At the other end are churches whose sole focus is geared around reaching the lost.\u00a0 These churches are outward focused and often seem to be growing … at least numerically.<\/p>\n
If we obey the Greatest Commandment to love the Lord and people (Matt. 22:37-40), how can we not reach out?\u00a0 On the other hand, isn’t there more to being the Church than outreach?\u00a0 Look at the early New Testament church in Acts 2:42-47 — “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”\u00a0 As you continue to read, you will not find that they devoted themselves to an outreach ministry.\u00a0 Perhaps that is because it was a given, as they were who they were supposed to be and did what they were supposed to do, they were that salt and light.\u00a0 After identifying their devotion to teaching, fellowship, prayer, benevolence, and worship, the passage concludes “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”<\/span><\/p>\n Both extremes can tend to put the spotlight on themselves, though often not intentionally or knowingly.\u00a0 Churches can slide into a spiritual\u00a0pride.<\/p>\n “Look at us,” says the first church.\u00a0 “We know the Word and\u00a0hold firm to it, not compromising or becoming like the world.”<\/p>\n “Look at us,” says the second church.\u00a0 “We are relevant and\u00a0attractive to the world.\u00a0 We have a following.”<\/p>\n Perhaps if we focused more on simply putting the spotlight on HIM and not on what we do, we could avoid the dangers of such extremes.\u00a0 When we\u00a0find ourselves talking\u00a0too much about how we are this way or that way, perhaps we need to stop and gain some perspective.\u00a0 Is it about us, or is it about Him?\u00a0 Are we are trying to generate our own light rather than reflect His light?\u00a0 How do we engage in outreach ministry without compromising and without putting too much of the spotlight on ourselves?<\/p>\n As His ambassadors we work in cooperation with God by showcasing Him through our lives and through our words.\u00a0 We can use a variety of means but the objective should always remain the same … to help others see Him better, not us.\u00a0 –“He (Jesus) must increase, but I must decrease” (Jn. 3:30, KJV).<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Leaf through the pages of the New Testament and you must conclude that we, as a Church, are to be involved in outreach ministry. How are we doing? I have seen extremes when it come to outreach ministry in the church.The Needed Focus for Outreach<\/h2>\n
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\nIn trying to come up with the cover and emphasis for the Outreach Ministry Manual<\/a>, it hit me\u00a0 — Outreach Ministry is about turning the Spotlight on Jesus.<\/p>\n
\n Continue reading Outreach Ministry in the Church<\/span>