Outreach; Post #1: Acts 2

I'm going to be starting a series of posts about outreach. It is an integral part of the church to reach out to those around us (Jesus told us to with the Great Commission), and a lot of our churches do not do it so effectively. It is unfortunate that our churches can so struggle with it. It is often easier to help out by supporting missionaries or evangelistic ministries than raising a question or comment to our neighbors, coworkers, or friends about Christ or our home church. Why is that, you may ask?

Well, for one, our culture does not want to believe that there are any absolute truths. In fact, that seems to be the only absolute is that there are no absolutes. It is certainly frustrating to try to discuss with someone the need for Christ when he or she thinks that there is no such thing as sin and most people are "not bad." On the other hand, a lot of those folks believe that we're the misguided ones. They may think to themselves, "why would this person want to limit what they can or can't do? If anyone wants to do something, they should be able to do it." Sometimes, for all of us, it simply feels like we're banging our head against the wall. Those ways of evangelism and outreach worked for a time: during modernism (up between 1980-1990). But the people and thought processes of this generation are amazingly different.

Believe me, there is so much to like about this postmodern generation. I don't know if there has been a time in humanity when a generation has been so willing to step up to the plate in volunteering for what the individual perceives as noble causes. Just alone, the voting rate for this generation (1980-1990) is the highest ever recorded. This generation of people WANTS to be actively involved in working and serving in communities, changing circumstances and livening up the nation to act, work, and serve.

But as this is going on, our churches are having a very difficult time remaining strong in life, fellowship, discipleship, and health. We're just not doing a great job in realigning the way we evangelize, the way we reach out, and the way we approach others in the name of Christ. If we can try to do what the Bible says, it would be easier, though. Acts chapter 2 is a great model to follow. While there is 2000 years between that church and the one in our midst, humanity is amazingly similar now to then. Human beings still long for the same things: friendship, community, comfort. Acts 2 demonstrates great examples for us to follow.

First, God used a great work to amaze the people who were not endowed with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. In this case, tongues were spoken to everyone in their native language and they were astounded. I'm not saying here that churches need to speak in tongues to get the message across. What I am saying is that this was a mighty work of God, and our churches ought to reach out in the means of works or a work to the surrounding community.

Second, explain why the work was done. Peter addressed the crowd when they were in bewilderment of the great work completed in their midst, and explained biblically what was going on. This could be as simple as someone explaining that we are doing this to serve the Lord and to help them in their journey. Peter used and cited the Gospel message, of how Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty of sin, so that all people could receive the good news of Jesus Christ, enter in to His Spirit, and live with Him forever in heaven.

In response, three thousand were added to the church that day. 3,000! That is an incredible number. Now, this was ordained by God; but if we are obedient and do what God tells us, even if it seems like an impossible feat, He will accomplish so much more than even our wildest expectations allow us to think.

Then, when all that work is finished, Acts 2 summarizes the inner workings of God's ministry. Their devotion to fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer; their devotion to serving one another, praising God...all this was outward demonstrations of an inward realization that God came first in their lives. And God added to their numbers daily.

When all is said and done, and that outreach project is over, God continued to work in the lives of the people. They put God first, and he continued to bless that ministry. He brought others who wanted the same things- all were like-minded- and he blessed all of them in bringing others to the Lord.

It's awesome to think that God could do the same thing now. In fact, I know He can do it. We've just got to continue to look towards Acts 2 and submit to God to help us be bold in our works. He'll bless it. This generation needs Him, and God wants to use us; He has called us to be His hands and feet. Let's do it.