Word Count: 408 – Est Read Time: 2 Minutes
What’s Up:
Churches are great at fellowship and potlucks, but when it comes to turning disciples into neighborhood missionaries, most are coming up short. Churches tend to be better at gathering than they are at sending.
So What:
You can’t claim to be a Great Commission church if your people never talk about Jesus outside the sanctuary. Evangelism isn’t optional. It’s the assignment.
The Point Is:
Faith Must Be Personal
James 3:15 assumes we can speak to the hope we have in Christ – our “faith.” But most church members only talk about church. Few can articulate a relationship with Jesus. If all your people can say is, “Jesus died for my sins,” they sound like a Wikipedia entry. Faith that can’t speak to real life isn’t faith, it’s trivia.
Unbelievers Aren’t the Enemy
It’s impossible to obey the Great Commission from a Christian bubble. If your members don’t have real relationships with non-believers, how exactly are they going to reach them? The Send Strategy demands we step outside the holy huddle.
Evangelism Is Personal, Not Polished
Sharing the gospel isn’t about rehearsing doctrinal facts. It’s about sharing the difference Jesus has made in your life and the lives of others you’ve witnessed. When you’re observant, relational, and prayerful, you’ll know when it’s time to speak up. And when that moment comes, say something that matters.
Missionaries Aren’t Optional
Disciples who don’t get sent out become spectators. Or worse, consumers. But when a church raises up neighborhood missionaries who can speak about Jesus with clarity and conviction, you don’t just grow … you transform the neighborhood.
And … ?
The church may perfect the Invite, Connect, and Disciple rhythms. But the moment we stop at “disciple,” we end up building a cul-de-sac for faith rather than a launching pad. The Send Strategy is the missing link in most churches, and without it, we end up playing house instead of building the kingdom.
Let’s be honest: If your members don’t know how to talk about Jesus, don’t have friends outside the church, and wouldn’t know how to spot a God moment if it slapped them with a neon halo, you’re not multiplying disciples … you’re managing a social club.
Action!
Pick one leader this week and coach them through creating their personal Jesus story — the kind they could share with a neighbor over coffee. Need help? Check out the ChurchTalk.tv video on The Five Faces of Jesus.
