reference to workers and co-workers who were all involved in planting Churches after being sent out by the Lord; the pages are full of a beautiful girl called Ekklesia.. who IS His Body... and the pages are full of references to Brothers and Sisters.... and other 'family terms' but you don't hear much about any of these.
From Romans to Revelation you won't find the terms "disciple" or "disciples".. you find family terms like brothers and sisters....
If you want to plant churches and feel called to that, my suggestion is to go somewhere and find an authentic 'organic church' where you can live for a few years.. as an ordinary brother.. this "organic church life", when it is authentic is really the Life of your Lord being expressed through the members of His Body... much like the members of your body express you. It's not led by a man or men.. Christ Himself is the Head. Find a place like that and get properly knit together... then at the right time the Lord Himself will separate you and send you out. I don't know how all that looks.. and there is no method.. it's all Him.
Unless we go led by His Spirit preaching Christ Himself and the cross ( you need to learn the cross and that mainly happens in ekklesia ) you will be bringing too much of yourself and not enough of Him. Everything about you .. your own ideas, agendas, opinions.. all have to die.. and out of the dirt of 'organic church life' His Life will come forth in resurrection power.
Learn God's eternal purpose. Get a copy of Frank Viola's book "From Eternity to Here"... that's a good place to start... and make your sole purpose Jesus Christ.. learn him.. KNOW Him.. ( and like I said, the fullness of that only comes in true ekklesia.. and that takes some time.)
all the best as you turn into Him.

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Permalink Reply by Scott on February 7, 2010 at 3:51pm

Most of what you say makes sense.

I have 2 questions.
1. How would I know when I find a true organic church?
2. How does John 4:35,36 tie into waiting for years? And waiting till I find an organic church before I do something?

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Permalink Reply by John Cosman on February 17, 2010 at 8:47pm

Grrr. This laptop keyboard is really frustrating. Where the mouse pad is, it picks up the motion of my thumbs and does some crazy things. I had a good reply going and bam...it's gone, so here goes again.

I am new to the 'organic church movement'. I have just left the church I have been in for 16 years. I was a deacon for about 10 and for the last year and a half, I have served as an elder. I too have felt the call to plant churches and believe that church growth should happen through evangelism not transplants from other churches. I found a local church on www.house2house.com. I was acquainted with the host family and led a home bible study in one of the other family's home many years ago. Those coincidences are confirmation to me that I am where God wants me to be.

When I think of the word organic, I think of the organs in my body. All of them have a function and they all perform that function. 1 Cor 14:26 is a picture of how that happens:

What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.

The Holy Spirit gives gifts (functions) to the body, so by allowing all of those gifts to function, we are allowing the Spirit to lead the service. Organic Church is also relationship oriented, whereas institutional church is meeting oriented. My latest lesson in organic church is that it is not just about doing the meeting correctly. It is about truly seeking God and walking where he wants me to walk. That is how I would identify a true organic church.

As far as the urgency of God's mission (John 4:35, 36). You can have the same zeal for evangelism and co-laboring with Christ as He builds His church within an existing fellowship. I believe that the scriptures show that evangelism and church planting is done in teams (the Ethiopian eunich does seem to be an exception). But we see Jesus sending the disciples out in pairs. Paul and Barnabas were sent as a team (they took others too). Something else to note, Paul was the apostle to the gentiles the second (probably even before) Jesus called him, but he spent many years in Antioch before the Holy Spirit finally said to set him and Barnabas apart. Don't get in a hurry on the church planting. It may be that like Paul coming out of Judaism and being extremely knowledgeable of the scriptures, but needing time to be discipled in the ways of Christ, you too may need to spend some time in organic church relearning things that you thought you knew.

Anyway, this is advice that I am also taking myself. I am on a journey with Jesus and I don't want to get ahead of him and miss something along the way.

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Permalink Reply by Scott on February 17, 2010 at 10:27pm

John,

How are you reaching out to others with the gospel?

That is really where I am at. Not building churches but learning to effectively share the gospel. I will take it a step at a time. If and when I find others that know Christ thru my outreach, fellowship my develop from that.

