February 2010

01.28.2010

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.” Please read that again and let that sink in: “A church cannot be something that her members are not.” For me this begs the question, “Who are you?”

At our church in Alaska, the pastor was moving the church to become known as “a praying church.” I have great memories of how that church helped ignite my prayer life. I’ve been to churches that were known as “giving churches,” “evangelistic churches,” or “caring churches.” In order for a church to be known as one of those types, a majority of her members must do those things.

The Sunday School reply to that is something like, “but we do all of those things and more.” And most churches truly believe they do. But let’s be honest with ourselves—we are not an evangelistic church. Just ask yourself “When was the last time I personally shared the gospel with someone?” I honestly do not know your answer, and listen, loved ones, I admit I could be wrong about this; maybe you are actively sharing the gospel, and if that is true, then please let me know; I want to know. But here is a truth: we had 243 in worship this past Sunday and 248 the week before, but how many of us have tried to introduced someone to Jesus Christ within the past year?

1 Cor 3:17a says, “let no man deceive himself.” I’m writing this so that we don’t fool ourselves. I believe it is time for us as a church to step back and take an honest look at who we are, what we do and don’t do as a church, who God desires for us to become and who God desires us to reach. So should a church be evangelistic ~ should ARBC be an evangelistic church? If so, then that means her people must become evangelistic.

I want you to know that if you have been truly born again, then you are a new creature in Christ, the old is gone (2Cor 5:17, my paraphrase). If you desire ARBC to become evangelistic, then it begins with both you and me. We need to all work and prepare our hearts and minds to be available as tools for the Lord not to grow the church, but to be a part of God growing His kingdom. Be kingdom people and help shoulder the responsibility of daily kingdom work.

Remember, we’re all in this together and I’m pulling for ya.
Bro. Danny

Posted by arbc at 12:03 PM