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| wow. Good question. Our church is kinda like a pep ralley in many respects. Our pastor physces us up....ummm, kinda lack in some of the heavier teachings like some Baptist churches have....kinda goes with the Charismatic thing I think sometimes. But yeah, pep ralley. And ppl are getting saved! Okay, is my answer weak??? lol |
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| Are people getting saved in the church services or do you see people in church leading their friends to the Lord and then bringing them to church or both? |
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I go to Valley Bible Fellowship here in Bakersfield CA.
I have found that our approach has been working so well. And it is only because of the wisdom from the Lord.
Very recently outreach magazine named us one of the fastest growing churches in America.
The reason is not because we make it a point to preach to every person we meet but we attract people like bees to honey by our life. Not only that but we can give a reason why we do what we do we are not just a bunch of brainwashed drones, we strive to be the Bondservants that chose to serve God even after the year of jubilee came and went.
We are trained to hear God and make him the center of our lives and shape everything else around Him. As you do that there is no area that is without Him.
There is hardly a time where He does not get brought up during your daily life.
In fact, people are so drawn to a true servant of the Lord that they ask us what church we go to because they are drawn in. Our church has some of the rufest toughest people off the streets and they are the same personality with a different agenda now that it's for the Lord. We have ex-adult industry people, ex-drug dealers, ex-porn-stars, millionaires, homeless, strippers, gamblers, people from the "wrong side of the tracts" and everyone in between, The bumper stickers on all of our cars create a curiosity when they see them all over town from the richest to the poorest of neighborhoods. The fact that God has such a concentration of children all over the town and neighboring towns means that none has really lived here that hasn't heard something about this church that is everywhere all the time. They see the good works and glorify the Father.
We don't need to tell them all the time that they are sinners and that they are doomed to Hell people know about what God thinks of that already and have a super human disdain for people who have misrepresented God and have been hypocrites by not living what they claim to believe. That's not our primary approach.
No, we rather have an account for everything we do, just because is not a good reason anymore, your not going to win anyone to the Lord like that.
We have a reason a good one for Loving God and living for Him. And when people see and hear about that genuine love they will show up in droves for salvation. REVIVAL will come when they see the life lived before them (the unbelievers). |
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| Great question. At my church, we have just put in place an Evangelism class and a Missions class, both to be taught at the local bible college, to empower those, like myself, who aspire to walk in The Way of Jesus Christ, with the tools needed to enhance the Kingdom and bring the lost to Christ! We are fortunate to have our pastor as an educator at the college and I am looking forward to every minute of the class and will definately share what i learn. |
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Amy Valley-
Thanks for your comments. You are quite the writter. Very talented. I love what you said about everybody learning to listen to God. What do you think about the scripture in Mark 16:15 that says, go into all the world and preach this gospel to every creature?
Kingdom's Child-Do you know what curriculum the are using for your upcoming evangelism class? |
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Amy- you said-"people know about what God thinks of that already- What do you base that on?
I have not found that to be true. Proverbs 20:6 says, all men will proclaim there own goodness, Prov 21:2 says all a mans ways seem innocent to him. I have found when asking people why should God let you into heaven, they dont know what God thinks of them but conversely they think He should except them because of their goodness which we know is filthy rags! Your thoughts! |
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Jeff , This is a question that alot of people try to avoid, because it hits right at the heart of what churches are supposed to be doing. I know that many people will get on the defensive or even think me as being judgemental and unkind, but I believe if all of us in any church would go to the mandate as pointed out in the scriptures more people would not look for other ways to lead people. 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 28:20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen. most of the time when people are not doing this they make every excuse to avoid the question.
