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The Antioch Effect: Fields Are Ripe For the Harvest

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I am sure that most people that grew up in church were used to the old visitation night or we put on an evangelistic/outreach events such as a 5th quarter for youth or Vacation Bible School.  Most of these efforts usually create lots of work and prayerfully we get to see a few salvations from them.  in most urban/suburban southern areas of the US, the typical bible believing church is down the block and has been there for decades.  In rural settings, that one single church exists that everyone is aware of in the area and has been there for 50 to 100 years or more.  Hemphill shares that 28 percent of adults believe it is their responsibility to share their religious beliefs with others.  25 percent strongly feel they have no such responsibility.  In Matthew 9, Jesus uses the term harvest to explain the condition of the fields that are ready to be worked.  The harvest.  The people all around us.  Our neighbors.  The folks standing ne...
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The Antioch Effect: Christ is the ONLY WAY!

Point #2:  We must believe that Christ provides the only access to the Father.  TRUTH:  Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. John 14:6 TRUTH:  And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.  Acts 4:12. Hemphill writes in The Antioch Effect that if we believe this, with conviction we must share Christ with others.  The statistics show that there is a low percentage of Christians sharing their faith.  Worse than that, fewer Christians know what the Great Commission is and what it means.  Church, what is our responsibility to share?  Where is our conviction for the truth?  And where is our passion to share the gospel - the good news? We have been complacent and comfortable for TOO LONG.  Most older churches in America are dying a slow death because of the Holy Huddle t...
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The Antioch Effect: Building Blocks For Evangelism

The Antioch Effect written by Ken Hemphill gives good insight on the chapter "Passion for the Lost" and developing a solid theological foundation for evangelism in the local church.  I want to look at all 8 of them as the review will be good for me too....so here it goes: Point #1:  We must understand the condition of the lost.  Hemphill writes:   "Without Christ there is neither life, nor hope."  In most evangelical circles, we hear of the saved and the lost, believer or unbeliever, etc. to be able to identify what group you are part of when you are presented the gospel.  Preachers wind it up during the worship service so that with the invitation at the end of the service, you are challenged to identify what group you're in so that you can respond according to the invitation instructions.   If you're lost, you're invited to place your faith in Jesus Christ.  If you are saved, you should invite the Holy Spirit to revive/renew you or ...
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Am I Willing?

Back in the day, I played on a men's church softball team.  We signed up, got the t-shirts and held a few practices just to go out and have some fun playing.  We had 15 men or so that committed to play on the team.  Fortunately, none of them gripped about playing time or sitting on the bench.  They were committed to the season, to playing the games and bring a good attitude whether we won or lost.  When they were put in the game, they played well and were very humble about letting others play too. We don't want to let the other guys down by not showing up.  We want to play and seek out the fellowship especially with other believers.  What about committing to the body of Christ?  I could quote a few Scriptures to tell you that meeting together with the body of Christ is a command, but I don't want to turn this into a legalistic requirement.  It's a commitment.  Just like you're commitment to Christ, to love Him and others, to be devoted...
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The Presence of God

"the heart which is the first to live and which dominates all the other parts of the body - should be the first and last to love God."  - Brother Lawrence, The practice of the presence of God Have you ever that day where you wanted to give up?  That day where nothing seemed to go right?  That day where you threw the towel in early in the morning and didn't want to face anything else? I had one of those days recently.  It really tested me and my faith.  I found myself weak and in all the power and strength I could muster in my mind and in my heart, I couldn't fix the problem.  I couldn't fix the situation.  I couldn't lead any any differently.  I couldn't change the course of any action, or cause a different effect through my education or relationships.  It drove me to my knees, which is where I should have been at the start of all of this. I had my quiet time that morning.  I prayed and enjoyed my coffee time with God.  I was...
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To KNOW Him

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To Know.....used 21 times in the letter of 1 John.   to learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel to become known to know, understand, perceive, have knowledge of to understand to know When you believe and confess in Jesus as your Savior, it's not a ONE time get to know Jesus.  It's not a meet and greet party that we come and go.  This word "ginosko" implies that it's not just a knowledge as book smarts, it's a relational knowing with our Savior.  An everyday challenge to KNOW Jesus and getting closer and closer and closer to Him every day.   Why do you think when he called His disciples, He commanded them to "COME" to Him?  It's like He's calling us to Him constantly, daily, hourly to KNOW Him.  There is more than a lifetime of knowing Jesus and we will only spend few significant moments with Him throughout our lives when Jesus has asked/invited us for MORE.   1 John 3:24 " The one who kee...
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No Place Left Individual Plans

Can you imagine that a small group of trainers (disciple makers) from two churches partnering together in Allen would drive over an hour away to train 10 churches to go into the harvest?  I believe that the Holy Spirit is working in a mighty way in ALL of this.  The Great Commission is realized and some disciples there know the urgency, they feel the urgency, they are at work in the urgency!  The gospel is being shared!  Lives will be changed because of Jesus and the spread of the gospel! So, this reminds me of my personal goals that we learned from Outreach Training that we have:  1.  Praying for workers to go into the harvest (Luke 10:2) 2.  Pray and engage someone to train with the 4-1-1 (Core Discipleship Lesson for One Hour) 3.  Share the Gospel with someone in your Sphere of Influence - OIKOS) Accountability is the KEY!  Disciple Making is being accountable to the Great Commission that Jesus has spoken before us to obey!  I ...
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