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How can we discover responsive people? |
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Written by Dennis Blackmon
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Monday, 16 March 2009 17:50 |
Consider Paul's Experience
When Paul was converted he spent some time with the disciples in Damascus and then he went to the synagogue and began to proclaim the gospel (Acts 9:19). As Barnabas and Paul began their missionary journeys he usually did the same thing - he found the worshiping Jews and proclaimed the gospel of Jesus, the Messiah. Why did he do that?
Paul knew that some of the Jews would be responsive, but he knew that especially the non-Jews among them would likely be responsive seekers. Paul used his own personal experience to help him realize who the responsive people were likely to be.
Before he was converted Paul was obviously angered by the conversion of sincere Jews. He knew that Jews who were really seeking the Messiah could be open to the gospel. He also knew that the gentile seekers were very open. Therefore, it was very natural to expect that wherever there were groups of worshiping Jews, there would also be responsive people. He also knew the dangers involved.
What about Today?
As you think about your target area, think about the people who could be the most responsive. Talk to recent converts who were saved out of your target area. Discover what it was that made them open to the truth of the gospel.
Become familiar with the adversaries. Before his conversion, Paul was the adversary. He knew how to identify the potential converts to Christianity.
In many areas of the world the Christian is the enemy. What are the adversaries looking for as keys to identify those who might be lead to become Christians? That information can be used to help the church planter to identify people who are known to be more open.
In most of the world there are already believers present who can help with identifying responsive people. That is true even in dangerous countries that are officially closed and hostile to gospel witness. In Matthew 10 (and elsewhere) Jesus made it clear that they were working in a context of hostility. In spite of that, He was very clear about some things that they needed to do in focusing on the target group even in the face of persecution.
Relationships Lead to Discovery of the Responsive
There was a clear connection between Jesus and John. As Jesus began his ministry John's disciples became instrumental in drawing disciples to Jesus (John 1:35-42). First Andrew went to his brother Peter; soon after Philip sought out Nathanael. Jesus called Matthew and Matthew brought in many who were close to him for them to meet Jesus at a banquet in his home.
With Paul the same kind of advance through relationships can be observed. The only prior connection Paul had with the ladies at the river at the gates of Philippi was their being Jews. After contact with them, Lydia responded and then she and her household were baptized (Acts 16:14-15). Soon after the jailor in town came to Christ and he and his household became followers in Baptism.
Many less detailed associations can be noted in Paul's ministry. He was never able to participate in a synagogue for very long before he was expelled. But always he was accompanied by a group of believers who were united in Christ. They were also willing to accept the persecution that went along with forming a Christian group, or family, of those who had been called of God.
In the case of the Thessalonian believers the influence on persons beyond Thessalonica is apparent in Paul's first letter to that church (I Thess. 1:8). How else was it possible for the whole province of Asia to have heard the gospel - both Jews and Greeks - except the spread of the gospel by the new converts through their own personal relationships?
Tracking Responsive People Can Give Direction to Church Planting
Churches are not planted to occupy territory. An "essential" of church planting and church multiplication, is the soil - unbelievers - not a geographic territory. In church multiplication new churches should multiply naturally as disciples multiply through relationships.
Church growth studies reveal that most people come to Christ through relationships - kin & friend! The studies also reveal that most of the people live within 15 to 20 minutes of where the church meets. It does not matter how people travel, by foot, bicycle, public transportation, or personal car. The key is how long it takes to get where they are going to meet with fellow believers.
Mapping where people live who are coming to Christ, will show you where responsive people are. As relationships begin to open the doors of the responsive who live more than 10 to 12 minutes away, it is time to consider the need for forming another church in that area.
Henry Blackaby popularized the concept of discovering where God is working and joining Him. As mapping of new converts is done in an area around a new work, it is possible to identify where the next new works should be. As God's working is observed in areas approximately 15 minutes or more from the meeting place of the new church, it should be natural to think in terms of starting your next work in that location, or those locations.
A couple of years ago a mission was starting its first new work. This principle was presented to the team that was preparing for their new church start.
About 2 months later during a review of the progress a bricklayer who was on the team spoke up and said he already knew where the new church's first new work was going to be. This man was a new convert and had been very reluctant be on the church planting team.
He referred to the principle above. Then he told of some people he was forming a Bible study (Good News for You) with. The unbelievers were interested in the study of the Bible, but said they would not go to his church because it was too far away. He told them that was no problem. Then he said he told them they would start a church there in his house.
After he spoke the pastor and another layman each identified other places where they had had similar experiences.
Submitted by Dennis Blackmon
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Last Updated on Monday, 13 April 2009 19:24 |