all the above comments are good, but sadly but truthfully speaking Jesus never told us to just draw them by Love , no-re did he tell us to have pep rallies. He said for us to Go! that is a progressive statement. (Go) it does not mean to stay. It is good to go to church, and good to see people get saved in the church, thats where the training grown is! But we have to remember we enter to worship but we exit to serve. ( In Love, example, and in direct contact with people) how can they hear if we don't speak. |
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| Jeff, I have seen both; ppl getting saved in the church, and ppl bringing ppl in that they led to the Lord (my husband being one of these, where he has a real gift in evangelism). So yes and yes. And there is love in our church. But ppl are busy, I find, and we need more discipleship. I would love to do it, because I do have time in many respects, but I am 40 minutes away from town, with no vehicle all day. So I can't even pick up where they lack. |
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| Oh, Evangelist, part of the pep rallie, is the pastor very bluntly telling us to get off our butts and reach the lost! lol He doesn't mince his words when he preaches, though he is a very introverted and quiet man otherwise. |
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Great topic Jeff,
I wanted to comment in regards to this part:
"people know about what God thinks of that already- What do you base that on?"
Take a lokk at these verse in Romans. I get from these verse that man has an intuitive knowledge of the things of God. Whether he recognizes them or not, they are within each and every creature. People do know what God thinks about their sin.
Romans 1:18-23
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
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Laura- I wasn't pointing you out, just saying people meet, people rallie, and than don't do anything!
But i'm happy to hear that you praechers is saying " get off your butts and do something!"
Thanks sista, I always look foward to what you have to say. |
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Great topic Jeff,
I wanted to comment in regards to this part:
"people know about what God thinks of that already- What do you base that on?"
Take a lokk at these verse in Romans. I get from these verse that man has an intuitive knowledge of the things of God. Whether he recognizes them or not, they are within each and every creature. People do know what God thinks about their sin.
Romans 1:18-23
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
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Mike-
Even though they may know it in their heart of hearts, many scriptures show us that the preaching on sin demands the listener to get real and humble themselves. I have talked to thousands of people and when asking them why should God let you into heaven, 80-90% say because they are good so obviously they need a wake up call. Remember John the Baptist with Herodias' daughter. John 7:7 says they hated Jesus because he told them what they did was evil. |
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Here we are told that is is the goodness of God that leads man to repentance:
Romans 2:4
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? |
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Mike-
Read Chapter 2 of Romans and tell me what is the overall theme of the chapter. |
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| I wanted to repost this to get more feedback. What is your church doing to train you to personally share your faith? |
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| | When I say "people know about what God thinks of that already- What do you base that on?"
OK to super paraphrase:
People in AMERICA, have heard/seen hypocrites and hateful people under the wrong spirit leading, or just plain an imbalanced witnessing tell them all the time that God hates homosexuals, murderers and so on when every one is one, and all it does is put our Children of God title in a bad light and an unreachable goal, This Generation in America will not be swayed by mear words, God is using repeated entrances and exits in peoples path and numerous sessions of showing people how he is through his children's lives, He is the signal we are the TV set that will show the World what God is like... The enemy has been on the ball with spreading that message. When really the message should be Yes, you are sinners and God wants to take your desires and change them.... the Real Christian message the message of Loving people despite the huge tab they have run up and the need for Salvation that pertains to them the reasons why one would need salvation. Thats what I mean in the most paraphrased sense of the words.
www.ronvietti.com pod casts. |
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They are TRAINING us to ALL be evangelists through our lifes and everywhere we go hopefully in every church in America.
Thanks for Commenting Mike- Nice to see someone saw my post for what I ment. Hopefully everyone will also. I can't sit here and explain away years of teachings and post all of my adventures in God's new temple (me)
So I will refer you all to my testimoney if you have time to check it out and if you feel lead to do so. The Amy Page
You know what God is going to Romans 8:28 all our efforts for the Lord anyway so go out paid and unpaid to preach the Gosple to everyone at work, school, to your neibors, your fellow soccor parents and everyone in between, but have your life to back it up, have the life of faith to back it up, Check out this Video |
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| Amen Amy- We are all ambassadors of Christ wherevere we are and Jesus said it all in Luke 4:18 He was anointed to preach, bind up, set free, and proclaim. Romans 10;14, How will they believe unless someone preaches to them? |
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