I do go to a church that is open to many types of ministry. They are encouraging my wife and I to start a small group.

PS I have a lap top at work I cover the thumb pad with a multi folded paper. Also edit undo gets you back before the mix up.

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Permalink Reply by John Cosman on February 18, 2010 at 7:43pm

Before we talk about evangelism techniques, you should know that I have had very little success here in the US. I also have taken short term mission trips where we actually see some decisions made. I think there are many reasons for that, but I think it boils down to 'it's hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God'.

The one decision that I saw, in the US, from my witnessing began with the Roman's Road. I got as far as 'For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.' He said, 'I haven't sinned,' and even argued with me about it. I was stumped. That was the only way I had been taught to lead people to Christ, so the Holy Spirit laid the 10 commandments on my heart. I went through the 10 commandments with him one by one. After that, he wasn't able to deny his sinfulness and I was able to continue with the Romans road. Fast Forward. A couple of years ago, my pastor handed me a book and said, 'you've gotta read this.' That book was The Way of the Master by Ray Comfort. Ray teaches that for people to understand the good news of the gospel, first they have to understand the bad news of sin, and to do that he uses.....the 10 commandments. If you've ever seen any of his videos, you'll see peoples countenance change as they come under conviction. I've seen those same expressions on people's faces, but still no decisions. Another thing that Ray teaches is that we have a responsibility to share the gospel, but it is Jesus' responsibility to build His church. That takes a lot of pressure off and makes witnessing easier.

Recently, I went to a conference (that was recommended and encouraged by our pastor, but he already had plans to be out of town, so no one else went). Anyway, the keynote speaker was a pastor out of the Atlanta area. His technique was for teams to focus on a neighborhood. They go door to door declaring that "The Kingdom of God is at hand." Then they pray for the needs of people in the household. Their church has a 'trophy wall' -- canes, crutches, braces, etc. of people who have been healed through this ministry. Eventually, as God manifests his Kingdom through acts of power, people start asking questions (think Phillipian jailer) and the door is then open to share the good news with them.

I believe the methods are compatible with each other, and I use them, but not in any focused manner. I tried in the institutional church in which I served as an elder to institute these things -- power encounters leading to proclamation of the gospel leading to discipleship in cell groups/house church, but I got no support. We always had to prepare programs before we did evangelism so that there would be age/gender/marital status related ministries before we grew, but we couldn't start them because we didn't have volunteers, so we couldn't evangelize -- very frustrating, and one of the primary reasons I resigned from the eldership and left my church. I am learning a lot and being freed from a lot of religious junk just in the few weeks since I left my old church. I know that when God has done the work in me that he wants, that he will put me on an evangelism team planting churches. It has been the call that I have felt for many years.

Oh, when I am doing a lot of typing, I put an envelope over the mouse pad. I looked for a way to turn it off, since I use a USB wireless mouse, but I didn't see an easy way to do that. And, it's good to know that you are under the covering of a church and aren't some 'lone ranger' christian out there trying to do things your own. way. Those types concern me, both for them and for those they come in contact with. I will be praying for you to see some success in your evangelism.

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Permalink Reply by Scott on February 18, 2010 at 11:33pm

One of the main reasons I am interested in house church is because of the many people who are lone rangers in the large classic church. It is not really the fault of anyone except the structure is not people friendly. And of course 10's of thousands even millions have quit the classic church because it does not reach them in a practical loving way.

I know of Ray Comfort, read Way of the Master. Studying his 101 lessons on evangelism. But again my problem is not head knowledge, but it is doing the work.

I know in my heart prayer, praying through, fasting and spiritual warfare are needed for a breakthrough. Along with getting out there and sharing the gospel. I hand out tracts about every day. About 10 today and maybe 50 yesterday.

I have offered to pray for people and that has been better. Especially this one homeless guy who has built a shack along a river. I keep going back to visit. He even quit drinking which is amazing. Almost all homeless drink and or drugs and smoke.

