We’re on the third blog entry about this topic of evangelism. In the first two, I identified two important pieces in the puzzle of church growth, (1) each of us must passionately live our faith, and (2) we have to build relationships with the unsaved people around us. In the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20), Jesus told us to go into all the world and make disciples. I cannot physically go to every place on Earth, but I can go into all of my world, building relationships and leading people to Christ.

While we’re on the Great Commission, let me debunk a common misconception among many Christians. Evangelism does not equal conversion. Jesus did not command us to make converts, but disciples. Too often, we build a relationship with someone only because we want to recruit them, and once they convert, we abandon them and move to the next potential target. This is not, in any way, what Jesus intended for us to do. It is not enough to be merely converts - we must also be disciples. It is not enough to merely make converts - we must make disciples; evangelism equals discipleship. Discipleship involves, among other things, continued relationship, even after conversion has happened.

Discipleship also brings me to what I believe is the third element of church growth. The church, as an organization, must be prepared to make disciples. As I said above, merely converting people to our way of thinking is not the goal. Churches have to be ready not only to reach the lost, but also to do something with them once they’re reached.

At the risk of being cliche, allow me to use an old metaphor. Jesus often compared the lost to a harvest. As individual Christians, we are all called to be workers who gather the harvest, who reach the lost. However, in order for the harvest to be kept, storehouses must be built. When a farmer harvests his field, he puts the crop in a grain bin. If there is no bin, the crop spoils and is lost. Churches are the same way. If we bring the unsaved in, but are not ready for them - we don’t have our storehouses built - they will be lost.

So how do we get prepared to make disciples? Now that is an interesting question, and one I don’t particularly want to get into with this blog. I will say this, worshiping together is the single most important activity in the life of the church. It is in the worship service that we are inspired, encouraged, equipped, and empowered by the Holy Spirit to do the work God has set before us. If we want our church to grow, it is absolutely essential to have compelling worship services that are understandable to those present.

I have much more to say about this topic, so you’ll have to read part 4 . . .