Category: Pastoral

Everyday Evangelism

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Discipleship, Evangelism, Pastoral, PracticalLeave a comment

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Every other year I try to go to a conference hosted by Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY — Together for the Gospel. Not only is a great time to hear the Word preached and fellowship with folks I haven’t seen in years, but it is a great opportunity to pick up a lot of books. Every year I go, I come back with at least 40-50 books. Most of those are handpicked by those putting on the conference and are free.

One of the free books I got at the last conference was Evangelism: How the whole church speaks of Jesus by Mack Stiles.

Outreach Misconception and Correction

In the book, Stiles tells of a time when he went to speak on Evangelism at another church. They had a question and answer session after his talk. One lady noticed that a lot of Vietnamese were moving into the neighborhood. She wanted to know how the church was going to reach out to them.

Here is what Stiles told her:

“It is really not the best thing for ‘the church’ to set up programs for Vietnamese outreach, but rather for you to think how you can reach out. I would recommend you learn something about the Vietnamese culture, maybe by learning some greetings in Vietnamese, trying their food, and learning about their struggles they face living in the majority culture. Reach out and invite the friends you make to come with you to your homes, a small group Bible study, or church. Then, perhaps, some of you should even think of moving into the Vietnamese community with the purpose of [spreading] the gospel among that community.” — Stiles, Evangelism, 66.

Probably not the answer the lady was thinking she would get, but that is what Stiles recommended — that we not wait for the church to setup a program to reach a specific people, but that those in the church take it upon themselves to go and reach those people.

Everyday Evangelism as Community Missionaries

I think Stiles is right. If we want to impact our community and city, we can’t wait for the church to setup an outreach to a specific people. Instead, we have to reach out on our own. We have to see ourselves as missionaries to our community and city.

As missionaries we must seek to build relationships with folks everyday with the purpose of speaking the gospel into their lives.

Everyday evangelism happens when everyone in a church sees it as their responsibility to daily reach out to those in the community with the purpose of building relationships and spreading the gospel.

Question for Reflection

  1. How do you reach out to your community?

Resources

Mack Stiles, Evangelism: How the whole church speaks of Jesus, 66.

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What are the Barriers to Making Disciples?

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Discipleship, Evangelism, Pastoral5 Comments

Disciples

Even though we are commanded to make disciples and Jesus gives us a simple three step method to follow, we have trouble following His command. We have trouble because we encounter barriers. The list of barriers we encounter can be a mile long. There are a lot of things that hinder us from making disciples. I can’t cover all of them, nor do I know all of them, so let me offer you five.

Barriers to Making Disciples

(1) Busyness

Let’s be honest, we all have a lot going on – work, church, kids and grandkids sporting events, school, friends, family – are just a few things that compete for our time on a weekly basis. With all these things going on, we might think we don’t have the time to make disciples.

But here is the problem with that line of thinking, Jesus commands us to make disciples. In Matthew 28 Jesus says,

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28)

So Jesus commands us to make making disciples a priority in our lives, which means we have to do it.

Reading those words, you are probably thinking: “Great, one more thing to had to my schedule.” But what if I told you making disciples doesn’t have to be another thing you add to you schedule. Remember Jesus’ idea of “go” is “as you are going” you are to be making disciples. If we do that, if we focus on making disciples as we are going, it won’t be something extra to add to our schedule because it would be apart of the natural rhythm of our lives. So while you are at the football game or the school play, or whatever else it is that you are doing, you can be making disciples. You can be meeting others with the intention of building a relationship and speaking the truth of God’s Word into their lives.

Personally, that is why I spend a lot of time at Starbucks. I am going to prepare sermons every week, so why not do that in place where I can meet people, build relationships with them, and either encourage them in their Christian walk, or share the gospel with them. I have to tell you, I have had a lot of conversations with people through the years at Starbucks.

So while busyness can be a barrier to making disciples, it does not have to be, if we incorporate making disciples into the natural rhythm of our lives.

(2) Fear

One fear you might have is that you won’t know what to say. While that is a real fear, we don’t have to let it keep us from making disciples. You see, Jesus hasn’t left us alone. At the end of verse 20 in Matthew 28, He says,

“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”” (Mt 28:20b)

So as we are going about our day, Jesus is with us and He will give us what we need to make disciples.

Another fear you might have is that someone will respond negatively to your message. While that is a real fear, a fear I personally have, research tells us that only about 5% of people in the States will be hostile to the message of the gospel.

