"Unchurched - Unreachable?"

Preached by Rev. Ed Brouwer at The Gathering Place,
Pulpit Series Volume 17 Issue 35 9/02/2007

Unchurched Ray and Debra are a lot like many other Canadians. Fighting traffic, paying rent or mortgages, desperately trying to scratch out a living in today’s uncertain economy. They are "nice" people but they probably haven’t been to a church for a few years, except to attend weddings and funerals. They are the unchurched. As Christians, we are expected, sometime, somehow, somewhere to share our faith with people like Ray and Debra.

If Jesus lives inside us, we have little choice.

The apostle Paul shows us to be part of God’s plan. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation II Corinthians 5:17-19

God has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

Committed: (def) to give in trust or charge; consign. to entrust, esp. for safekeeping;

It is hard to think of a bigger incentive to share our faith with the unchurched. God has reconciled the world in Christ, But the task of proclaiming that reconciliation goes to us!
Paul gives our spiritual job description: We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.… II Corinthians 5:20

We are to yield to God, allowing him to make his appeal to this hurting world through us. He usually does that in the circle of influence He plants us in. It is a humbling assignment!
The skeptic may blow off your doctrine or argue your theology, but he/she cannot honestly ignore the fact that your life has been changed. You walking out your new life in Christ is a powerful undeniable life altering message!

The atheist may stop his ears to the words of a preacher or the pleadings of an evangelist, but he is somehow attracted to the human-interest story of how you found peace within. The good-news according to you, is one of the best ways to reach the lost. Friendship evangelism works long after the hit and run evangelists have gone.

Do you remember when you gave your heart to Christ? You were I am sure filled with enthusiasm and joy, wanting to share it with those close to you.

We are best able to influence those closest to us, mainly because we have more credibility than with complete strangers. Share your life enthusiastically, and consistently. The results are not up to you, but the presentation is! You may not win everyone you share with over to the Lord’s side, and that is ok. Remember, Jesus was crucified between two thieves. One responded, one didn’t. Even Paul, perhaps the greatest missionary in history, didn’t always convince the skeptics. When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, We want to hear you again on this subject Acts 17:32

Usually it is a bad personal experience that turns unchurched Ray and Debra off of Christianity. An abusive minister, a harsh legalistic stance, or worse yet, a conflict with someone in the church. Here is where your personal example comes into play.

Most people you share your faith with will want the gospel according to you. You don’t even need to know how to read and write to be an effective ambassador for Christ. It is how you live your Christian life as employees, neighbors and family members - those are your credentials. II Corinthians 3:3

People open up to people they know. Real-life events can bring great opportunities for Christian witness. As Peter wrote, Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have I Peter 3:15

The best evangelism is intimate, up-close and one-on-one. Perhaps Jane the receptionist will tearfully confide to you that her husband is leaving her for another woman. Or maybe Mark your neighbor leaning over the fence breaks the news that his father has prostate cancer. These are the real issues of life. They are opportunities to reflect Jesus. WWJHMD

Verbalize your feelings. Make your communication heart-to-heart as well as head-to-head. Tell others you will pray for them. In some situations, it may be appropriate to pray then and there, asking God for wisdom, healing, strength, faith or peace. You may want to share a favorite verse. You may share a personal experience but be careful not to “one-up” them.

As much as possible use the Word. There is healing in God’s Word. Scripture can calm people. Sometimes that’s all that people in crisis need.

· Be discerning. Go only as deep as the person wants you to go. Unchurched people are not really expecting you to be a theologian. Tell them in your own words what God has shown you.

· Be Christ-like. Be the kind of person people can respect and confide in. Be known for going the extra mile at work and elsewhere. You don’t have to be perfect, but you do have to be consistently open, honest and concerned.

· Be bold. Don’t be afraid to tell people: you’ll be praying for them. Offer to pray with them right then and there.

· Be Real. Don’t pretend to know what they are going through or feeling. Above all don’t treat people like some project - become their friend, become involved in their life.

· Follow up. This shows you really are interested. A card or a gift is a concrete way of letting people know you care. Our world is starving for spiritual connection. With God’s help we can be ambassadors of healing.

John 4:6-26 Jesus deals with the Samaritan women at Jacob’s well. His message “whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” The woman said, Sir, give me this water…

John 4:28-30 The woman then leaves her waterpot, runs into the city, inviting people to come, see a man, which told her all things that she ever did: is not this the Christ?... And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.

John 4:39-42 So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. And many more believed because of his own word; And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of your words: for we have heard [him] ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.