Pew and Pulpit Partnership

Yesterday was a good day of worship all day and yet a compassionate burden came over me. After attending one service, Tracy and I walked out only to see a car with red tinted windows and white writing (and I quote): "No broke Bs (you can read between the lines) allowed". There was also a young lady on a bike cussing up a storm as members of the church walked out of service.

There were two (2) churches connected to each other and anyone walking by can hear what's going on the inside of both churches. We got into the car and headed home to rest before going to our final service the day.

After the last service, I went home to washed and dried some clothes. While waiting for the clothes to dry, I started reflecting on the day and it hit me: "I've heard 3 sermons and I don't know how many mini-sermons but no one came during the invitation to give their lives to Christ.

I then posted my burden of thought on Facebook: "I've heard 4 sermons 2day and no one came to Jesus. Has evangelism become an after thought in the church?"

When I woke this morning that same burden is on my mind, has evangelism become an after thought?

I have a biblical conviction relating to evangelism that I want to share and here's my thesis for the blog: Evangelism is a partnership between pew and pulpit. The pew and pulpit is responsible for reaching lost people. Allow to share why I believe this a biblical teaching partnership.

The Pew
When Jesus started His earthly ministry, He said to Peter, James, and John: "Follow me and I will make you fisher's of men." Jesus started with a membership of 3 the eventually grew to 12 so they can make a difference in the lives of those who did not know who He was. Jesus gave the command to reach lost people before ascending to heaven in Matthew 28:18-20 and in Acts 1:8, He speaks to those in the upper room assuring them of the promise that they (we) will be witnesses for Him after the Holy Ghost has taken residence. The point is that the command, commission, and communication to reach lost people was given to believers (members) before it was given to the pulpit. I mention this in this fashion because oftentimes the lack of church growth is charged to the pulpit. I beg to differ. The initial contact for reaching lost people lies in the hands of the members. The pastor/preacher does not have any contact with those you invite (at least 95% of the time) until he says: "Open your bibles to..."

In a real since the pew makes or breaks any chance of reaching lost people. More than sharing your thoughts about your church and pastor, I charge you by the mercies of God to share God with people you come in contact with. The woman at the well said come see a man not come see a church.

The pew has the obligation to bring the people and the pulpit has the obligation of capturing (for lack of a better word at the moment). It's a partnership between pew and pulpit.

The Pulpit
In Acts we find that a membership of 120 grew to 3120 after Peter shared the gospel message: "This Jesus did God raise up, whereof we all are witnesses. Being therefore by the right hand of God exalted...8And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call unto him. 40And with many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, Save yourselves from this crooked generation. 41They then that received his word were baptized: and there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls".

In 2 Timothy 4:1-7, Paul charged Timothy to do the work of an evangelist by being ready to preach in and out of season.

The pulpit is obligated to take every opportunity it possibly can to share the gospel. I believe the gospel is to be shared in every service (morning worship, men's day, women's
Day, etc). The pulpit is not to be found not sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. The method(s) of sharing may be different but not the message.