Check This Out!

I just read something from Perry Noble that is really worth spreading around. Check it out: [Injected comments mine.]

Published:
09.05.07 / 8am

Open Doors And Unwise Statements
I have heard it said so many times, heck, I used to say it a lot; in fact, just about every church planter MUST include it in their lingo to sound legit–what is it? It’s the phrase, “We’re not going to be a church for those who are already in church–we want the unchurched coming here, that’s it.” [Said it myself as a church planter.]
Doesn’t that sound good? I think it is a nice statement…and in most cases I think the people who say it are sincere (because most who say it have been burned by the churched!) [In my case it was to let people know we weren't there to compete with churches in the area.] But since being at NewSpring for over seven years now I am beginning to discover the immaturity in saying that we are a church for only a certain demographic of people…and here is why…
I believe that the “churched” in America is quite possibly the largest group of people who need to hear and respond to the Gospel. AND if it was not for churches who begin with the goal of lifting up Jesus then there could be a group of people who are around religion all their lives…but never meet Jesus. [Sad, but so true.]
Just a few weeks ago a lady accepted Christ in our church and said, “I’ve been in church all my life but here at NewSpring is the first time I have ever heard anyone talk about salvation or a need for Jesus.”
Just this past Sunday we baptized four people on stage–two of them were from churched backgrounds and had were “good” people who were actively volunteering every single week here…but the message on Matthew 7:21-23 hit them in the gut…and through it the Holy Spirit revealed that they didn’t have a relationship with Jesus.
It ticks me off–BUT–the fact is that there are thousands of churches that are not teaching about sin, about how sin separates us from God, about how Jesus made payment for that sin on the cross and about how, by receiving Christ, He comes to live inside of us to give us an abundant and eternal life. [And they are not all of the typical historically liberal brands either.]
AND…
(to see the rest go to: http://www.perrynoble.com/2007/09/05/open-doors-and-unwise-statements )

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