December 2009

11.30.2009

One Year, One Person, One Soul is the vision and theme of the education ministry for 2010. So is that just a catchy motto or is there more? Of course, there is more, but a lot of it depends on what we do together while serving the Lord.

My friend, Bruce Raley, recently wrote something that really hits home with me as I think about ARBC. Bruce writes, “A church is the sum total of the individual members. A church cannot be something that her members are not.” I’m going to take that one step further and add the word leadership to that. We cannot be an evangelistic church if both the leadership and the members are not evangelistic. Intercessory prayers can be made for the lost, but where the rubber meets the road is that someone needs to actually share the Gospel message.

One Person: What would happen if every member here asked the Lord to send them just one person whom God has already prepared and who is ready to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior? Do you believe that if you asked the Lord to send you someone that He would? This is really an act of faith on your part.

One Year: If the Lord sends you one person, will you be prepared to share the Gospel with them? I’m not talking about inviting someone to church so the preacher can talk to them. The Lord has called all of us to make disciples, and He wants to equip you to be able to share your faith. If you ask God to send you someone, will you be prepared to share the gospel with them when He does?

One Soul: This is about Kingdom growth. I know the attendance and giving at ARBC has been on everyone’s mind, but let me ask you to think BIG picture. Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field…” and you know the rest of the story—the seed grows into a big bush. So it is with the kingdom of Heaven. The Kingdom began with Christ and the Good News was carried by the Apostles and now there are many followers of Christ. Jesus talked about the Kingdom 80 times but only twice did He talk about the church. The Kingdom of God births a church in its wake. So don’t focus on growing ARBC, instead focus on growing God’s Kingdom and let God add the numbers to the church.

So what it the plan? First, pray every day that the Lord will send you someone whom He has made ready and willing to accept the Gospel. Second, seriously consider brushing up on your ability to share the Gospel. There are going to be three different opportunities for you to become more proficient and confident in sharing: 1. Share Jesus Without Fear, 2. Christian Life and Witness Course, 3. Share Your Faith – this is the new course by Evangelism Explosion. I’m working it out so our members can attend a one-day workshop training in Colorado Springs in March.

Will you take the challenge to pray, become better equipped, and share your faith this coming year? Won’t you pray the following with me?

“Lord, I’ll take one year, 2010, to learn how to share my faith.  I’ll read, I’ll study, I’ll practice—whatever it takes.  Please lead me to one person who is open—someone You have been drawing to Yourself.  Not someone I have to talk into anything, but a person who is ready to respond to You.  Then, let me lead that one soul to faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.  One year, one person, one soul is what I ask Lord, AMEN.”

Posted by arbc at 07:35 AM