I just talked to a retired guy today that used to go door to door witnessing years ago in the Ozarks. He said he would pray for 2-4 hours before he would go witnessing. I must really commit to more prayer.

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Permalink Reply by Scott on February 24, 2010 at 5:25pm

Here is a post I put on my bolg Following His Path:
It was a series of things we should always be doing.

1 Peter 3:15
but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;

Here is the verse that shows me God wants us to always be ready to share the gospel. It can be done alone or with groups, planned or unplanned. 1 Peter 3:15 talks about responding to a question but I will present other Scriptures that discuss other ways of witnessing.

What does it mean to sanctify Christ as Lord? To put His purposes first and to give up in things in your life which get in the way of making Christ Lord.


Jude 3
Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.

Now that we are always to be ready to share the hope, we are also to contend earnestly for the faith. Now this verse does not ask us to do it all the time but it does imply we use the information we have learned and experienced to contend for the faith. Contending for the faith implies that we reason with others that disagree. Yes we are to do it in love and gentleness, but love does not ignore the glaring blindness the non-Christian is arguing with.

2 Timothy 4:2
preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.

Preach the word in season and out of season. What is out of season? It is when people don't want to hear the topic. To preach something to someone that does not want to hear is hard. But it is what is commanded by God in this verse. One of the needs for Christian workers is to be prayed up. To have our heart pliable and humble. Then as we speak for Him we have that sweet spirit that will increase the chance that people will be able to listen to us.

Be ready and willing to preach out of season. I am reminded of Luke 12 which states to be dressed in readiness and keep your lamps alight. Being dressed in readiness and being ready to preach go hand in hand. We need a heart to listening for God.

Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

There is power in the gospel of Christ. It is not just intellectual ideas. God's spirit can break through a heart with His light. Being not ashamed has 2 elements. One we know that it has power and will penetrate the heart of a sinner to bring them to repentance. And 2 we have consecrated our hearts to serve God and not ourself. So what others think of us is no problem.

A note on consecration: for me this comes at times through fasting and prayer. I am not easily persuaded in the goodness of sharing the gospel. My choice is to hike in the park not to talk to people. So I need to spend time on my knees before I go out and share the gospel. This is good because I don't have any ability in myself to trust in myself. I must trust the spirit in my heart.

Matthew 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. “

One of the ways of sharing the gospel is to do good works before the world and they will see your love and be willing to listen to what you have to say. This ties in with James 3 that also says we should not spout out wisdom but show it by our works.

That is not to say we are not to share the gospel with others without works but works many times will open a door that would be closed otherwise.

Prov 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
And he who is wise wins souls.

One of the proofs of wisdom is winning souls. People talk a good talk but do they walk the walk that the Bible explains. Witnessing is a seeking for wisdom. If we have knowledge without love we are arrogant. To know the Bible without winning souls I would say is moving towards arrogance especially if we are not on our knees for the softening of our heart to find the move of the spirit to lead people on the road to an everlasting hell to the way of salvation. Why do I say this so strongly? Because if someone is on the way to hell and we don't attempt to share the way of life with them we do not have any love for them. Without love we become arrogant. 1 Cor 8:1

If we are not arrogant we are asleep. If we are asleep spiritually then we are open to attack from the enemy. An on fire Christian will have winning souls as a priority.

Lord I don't want to be arrogant or asleep. Let me be awake in you and seeking you for the fire of the Holy Spirit.

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Permalink Reply by Scott on February 13, 2010 at 12:00pm

I have different tracts. Some simple, others in depth. One thing I am looking for in handing out tracts, is people that respond. This might be an opening for a discussion of spiritual things.

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Permalink Reply by Scott on March 6, 2010 at 8:25am

Found another market that has many people walking around outside.

Also 2 St. Pat's parades are coming up. These are opportunities to hand out tracts.
The parade on St. Pat's day I am going with others which I am excited about. This is an opportunity to learn from them. The one before St. Pat's day is a family event. The one on St Pat's day is more for adults. A lot of alcohol. Pray that I will speak with boldness about Christ with the Spirit. Thanks

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