You know, I think that is true. Even though I am afraid of how people will react, personally I have never had anyone outright attack me because I talked with them about the gospel and only a few people have been rude. For the most part, everyone I have ever engaged in a gospel conversation has been respectful.

So while fear can be a real barrier to us making disciples, it doesn’t have to be because Jesus promises He will be with us and most people we engage will be receptive and polite.

(3) A loss of your first love

What I mean by that is that something else has captured your attention. Something has become more important to you, more exciting. You see, we talk about that which we are excited. That which we love. Think about your favorite restaurant or vacation spot. You share those things with people because they excite you.

But if you think about it, what is more exciting than the gospel? What is more exciting than knowing Jesus has willingly died in your place so that you might have life? If we are truly a believer, nothing should be more exciting than that.

So if you have lost your first love, if something has become more exciting than the gospel to you, then you need to meditate on the gospel. You need to preach the gospel to yourself until that excitement returns and you want to share that with other people.

(4) I need to get my life right first

But here is the thing, if we wait to get our life right before we make disciples, we are never going to make disciples because our life is never going to be completely right. Becoming a fully mature disciple of Christ is a process; a process that takes a lifetime.

Plus, Jesus never said we need to get our life right first before we can make disciples. Remember, His idea of “go” is “as you are going” As you are going through life. As you are growing in your Christian walk, you should be making disciples. You should be bringing others along on the journey with you to be more like Christ.

(5) I am just a sinner saved by grace, what right do I have to speak into another person’s life. 

That is true — you are a sinner saved by grace. But you have been given a commandment by Jesus to make disciples. And as Jesus’ disciple you are an ambassador of Jesus.

You know what Ambassadors do? They speak on behalf of another. Nations have Ambassadors. The United States has ambassadors. When they go to another country, they have the right to speak on behalf of our country. That is the same for us. As Christians we are Ambassadors of Jesus and we have the right to speak on behalf of Him.

Now when we speak to others we don’t do it harshly. We are sinners saved by grace so we need to exercise grace and mercy when we speak to others.

But the point is we have the right to speak to others. We have the right to make disciples and we have been given that right by Jesus.

So those are some of the barriers to making disciples. Admittedly, those can be difficult for us to overcome. They can take a lot of work for us to overcome. So why?

Why should we fight to Overcome These Barriers?

Fighting to overcome these barriers and making disciples is the only way our country is going to turn around. As well as if we don’t do it — if we don’t make disciples — no one else will. You see, we are God’s plan. God uses disciples to make disciples. So if we don’t do it, no one else is going to do it.

Question for Reflection

  1. What barriers have you faced in making disciples? How did you overcome them?

Resources

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Post adapted from the sermon: Disciples Make Disciples

How Do We Make Disciples?

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Pastoral2 Comments

Disciples

A lot of folks think making disciples is a complicated and difficult task. One that requires a lot of training and time. But that is not true. Training is helpful, but you don’t have to have a PHD in Biblical Studies to start making disciples. Jesus didn’t set it up that way. Instead Jesus gave us an easy to follow three-step method to making disciples. What are those steps?

(1) We are to go

In verse 19 of Matthew 28, Jesus says,

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,” (Mt 28:19a)

We aren’t to sit stagnant. We aren’t to just let folks come to us. Instead we are to go. We are to go and find folks to tell the good news.

When Jesus tells us to go, He doesn’t just mean for us to go on a mission trip, or go and be a missionary in another country. Those things are necessary and we should do them, but that is not all of what Jesus means when He tells us to go. Instead He means that we are to make disciples as we are going about our day. So whether we are living Africa, China, or Decatur, we are to make disciples, as we are going about our day.

So the first thing Jesus tells us that we are to do is — Go — to go to our communities and the world with the intention of spreading the gospel and making disciples.

(2) We are to Baptize those who believe the gospel

Look what Jesus says in the remainder of verse 19,

 “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” (Mt 28:19a)

I believe Jesus’ second step to making disciples give us hope, because as we are going, as we are sharing the gospel with others in our life, as we take trips to other countries, people will believe the message we are sharing with them.

When they do that — when they believe — Jesus tells us we are to baptize them.

Now, you have to know that Jesus doesn’t tell us to do that because baptism saves them. Instead, He tells us to baptize because Baptism shows a person’s commitment to God. It shows that they are aligning themselves with Jesus. We don’t baptize folks in order to save them, or to complete the salvation process.

