Ridgell's Originals

Go make a bunch of disciples.

Go on the offensive.

Most churches won't do this.  We love to talk about it.  We are all for missionaries in far off places.  We even will go on some short-time mission trips.

But I am talking about an all out effort to reach friends and neighbors with the good news.  I am talking about making this the expectation.  From the elders thru the ministers (better if they were evangelists) and into the members.

Where every member learns from an early age to talk about Jesus in gentle, respectful ways.  Where we live out our faith in radical, courageous ways so people ask us about it.

Everyone would be expected to help disciple our new brothers and sisters.  Teaching them live crucified. Helping them put to death the desires of the old man.  Helping them live by the Spirit in real community.

It would be exhausting and exhilarating.  Our worship time would be a time of renewal and reminder that we believe in the one who died and rose again.  So we could go out and engage the enemy for the souls of those around us.

We wouldn't have time or energy to bicker and fight with each other.  The peripheral things would stay where they belong.

And let's not fool ourselves.  We might lose some members if this was the radical thing that we did.  Some would not do it.  OK.   At least we are losing them because we expect them to do something incredible in this world for Jesus.  Not because we are trying to decide what to do about us.

But this is how you know your church will be here till the Lord comes again.  This is real growth.  Bringing people from darkness to light.  Not from light to a brighter light, a prettier light, or a light that fits us better.

Churches that don't get this may not be here.  In fact, I would say probably won't be here in twenty years.

But those that do ...