Creating a Culture of Outreach
Big Idea:
Outreach is powerful, but there are steps that need to be taken to reach your community effectively.
Outreach and evangelism are vital parts of our faith, wouldn't you agree? We all recognize their importance. We pray for our churches and our community, hoping people will come to Christ. We preach and teach about sharing the gospel and the significance of evangelism. Yet, despite our efforts, we often hear these common concerns from our congregation:
They don’t know anyone unsaved.
They don’t have time.
They ask for evangelistic programs that often don’t yield results.
They reminisce about past programs and wonder why we no longer do them.
They feel we are doing enough through missionaries or outreach programs.
However, every Sunday, we see the same people in the pews, many of whom haven't shared Christ with anyone in years or even decades. We imagine how a few new believers would bring fresh energy and life to our congregation. We dream of seeing our community transformed, one soul at a time, by the power of the Gospel.
But maybe your church is like mine, where major conflicts have occurred every few years:
In 2003, we lost 100 members.
In 2008, we lost 30 members.
In 2012, we lost 40 members.
In 2018, we lost 130 members.
I've helped over 400 people leave my church—an unusual resume highlight! The most common phrase we hear in the community is, “I used to go to your church.” These distractions have hindered us from creating a culture of outreach.
We face several challenges:
Some focus on people making decisions for Christ but neglect ongoing discipleship, leaving new believers disconnected.
Others are so focused on worldwide missions that they forget to invite friends to church.
Many talk about the negative culture around us without recognizing the sin that ensnares those nearby, seeing our community as an enemy rather than sinners in need of a savior.
We struggle with internal problems that distract us from our mission.
To help our church thrive, we needed to refocus on our mission. Passages like Matthew 28:19-20 and Ephesians 4 remind us of the church's simple yet profound purpose:
Evangelism should be natural – An outworking of our love for Jesus.
People are Changed – Where the Spirit of God works within us.
Our Church Community is Strengthened – Because of Jesus, we bless our church community.
Our Local Community is Better – Because there are followers of Christ living within a local community
Imagine a church where evangelism is natural, people are changed, and both our faith community and local community are better—all because of Christ.
So, how do we move forward?
Understanding Making Disciples
First, Discipleship involves six key components:
Leadership – Leaders understand and take responsibility for making disciples, with honest evaluation.
Training – Education that leads to obedience.
Structure – Intentional plans within the organization.
Fellowship – Small groups encouraging intimacy and transparency.
Accountability – Honesty that motivates.
Modeling – Visual learning.
Secondly, when people are changed by discipleship, this should naturally overflow into their relationships with others. Changed People Change People. This demonstrates itself in four ways, bearing four fruits (Matt 28:29-20):
Natural Evangelism – A group in love with Jesus can't help but share the gospel.
Transformed People – Believers strive to obey and love God and others will be transformed.
Strengthened Churches – Believers use their spiritual gifts to bless their local church.
Better Communities – Believers impact their local community for Christ.
In our church, this journey started with us taking several steps:
1. Connecting with Others – Internally and externally regarding the six components and four fruits of discipleship.
Internally – Evaluating and planning within our church.
Externally – Learning from others, such as organizations that help churches and participating in local pastor fellowships.
2. Taking Action – We have yearly taken steps and pushed significant seasonal initiatives to foster growth in our ability to intentionally disciple believers within our church.
Contact me if you need a few ideas for how to take action.
We are committed to praying for you and supporting you on this journey. Together, we can create a culture of outreach and witness the transformative power of the Gospel in our communities.
Below, you can download a free handout from Shepherd Thoughts that summarizes the major principles of creating a culture of outreach. As always, if you have any questions, please reach out!
This worksheet can serve as a visual reminder of how to establish a culture within the church that reaches out beyond its walls.
