We Can’t Forget “Jerusalem”
Just before He ascended to heaven, Jesus told those gathered with Him that they would be His witnesses “in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Many throughout the years have noted that these words serve as an outline of sorts for the book of Acts, as the Gospel did in fact spread from the city of Jerusalem, then out to the surrounding regions, and ultimately throughout the Roman Empire, all within just about three decades.
Those words from Jesus, though, have also been utilized by congregations to think about their own evangelistic efforts. By “Jerusalem,” a congregation might think about its local community or region. By “Judea and Samaria,” there might be thoughts of mission efforts in other parts of the country. And, obviously, by “ends of the earth,” thought is given to efforts in foreign lands. It is a good way to seek to balance things in trying to win the world to Jesus Christ.
In many congregations, there are efforts made all over the world, and that is a great thing. They might have a list as long as your arm of missionaries they support all over the globe and they might even have some great state-side efforts. I think this is wonderful, needed, and good. Their efforts “in Judea and Samaria” and “the ends of the earth” are tremendous and God-honoring.
For many congregations, though, that is the extent of it. In other words, what is often neglected is “Jerusalem.” If you talk with members of those congregations, they will proudly speak about how many missionaries they support all throughout the world. Again, that is a good and needed thing! But when you ask about local evangelistic efforts, the conversation slows or even stops. They might mention a few activities like VBS or Gospel Meetings, but if you ask how much effort is made to reach people after those events, you quickly learn that the answer is basically zero.
Why is that the case? There are any number of reasons, but one obvious one is that it is easier to deal with people at a distance. When we have to face someone we know–a coworker, neighbor, classmate, or friend–we struggle with the idea of being rejected and then having to face that person again. That is a very understandable reaction, so we often just do not say anything and, instead, speak proudly about how we are trying to reach people thousands of miles away.
Enter a congregational evangelistic model!
A congregation must be intentional about reaching her local community, and it must strive to involve the entire congregation. There will be pushback. There will be “no-shows.” There will be those who liked things the way they were before (in other words, when they didn’t feel left out by not doing anything).
But a congregation must work together to reach Jerusalem. At Central, we are part of the House to House School of Evangelism, and we have seen it work already, but this is not meant to be a commercial. This is meant to wake up congregations.
Two questions need to be asked and honestly answered:
- What are truly evangelistic efforts–not just “service projects” or “we got people in the building” efforts, but evangelistic efforts leading to Bible studies–that your congregation does regularly?
- How many members are directly involved in those efforts? Again…directly…their name is on the list of workers.
The answers to those questions might make you take pause.
The preacher needs to be evangelistic, yes. But he can’t win your “Jerusalem” to the Lord. Your elders need to be evangelistic, yes. But they cannot reach every soul in your community for the Lord while also shepherding the souls of the saved.
It takes the entire church. Every member.
At Central, literally 100% of our membership is named in our efforts somewhere. Do all participate? Sadly, no. But a far, far higher number do than ever did before we made this effort, and it shows, both in the number of people being reached and the overall direction of the congregation.
Leaders, step up and realize that your people need encouragement to face “Jerusalem,” but they also need your direction. Stop having vague plans and teaching in generalities. Make a specific plan. Communicate it. And have extremely high expectations.
But whatever you do, don’t neglect “Jerusalem.” If you do, you’re not being faithful. And if you do, one of these days, you may be someone else’s “ends of the earth.”
How sobering is that?
AUTHOR: Adam Faughn
