Beginning on September 24th we have a new round of Exploring Christianity starting. I am extremely excited about this year’s series in Exploring Christianity. We have a new look, a slightly revised format, but the same gospel that is the power of God to change lives. As we enter into this season, my desire is that as a church we think rightly about evangelism and Exploring Christianity. So I want to ask and answer the question, “How should we view Exploring Christianity?”
God has called everyone who follows Jesus Christ to go out into the highways and byways – into cities and villages, workplaces and neighborhoods, schools and homes – and tell everyone about our great God and Savior.
I believe the biblical picture that most captures our role as witnesses is the picture of a sower who sows the seed of the gospel. We are to scatter the seed of the gospel wherever we go and God causes the seed to grow. Evangelism is a process of seed scattering. I scatter some seed, you scatter some seed, someone else comes along and scatters seed, and eventually there is a harvest.
The best way to leverage Exploring Christianity in your seed sowing is to invite your non-Christian family and friends to come to the Preview Dinner. Ask them to come for just this one night to get a feel for Exploring Christianity. Tell them the Preview Dinner exists so they experience Exploring Christianity before registering for the course. Tell them that you would love to attend the course with them.
And when they attend, the seed of the gospel will be sown by you, and it will be sown by the speaker, and it will be sown by your discussion group leader, and it will be sown by others in the discussion group. Exploring Christianity is merely a John Deere gospel seed sower.
Our trust in not in Exploring Christianity, or an evangelism program, or even in a series of talks, but in the power of the gospel to change lives. “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17). The word of Christ is the good news about Jesus Christ and what He has done to secure our salvation.
God has called everyone who follows Jesus Christ to go out into the highways and byways – into cities and villages, workplaces and neighborhoods, schools and homes – and tell everyone about our great God and Savior.
And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” -Luke 10:2There are people all around us who need to hear the good news of the gospel. We live with them, work with them, go to school with them, and enjoy leisure activities with them. We pass by people who are perishing every day.
I believe the biblical picture that most captures our role as witnesses is the picture of a sower who sows the seed of the gospel. We are to scatter the seed of the gospel wherever we go and God causes the seed to grow. Evangelism is a process of seed scattering. I scatter some seed, you scatter some seed, someone else comes along and scatters seed, and eventually there is a harvest.
“The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” -Mark 4:26-29How, then, should we view Exploring Christianity? It is another tool to scatter the seed of the gospel. It is not the only tool, it isn’t even the best tool, but it is a highly effective tool for sharing the gospel. Why? Because Exploring Christianity creates a relaxed setting where people from all walks of life can discover the truth about Christ. It encourages relationships, and encourages discussion, and encourages honesty, and encourages personal care, and majors on the truth of the gospel.
The best way to leverage Exploring Christianity in your seed sowing is to invite your non-Christian family and friends to come to the Preview Dinner. Ask them to come for just this one night to get a feel for Exploring Christianity. Tell them the Preview Dinner exists so they experience Exploring Christianity before registering for the course. Tell them that you would love to attend the course with them.
And when they attend, the seed of the gospel will be sown by you, and it will be sown by the speaker, and it will be sown by your discussion group leader, and it will be sown by others in the discussion group. Exploring Christianity is merely a John Deere gospel seed sower.
Our trust in not in Exploring Christianity, or an evangelism program, or even in a series of talks, but in the power of the gospel to change lives. “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17). The word of Christ is the good news about Jesus Christ and what He has done to secure our salvation.
