Evangelism is the perpetual task of the whole church, and not the peculiar hobby of certain of its members.
Quoted by Curtis C. Thomas, Practical Wisdom for Pastors, Crossway Books, 2001, p. 176. Used by Permission.
We should not allow people to see the church as a weekly service they attend to make God happy. The gathering of the church is preparation for heavenly battle. We “huddle together” for a few minutes each week to worship God together and build each other up so that each of us can more effectively run the “missional play” throughout the week.
Gaining by Losing, Zondervan, 2015, p. 106.
The Great Commission is not a calling for some; it is a mandate for all… When it comes to a calling, we don’t need a voice; we have a verse (Mt. 28:19). It is now our responsibility, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, to evaluate how we are best suited to fulfill that call… We…see every member of our church as a potential missionary to be equipped and mobilized. Our goal is not to send some, or even our best, but to send all into the mission – to our city, across the country, or to the other side of the world.
Gaining by Losing, Zondervan, 2015, p. 80.|Gaining by Losing, Zondervan, 2015, p. 80.
The church which is not a missionary church will be a missing church when Jesus comes.
When all is said and done, mercy ministry looks like nothing more than Christians being faithful to the Great Commission and being obedient to genuinely love people wherever they go. This is true mercy ministry, and this is true religion. We are to in turn be faithful to minister to those around us and to live sacrificially so that we can send people to places where needs are greater. This is the means God has established to bring hope to this hurting and broken world (Jesse Johnson).
Right Thinking in a World Gone Wrong, Grace Community Church, 2009, p. 216.
It is not only in the world today that evangelism is needed. It is needed in the church.
What Should We Think of the Carnal Christian? 1978, p. 23. By permission Banner of Truth, Carlisle, PA.