We baptize people because it is an outward expression of an inward reality.

So that is the second thing we are to do — Baptize those who believe the gospel.

(3) We are to teach those who believe the gospel to obey all God’s has commanded in His Word

Look at the beginning of verse 20,

“teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”” (Mt 28:20a)

Jesus’ command doesn’t just apply to Pastors. It applies to every disciple, all believers are to teach others to obey all God has commanded in His Word.

Teaching people God’s Word might occur in a formal setting like a church service or a Bible study, or it might occur in some other way. The point being you don’t have to be an official teacher to teach.

You can teach in a number of ways:

  • Most of us have families that we can teach. Again, that doesn’t mean we have to prepare a formal Bible Study. All we really need to do is sit down and read the Bible together, or share what God is teaching us, or share what we read in God’s Word that morning.
  • Participate in a men’s Bible study. My church has one every Friday morning. We meet at IHOP and discuss one chapter in God’s Word.
  • Participate in a Women’s group. We also have a Bible study for women similar to the men’s breakfast, but it is more missions focused. They do missions work in the community.
  • Disciple new believers. This can be done by getting together with a new believer and answering their questions about God’s Word.
  • Joining in on the discussion in Sunday School class, Community Groups, or Bible study.
  • Everyday conversations. Talking to people throughout your day about God’s Word and what you have learned is another good way to make disciples.

As you can see there are a number of ways we can teach and help others grow into fully mature disciples of Jesus, we just need to do it.

So that is the last thing we are to do — teach others to obey all Jesus has commanded.

Question for Reflection

  1. What part of making disciples do you find to be the hardest?

Resource

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Post adapted from the sermon: Disciples Make Disciples

What is a Disciple?

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Pastoral3 Comments

Disciples

Since the beginning of the year, I have been participating in a discipleship process with Gerry Lewis from the Harvest Baptist Association – Dangerous Pastors. Part of the process was to come up with a definition of a disciples. For the last nine months or so I have been thinking about my definition. What I have come to is that:

A disciple is someone who follows Jesus in loving God, loving others, serving the world, spreading the gospel, and bringing others along to do the same.

I believe Scripture supports this definition. So let’s break that definition down using God’s Word.

A Disciple is Someone Who Follows Jesus in Loving God.

We see evidence that this is what a disciples does in Matthew 22. If you remember, a lawyer, one of the Pharisees, comes to Jesus to test Him.

In verse 36 he says,

““Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” (Mt 22:36)

To which Jesus replies,

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.” (Mt 22:37–38)

So Jesus tells us that a disciple is someone who loves God.

A Disciple is Someone Who Follows Jesus  in Loving Others

The second thing Jesus says to the lawyer who questions Him in chapter 22 is:

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mt 22:39)

Which is the second greatest commandment. Then He goes on by saying,

“On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”” (Mt 22:40)

So according to Jesus, a disciple is someone who not only loves God, but also loves others.

A Disciple is Someone Who Follows Jesus  in Serving the World

In Matthew chapter 20, the mother of the sons of Zebedee come to Jesus asking if her sons could be placed over everyone else in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus responds by telling her He can’t do that because it is up to His Father who gets those seats.

Hearing this, the other disciples get mad at the two brothers for trying to edge them out, for trying to use their mom to get a position they wanted, so a fight ensues among the disciples.

Seeing His disciples fighting, Jesus steps in and says,

“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”” (Mt 20:25–28)

So Jesus tells us a disciple is one who serves, just like He is one who serves, which means it shouldn’t be about us and our comfort. Rather it should be about others and what we can do for them. How we can serve them.

So according to Jesus, a disciple is not only someone who loves God and others, but they are also someone who serves the world.

A Disciple is Someone Who Follows Jesus in Spreading the Gospel

Matthew 28 tells us we are to go and spread the gospel, to bring the good news to our neighbors, to our family, to our friends, to our co-workers, to city, to our state, to our country, and to the nations. Jesus is commanding us, He is commissioning us, to spread the good news just as He has been doing throughout His entire ministry.

So according to Jesus, a disciple is not only someone who loves God and others, serves the world, but they are also someone who spreads the gospel.

