SYSTEM ON!
During this Year of Outreach, Dave Skinner, our deacon of evangelism and I have been developing and implementing a S.Y.S.T.E.M. of evangelism. S.Y.S.T.E.M. is any ongoing process that Saves You Stress, Time, Energy and Money. The council’s hope is to implement this ongoing process that will make evangelism easy and multipronged not only for 2012, but for years to come.
In the month of February we had a good balance of the two main approaches to sharing the good news of God. The first is, “Come and see” based on this passage:
Philip said to Nathanael, “Come and see.” (John 1:46 ESV)
The other is “Go and do,” based on the great commission from Jesus in Matthew 28:
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
(Matthew 28:19-20 ESV)
Many of you told your friends, colleagues, and family members to come and see that God is good as we started a “user-friendly” message series on February 12 called “Taboo Topics.” Great job! The intent is to address the questions that non-church-goers ask, and help them see how the good news of God applies.
You also responded to “go and do” both in January and February as we went into the community to practice the good news of God by advocating for the poor and hungry by inviting the PV populace to donate food. Jay Luedde, who towed the U-Haul trailer full of food to Harbor Interfaith, wished all of us could have seen the joy (and shock) on their faces as we came to bring all of that food and material needs. So many of you made that possible!
Of course, this good news of God doesn’t have to be programmed by church leadership. Evangelism at its best is when the people of God are inviting constantly and witnessing unashamedly to the message of Jesus on their own time and on their own turf. That’s the focus of March as our “Becoming a Contagious Christian” seminar and Lenten series, “Just Walk Across the Room” are designed to equip every member to “be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy.” (1 Peter 3:15)
I’ve heard some Christians say that their pastor is always exhorting them to share their faith with others, but they’re frustrated because no one shows them how. I’m very happy to say that the same can’t be said at St. Paul’s. If you missed the first session of Becoming a Contagious Christian (sign-up here) you can jump in this Sunday between services in the Upper Room. Both the sessions on Wednesday and the services on Sunday will be available throughout March.
GET READY FOR THE NEXT COME AND SEE/GO AND DO
February was one of the three times of the church year when people with no church background actually think about God and consider coming to a Christian worship. The next opportune time is coming up April 8 for Easter. (The other one is one month after school starts.) Don’t forget: according to one research report "82% of the unchurched are likely to attend worship if invited" (LifeWay Research, http://backtochurch.com/participate).
Our next series of messages after Easter Sunday will be called “The Viewer’s Choice Series.” We will celebrate the traditions of Holy Week and Easter as we always do. But on Easter Sunday, we’ll invite congregants to submit a question that they want to hear addressed. The back of the communication cards will set it up by saying, “If you had 30 minutes at a coffee shop to talk face-to-face with the physically resurrected Jesus, what would you ask him?” In fact, you can vote for these suggested topics, or submit your own questions here.
This will be a great opportunity not only for people to come on Sunday, but for guests to return the following Sundays, so start praying for the friends you’re going to invite. My thanks to all who may be missing the traditional four readings of scripture that are part of the common lectionary. If your sacrifice helps bring someone to faith in Christ, it is well worth the investment!
As far as “Go and Do” we’ll be prayer walking the neighborhoods surrounding St. Paul’s during Holy Week. Prayer walking is simple. You just walk the sidewalks and ask God’s blessing to be on the people living in those neighborhoods. Guides will be given out.
THANKS BE TO GOD FOR A MEMORABLE DEDICATION SERVICE!
I would like to thank the Gulcher, Staes, Holmes, Luedde, and Picarelli families for their leadership and planning to make the Doak Dedication on February 5th so memorable. And of course, thanks again to all the project managers for jobs extremely well done. Virginia would have been pleased and proud!
Soli Deo Gloria! (To God alone be the glory!)
Pastor Charlie
Lord, help us your believers become disciples who: love unconditionally; listen compassionately; speak truthfully; act justly; endure patiently; forgive mercifully; give generously; serve selflessly; invite constantly; pray fervently; witness unashamedly; and live worthily. Amen.
