Small Things Bring Great Results

The key to success in outreach is faithfulness in doing small things. It is possible to accomplish great things - big things - as we pursue a path of consistently done small things. I have a saying that explains things well: "Small things done with great love will change the world." We can do no large things.

When we try to do things on a large scale we end up making a mess of it all. Yet as we sign on for small things that are done consistently over the long haul we end up doing lasting things. God is able to take our small things and make them line up to become something great. God loves to breathe upon our acts of faithfulness and in turn make something great out of them.

Be encouraged. Your small things will add up in order to make something great come about. Look for open doors for doing small things God is showing you. Start today with small steps of obedience. God can (and will!) do amazing things with a life that is set on obeying him.

Reprinted by permission from Steve Sjogren's ServeCoach.com

Prophetic Evangelism

Do you or people you know lack courage to connect with people in your community? Would the wisdom of God help you to reach into people's hearts? If so, you definitely want to listen to Steve Sjogren’s latest expert interview with Doug Addison.

Doug Addison has been a pastor and church planter and is the author of the book, Prophecy, Dreams, and Evangelism. In 1985 he had a dramatic encounter with Jesus after having a reading done by a psychic. Since that time, Doug’s passion is to reach people who don’t know God’s love.

In this short interview Steve and Doug are talking about Prophetic Evangelism two words that are usually discouraging and misleading to most Christians. But don’t get the wrong idea, this topic is not for the overly spiritual.

Prophetic evangelism is something that almost anyone in the Church can relate to and practice in a powerful way. My colleague , Pastor Nick Kinn, credits prophetic evangelism for many of the miracles he has seen in leading over one million souls to the Lord.

Random Acts of Kindness

I first heard about random acts of kindness in 1992. A random act of kindness is a selfless act performed by a person or persons wishing to either assist or cheer up an individual.

Random acts of kindness didn’t register with me as a ministry tool until I met Steve Sjogren in 2005. Steve taught about performing simple acts of kindness to show the love of God. Acts 10:38 “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good . . .”.

Acts of kindness soften the hearts of persons who are not yet Christians—people who often think the church exists only for itself or that it only wants people's time and money.

Living Word began to incorporate ‘on purpose’ acts of kindness into our servant evangelism activities. We handed out cold water on hot afternoons, provided yard care for the elderly and disabled and picked up trash along the streets in our community.

These are activities in which almost anyone can participate regardless of age (children and youth love to participate) or spiritual maturity. They may be done individually or in small groups.

Purposeful act of kindness can move people toward a greater understanding of God’s love. By doing a "low-risk" activity that shows "high grace," those resistant to the faith have become more open to the saving message of Jesus Christ.

Incorporating acts of kindness into your outreach ministry efforts pay high dividends not only for your community, but in the hearts of your congregates.

Thinking Outside the Flocks

Too often churches focus on its discipleship needs to the exclusion of outreach. While the Great Commandment is an essential component of Jesus’ mandate to the church, it would seem that churches need to place as much emphasis on the Great Commission and to think outside of the flocks.

What makes this so important is that the church in America is losing its influence. 3,500 to 4,000 churches are closing each year while, according to George Barna, the number of unchurched adults has increased by 92%. Ed Stetzer, in his book “Comeback Churches”, said that churches that are growing are doing so through evangelism.

When I pastored a small rural church in 1988, I honestly didn’t know how to do outreach. The fellowship I served had been birthed out of the Charismatic renewal and great emphasis was placed on the teaching ministry and revelation of the Word of God. Young Christians grew quickly and many went off to bible school and into the ministry.

What didn’t happen was evangelism. Like so many pastors, I encouraged the congregation to invite unsaved friends, but provided little training in relationship evangelism. Services were designed with the believer in mind. Outreach, although often a part of the vision statement, was not practiced locally.

Thank God things are changing. More resources are being made available. Men like Steve Sjogren have shown us that small acts of kindness draw people with God’s love. Bill Hybels of Willow Creek modeled friendship evangelism. Nick Kinn has trained hundreds of soul winners and has led hundreds of thousands to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ on the streets of our community.

As the return of Our Lord nears, pastors and church leaders are realizing that it takes more than just building a church and preaching a wonderful sermon. It takes thinking outside of the flocks.