This should be obvious…
Romans 10:14
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
Too many believers are ill-equipped to share the gospel and lead someone to a life-changing relationship with Jesus. But there are many who can…. If they have the opportunity and choose to. A large segment of believers depends on the alternative option – to bring a friend to The Church where they can hear that there is a Great Living God who knows and loves them. And that He loved them enough to send His son to save them from something from which they cannot save themselves and bring current and lasting peace.
Each church has to wrestle with its faithfulness and effectiveness to every one of these opportunities! And each church sets up fail-safe redundancies along the “lost to discipled pathway” to make sure no opportunity is squandered away or missed.
It starts with a focus on God’s Word and Worship. Preachers clearly communicating, Elders and Discipled members greeting and inquiring, worship teams drawing people into the presence of God, tech teams hitting every target with a sensory bullseye. It extends out to the streets – people being guided off the street, finding their way into a space where they are genuinely and warmly received, where they are impressed with the space young children can be cared for, and making their way into a worship space intentionally designed communicate life change with great clarity.
Winning the right to share the gospel. Every day, with every relationship, I am compelled to win the right to (somehow someday) share the Gospel with someone in my home or neighborhood that God has put in my way. The number one reason people say they attended church for the first time is because they were personally asked to attend. Further, Dechurch’d individuals state the same – they came back because a friend asked them to!
Corporately, my church has the same intentionality – compelled to live next to others in a way that allows them to win the right to share the Gospel. Our church calls it “building bridges that can bear the weight of Truth.” Through a hundred different expressions, it is being faithful and is marvelously partnering with God where He is working, seeing countless lives impacted, futures changed, family legacies turning on a dime!
And yet….
I was recently engulfed in worship, trying to digest a wonderful helping of God’s Word that had just been served up. I had been challenged with an unmistakable clarity to GO and serve THE King where I live. And we began to sing, rehearsing the life-changing phrases:
[King of Kings – Hillsong Worship]
“And the morning that You rose
All of Heaven held its breath
‘Til that stone was moved for good
For the Lamb had conquered death
And the dead rose from their tombs
And the angels stood in awe
For the souls of all who’d come
To the Father are restored
And the church of Christ was born
Then the Spirit lit the flame
Now this gospel truth of old
Shall not kneel, shall not faint
By His blood and in His name
In His freedom I am free
For the love of Jesus Christ
Who has resurrected me
Praise the Father, praise the Son
Praise the Spirit, three in one
God of glory, Majesty
Praise forever to the King of Kings”
With my eyes leaking because the full impact of God’s mercy and grace had confronted my unworthiness, that’s when it happened! I looked around the overcrowded room and thought, “What if the church gets everything else right except opening up new seats for the hearing of this wonderful Gospel?”
A church… your church has all the signs of God’s blessing: crowded parking lots, crowded entry spaces, people declaring their faith before the church, babies being dedicated, and services consistently bumping 80%, 90% capacity…. sometimes more!
What happens when God is blessing, and more seats are NOT opened up for the hearing of His Gospel?
So, What!?!
- Should we Assume we are healthy?
- Are we effective at accomplishing our mission?
- Are we impacting and growing people the way we planned?
- What is my church’s capacity?
- What is the timeline where we run out of room?
- What is our sweet spot attendance level where everything is humming well?
- What are our NEXT options and when should we begin considering them?
I want to invite you to a webinar where we discuss these very questions…
Is your church ready to launch its next campus but unsure of where to start? Don’t let uncertainty hold you back. Join Rich Birch and leading experts in church multiplication strategy for a webinar designed to give you the clarity and insights you need to confidently take your next steps.
Learn directly from Shawn Maxwell, Scott Payne, Josh Whitehead, and Jeffrey Beachum, experienced leaders who have successfully launched multiple thriving campuses. This is your chance to gain actionable strategies for choosing the right location, aligning your plans with your church’s DNA, and ensuring a successful launch that makes a lasting impact in your community.
This practical, engaging session will help you:
- Identify the right time to launch. Learn to recognize the indicators that signal it’s time for your church to expand.
- Choose the best location. Discover the process for selecting a community where your church can grow and thrive.
- Create a strategic launch plan. Understand timelines, facility options, and the portability solutions that will set you up for success
You don’t want to miss this opportunity to learn from some of the most accomplished leaders in church growth. Reserve your spot today and get ready to take your church’s vision to the next level!
Register here now: https://helpchurchleaders.com/your-churchs-next-community-triggers-timelines-thinking/
