Numerical Growth Is Not A Sign Of Revival...

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

Seriously?

You need to take a tour and see how they make that stuff.

Not sure if I want to do that. I don't eat Campbell's products (or much of anything prepared beforehand by any company) but still I don't wanna get too grossed out. I mean, it literally looks like a mini refinery, burn stacks and all.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Esaias

Not sure if I want to do that. I don't eat Campbell's products (or much of anything prepared beforehand by any company) but still I don't wanna get too grossed out. I mean, it literally looks like a mini refinery, burn stacks and all.

I bet that would be one gross trip.

I mean can you imagine the huge vats of gelatinous goo?

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

I bet that would be one gross trip.

I mean can you imagine the huge vats of gelatinous goo?

Ha! That's beyond words. It's like a weird, evil Dr Seuss book.

[Esaias]

Makes me want to go by there and see if I can get some film footage or pics or something... lol

[votivesoul]

This is the type of evangelism I've encountered over the years:

"Come to our church, it's awesome! We see healings and..."

So someone comes to check out the awesome church because they are indirectly promised a healing. They show up, and God moves, and the power of God is present to save, and someone comes up and does a quick three minute Bible study about "Today is the day of salvation" and in a crisis moment, when emotions are high, a person is expected to count the cost just like that and make an eternal decision to save their soul without so much as a chance to really think about what they're doing.

God is ever faithful and fills them with the Holy Spirit. The church celebrates. They get baptized. The church celebrates even more (and rightfully so) and...who gets their phone number and becomes their friend? Who spends the next six to ten weeks with them at least once a week, doing Bible study and fellowship?

Well, don't you know?! That's the pastor's job. Us regular folks aren't supposed to do anything!

And in a couple of weeks, when the emotions have died down, and the same old same old from the old life shows up--BOOM--gone like the wind.

We have an obligation to show prospective converts that this is an eternal covenant of marriage between them and Jesus. Don't go saying "I do" in the baptistry unless you really want Jesus to be your Lord and Master and rule over you forever.

[votivesoul]

Originally Posted by votivesoul

This is the type of evangelism I've encountered over the years:

"Come to our church, it's awesome! We see healings and..."

So someone comes to check out the awesome church because they are indirectly promised a healing. They show up, and God moves, and the power of God is present to save, and someone comes up and does a quick three minute Bible study about "Today is the day of salvation" and in a crisis moment, when emotions are high, a person is expected to count the cost just like that and make an eternal decision to save their soul without so much as a chance to really think about what they're doing.

God is ever faithful and fills them with the Holy Spirit. The church celebrates. They get baptized. The church celebrates even more (and rightfully so) and...who gets their phone number and becomes their friend? Who spends the next six to ten weeks with them at least once a week, doing Bible study and fellowship?

Well, don't you know?! That's the pastor's job. Us regular folks aren't supposed to do anything!

And in a couple of weeks, when the emotions have died down, and the same old same old from the old life shows up--BOOM--gone like the wind.

We have an obligation to show prospective converts that this is an eternal covenant of marriage between them and Jesus. Don't go saying "I do" in the baptistry unless you really want Jesus to be your Lord and Master and rule over you forever.

From my earliest efforts in evangelism, I have ever strived to win people to the Lord through extensive teaching and personal testimony, so that, by the time they show up to church, there isn't any decisions that need to be made; they're already ready to commit.

I try to win souls outside of the church, if you will, then bring them to the church, when they are ready. If not ready, then, I just pray for them, be their friend, and wait it out, and see who else hungers and thirsts.

[CC1]

Originally Posted by Esaias

I've become convinced that we ought not to baptise anyone unless they understand they are committing to serve Christ as a member of the Body.

'And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.'

Our church is a leased space in a 115 year old factory so we don't have a permanent baptistry. About four times a year we have a baptismal weekend where we bring in two cattle tanks for baptisms. That weekend the sermon for all four services is on baptism. That means someone like me who has gone to this church for about four years has heard the baptism sermon 16 or more times but I still love it because I know some people are hearing it for the first time.

[allstate1]

Originally Posted by Esaias

I've become convinced that we ought not to baptise anyone unless they understand they are committing to serve Christ as a member of the Body.

'And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.'

HUH????

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by allstate1

HUH????

You seem... perturbed?

[Michael The Disciple]

Originally Posted by Esaias

I've become convinced that we ought not to baptise anyone unless they understand they are committing to serve Christ as a member of the Body.

'And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.'

Did Phillip forget to tell this to the Ethiopian eunuch?