A Disciple is Someone Who Follows Jesus in Bringing Others Along

If you think about it, that is what Jesus has been doing throughout His entire ministry. Almost right away, He called Twelve Men to follow Him, and He brought them along on the journey with Him. As He did, He taught them what it meant to Love God, Love Others, Serve the World, and Spread the Gospel.

We are to imitate Jesus. We are to bring others along on the journey with us to help them grow in these areas as we are growing in these areas.

So according to Jesus, a disciple is not only someone who loves God and others, serves the world,  spreads the gospel, but they also bring others along to do the same thing they are doing — Loving God, Loving Others, Serving the World, and Spreading the Gospel.

Question for Reflection

  1. What is your definition of a disciple?

Resources

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Why Do Church Members Think the Pastor is the Only Minister?

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Leadership, Pastoral3 Comments

Shepherd

Why do church members think the Pastor is the only minister? I asked that question last night during our Community Group meeting.

The Answer

Talking with my wife afterwards and thinking through the responses this morning, it seems congregants don’t believe they are on par with their pastor when it comes to their ability to minister. Pastors are put in a different category, thought to play in a different league, or are seen as higher on the hierarchal scale of spirituality. They are the professional. As the professional, they are the ones who do the “real” ministering.

The Reality

I, however, don’t believe that’s true. While my full-time vocation is ministry, I don’t see myself as higher up the spiritual scale as others. Nor do I believe I am playing in a different league than my congregants. There are those in my congregation who can minister just as effectively, if not better, than I can.

While, at times, my knowledge of the Bible, Theology, Hermeneutics, and Ecclesiology might be greater, my life experiences are still limited, my relationships don’t run as deep, and my ability to comfort is, at times, not as great.

Knowledge doesn’t always equal better ministry.

Additionally, if a Pastor’s main job is to equip the saints for the work of ministry (Eph. 4), that necessitates others in the congregation are not only given the responsibility to minister, but also have the ability to minister. A little coaching or training might be needed, but ministry is possible.

Don’t Sell Yourself Short

So don’t sell yourself short. You have the ability to minister. You might not be able to answer every theological question thrown at you, but ministry is much more than sharing knowledge. It is also about sharing wisdom. Wisdom that is gained from years of walking with the Lord and applying His Word to your life.

Question for Reflection

  1. How do you minister alongside your Pastor?

Resource

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Get in the Game

On By Dr. Casey LewisIn Church Life, Discipleship, Evangelism, PastoralLeave a comment

Football Huddle

All too often Christians are found retreating into a holy huddle, to their own corner of the world that doesn’t include non-believers. But instead of gathering together in a holy huddle, I believe we are supposed to interact with and engage non-believers. If we don’t, then we can’t accomplish the Great Commission — to make disciples because we don’t know any non-believers.

If we want to win non-believers to Christ, we have to know non-believers.

It’s Easy to Do

The reason I bring this up is because I know it is easy for us as Christians to gather together in our holy huddle. For a time, that is fine, but at some point we have to break the huddle and engage those around us with the gospel, especially knowing that Jesus could return at any point.

A Silly Example that Rings True

Imagine throwing down a couple of hundred dollars for a ticket to a Cowboys game, fighting traffic all the way down to Arlington, and spending even more time finding a parking spot and even more money at the concession stand, only to see the Cowboys never break the huddle after fielding the first kickoff. No amazing play for a touchdown. No last minute “hail mary” to win the game. No, none of that happens, instead they turn the ball over to the other team because of delay of game penalties. Imagine seeing that.

We are no different than the Cowboys, if we remain in our holy huddle. Sure it is safe in there, but if we never engage anyone with the gospel, all we are doing is turning things over to the other team. That’s not good because the other team isn’t just going to score a touchdown. No, instead they are going to score someone’s soul.

Who Do You Know?

So instead of remaining in a holy huddle we need to engage those around us with the gospel. In order to engage non-believers with the gospel, we have to know non-believers.

A good question to ask yourself to see if you are stuck in a holy huddle or if you have broke and you are playing the game is simple: How many people do you know that is a non-believer?

When I say know, I don’t mean know of. Instead I mean how many do you know? How many people do you personally engage with on a weekly basis that is a non-believer?

We have to know non-believers in order to accomplish the Great Commission.

Questions for Reflection

  1. Are you stuck in a holy huddle or are you playing the game?
  2. Would you share some ways you get to know non-believers?

Resources

Post adapted from my sermon: Are you ready for the return of Jesus?

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