People finding and following Christ together at Hillcrest are introduced to some bad grammar, but great theology. We talk about our THEMs. It may sound strange, but when you understand that “THEM” is the most important word in the “Great Commission,” you won’t mind. Who are THEMs? They are pre-believers you brush shoulders with every day.
This past Sunday, I observed two THEM stories; one visual - one verbal. “I want you to meet my neighbor,” one Hillcrester said. “This is his first time at our church.” It was great to see joy and fulfillment on her face as she introduced her THEM to me. Later I saw her husband and he said, “Did you get to meet my neighbor yet?” He was obviously excited as well. They were working the 2nd “I” of the INVITE strategy, “Introduce your THEMs to your church family.” Another exciting thing about this couple is this isn’t the first THEM they have brought into the church fellowship. It is starting to become a habit!!
The second story is brand new, and I want to get more details before I share it in total with you, but suffice it to say this person was super excited to tell me how God had given a THEM out of something as innocent as test driving a car. Oh how we need to have an on mission mindset no matter what we are doing. You never know when God will present another one of His THEMs He wants you to reach for Him.
Way to go INVITErs – keep up the good work!!
Showing posts with label Who are THEM?. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Who are THEM?. Show all posts
Monday, May 21, 2007
Monday, April 9, 2007
Do You Have a THEM list?
Do you have a THEM list? As a duly commissioned representative of Jesus Christ (Acts 1:8, Mt. 28:19-20), you have a personal mission to accomplish. It is not the kind of mission where you get on a plane or a church bus and go to another location to tell others about Christ. That is a mission trip. I’m talking about a life mission to which you are called.
The Great Commission has a “go” component but it is not "go somewhere else" but rather “as you go.” In other words, this mission is to be carried out in the course of your daily going. As you go about your normal routine, you encounter people for whom Jesus died. You may not see them that way, but Christ does. Jesus called those people THEM, as in "baptizing THEM" and "teaching THEM." Without "THEM" there is no need for a Great Commission. In fact, I believe the most important word in the Great Commission is THEM. Who are these THEMs? They are pre-believers. They don’t know Christ, and often, they don’t even know they need to know Christ! They range from cynic to seeker, oblivious to painfully aware, and they are all around you. In your house, in your gym, in your club, at your work, at the store, everywhere! And they are your mission field. Jesus has commissioned you to make disciples of all THEMs.
The problem is you can’t lead THEM to Christ until you first lead one THEM to Christ. Pre-believers come to Christ one at a time. As much as we love the concept of mass evangelism where omeone is so clever they can just speak the words and thousands come to Christ, we find Jesus dealing with one individual after another on numerous occasions. When he spoke the Great Commission, he spoke to all disicples, not just the professional evangelists among the crowd. You cannot relieve yourself of the burden of personal evangelism by leaving it to the pros! It is every believers mission.
You need to employ a strategy as you invite your world to Christ. At Hillcrest, we use the I.N.V.I.T.E. strategy. The first step is to Identify your THEMs. That means living in an attitude of prayer, asking God to show us the people in our world He wants us to nudge toward Him. Do you have a list of your THEMs? It is our conviction that every “on-mission” follower of Christ will have such a list. Begin now asking God to show you your THEMs, and be ready to renew your mission of inviting as you go with fresh commitment and energy.
The Great Commission has a “go” component but it is not "go somewhere else" but rather “as you go.” In other words, this mission is to be carried out in the course of your daily going. As you go about your normal routine, you encounter people for whom Jesus died. You may not see them that way, but Christ does. Jesus called those people THEM, as in "baptizing THEM" and "teaching THEM." Without "THEM" there is no need for a Great Commission. In fact, I believe the most important word in the Great Commission is THEM. Who are these THEMs? They are pre-believers. They don’t know Christ, and often, they don’t even know they need to know Christ! They range from cynic to seeker, oblivious to painfully aware, and they are all around you. In your house, in your gym, in your club, at your work, at the store, everywhere! And they are your mission field. Jesus has commissioned you to make disciples of all THEMs.
The problem is you can’t lead THEM to Christ until you first lead one THEM to Christ. Pre-believers come to Christ one at a time. As much as we love the concept of mass evangelism where omeone is so clever they can just speak the words and thousands come to Christ, we find Jesus dealing with one individual after another on numerous occasions. When he spoke the Great Commission, he spoke to all disicples, not just the professional evangelists among the crowd. You cannot relieve yourself of the burden of personal evangelism by leaving it to the pros! It is every believers mission.
You need to employ a strategy as you invite your world to Christ. At Hillcrest, we use the I.N.V.I.T.E. strategy. The first step is to Identify your THEMs. That means living in an attitude of prayer, asking God to show us the people in our world He wants us to nudge toward Him. Do you have a list of your THEMs? It is our conviction that every “on-mission” follower of Christ will have such a list. Begin now asking God to show you your THEMs, and be ready to renew your mission of inviting as you go with fresh commitment and energy.
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