There are five steps in the outreach process. After we have introduced the topic of outreach in our first lesson, by answering several questions about it, we will go on in the following lessons to discuss each of the five steps in turn.

In this lesson we consider some questions about "Outreach" and introduce the first step in the outreach process, which is the "Opening".

WHAT IS OUTREACH?

WHEN SHOULD OUTREACH BEGIN?

The only right time for a church to begin outreach, is when that church comes into being (in the above case, Sunday 3rd August 1980). There has never been any excuse to delay outreach. A church should, from the outset, have been "redeeming the time" (Eph 5:16). In so far as we may have neglected this, we have neglected to "walk in wisdom towards those who are outsiders, redeeming the time" (Col 4:5).

The Bible says, "Behold, now is the day of salvation" (2Co 6:2). Jesus reminds us to work for "the night is coming in which no man can work" (Jhn 9:4).

Of course, even if the church you belong to isn't beginning outreach when it should, that doesn't mean you personally have to wait. As these lessons on "Outreach" will show, it is essentially a personal responsibility and activity.

WHAT IS THE BEST METHOD?

Some of the things listed have a place in our outreach program, and we may use them in special efforts from time to time. But the really effective and day-to-day method of outreach --the one most available to us, and the essential method-- is personal evangelism. If we don't do that, we won't do outreach.

"GO YE" MEANS "GO ME"

Each person needs to feel that Jesus meant him or her personally when he said, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel..." (Mrk 16:15-16). All the answers above are right, but the last answer is where our focus should be.

As Ivan Stewart, director of Campaigns for Christ, stated it in Melbourne, "Go ye means go me!" Brother Stewart's campaigns were of the mass impact variety. Yet he emphasised the need for every Christian to be individually and personally committed to his or her own outreach responsibility.

HOW DO I START?

All the things in the above list might be helpful, but only two are needful.

THE OPENING

Lydia was already an honest godly person. Her inner man was already inclined toward God. She was already seeking God's way. Paul's approach to her simply opened a heart waiting to respond to the truth (Acts 16:12-15).

Had Lydia been one whose inner man was rebellious, hypocritical, and proud, Paul's approach might very well have hardened her heart even more. Just as the sun can harden clay yet soften butter, so the Lord, working through the soul winner, will open some hearts, yet others he will harden.

The Lord does not open people's hearts by some mysterious moving of the Spirit. He opens people's hearts using other people as his instruments to invite people to listen to the gospel. Just as the Lord opened Lydia's heart using Paul's approach to her, so the Lord can use your approach to people you know and meet.

PAUL’S METHOD

In the synagogue of the Jews (Acts 17:1-3), Paul reasoned with them from the Scriptures, "opening" (the literal meaning of the Greek in the first word of verse 3) and "proving" the gospel. Here we see Paul's two-pronged approach.

Note that this scripture puts the "opening" before the "proving". Paul's method of outreach (which we must all agree was most successful), started with an opening. He always sought that "opened door" through which he might invite and enlighten others (Acts 14:27 1Cor 16:8-9 2Cor 2:12 Col 4:3).

It was always Paul's prayer that God would "open up a door for the word", and when his prayers were granted, he acknowledged, "A great and effective door has been opened to me." Paul recognised that God "had opened the door of faith" and provided him with opportunities. (These quotes are from the passages cited in the previous paragraph).

HOW DO YOU RATE AS AN OPENER?

Do you pray frequently that God may open doors of outreach for you? How earnest are these prayers? Do you acknowledge and recognise the doors of opportunity and the "openings" you encounter from day to day? Do you depend upon God for providence, but act nevertheless as if it all depended on you? That was Paul's attitude.

DON'T WASTE TIME AT LOCKED DOORS

The flip side of being on the lookout for openings, is to realise when doors are shut tight against you. Many people shut the Lord out of their hearts. As we noted earlier, the sunshine in your soul, as you go about winning souls, will soften and open some hearts, but others it will harden.

Paul knew when he was being shut out, and he turned away and went elsewhere (Acts 18:6). By all means try every "door", but don't waste time trying to open doors shut fast against the word. Our motto should be, "Redeeming the time" --not wasting it. You find open doors only where you find genuine hearts. Personal contact is the primary and most important method of outreach. But you must relate it to God's day to day providence in your ministry.

A Prayer For Outreach


Our Dear Father above

We thank you for the gospel
Which we have heard
And believed

We thank you for baptism
Wherein we died with Christ
And were born anew

We thank you for the church
Which blesses us
With ministry and fellowship

Create in us a longing
To share our faith
And reach out to others

Let us work together
In loving zeal
And richly bless our work

Help those who seek truth
To find it
And let us be your tools

For unless we serve you
And save people's souls
Our lives are meaningless

You gave us seed to sow
Give us the joy of growth
And may we sow in good soil

In all things we praise you
For we know it is you
Who will give the increase

In Jesus Christ our Lord
Amen

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