This is the second in a seven-part series examining seven distinctive marks of the church. This began as a sermon series for Pine Forest Baptist Church in Vidor, where I am senior pastor.
The seven marks of the church are: being filled with the Holy Spirit, successful outreach, sound teaching, purposeful compassion, leadership development, dynamic worship and inspired vision.
Outwardly focused
The writer of Acts recorded a persecution of followers of Jesus following the stoning of Stephen (Acts 11).
The followers of Jesus were scattered all over the region. Some of them ended up in Antioch. Many of those scattered by the persecution would only talk to Jews about Jesus, but the people who went to Antioch expanded the gospel outreach. They gave the gospel to “Hellenists,” and a great number of them believed and turned to Jesus.
Hellenists were Greek-speaking people. They weren’t necessarily Jewish people but were a mix of Gentiles and Jewish people who spoke the Greek language.
The church at Antioch broke down the barriers to gospel ministry. They experienced such success in their efforts that the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. They were “Christ-people,” conducting themselves in the name of Christ Jesus. They experienced successful ministry.
The second mark of the church is successful evangelism efforts.
These believers weren’t focused internally. Their main concern wasn’t the needs of the other members of their group. They were focused outwardly.
They were focused on the people who didn’t know the gospel. They preached the gospel to anyone who would listen. This was their main focus.
Their reason for existing was to see others come to faith in Christ. They preached the gospel faithfully, and God drew people to himself.
Defining ‘success’
What defines successful outreach? It is important when talking about successful outreach to define “success.”
Successful outreach isn’t hosting an event. Successful outreach isn’t measured by how many bags of food we hand out. Successful outreach isn’t accomplished by spreading goodwill in our community. Successful outreach isn’t quantified by how many professions of faith or baptisms we have.
Successful outreach is when we have gospel conversations with nonbelievers.
An authentic body of believers are people who share their faith with others actively. We are not responsible for the results of our efforts, but we are responsible for making the effort.
Faithfulness is about consistently sharing the message: “Jesus saves!” We are held accountable for what we do with the message of the gospel. It is God who brings the results.
God draws
It is only through the power of God that anyone is saved. It is only through God drawing people to himself that people will come to faith in Christ. The hand of the Lord must be with us if we are going to see people saved from their sins.
In Antioch, God drew people to himself. God’s presence and power were evidenced by the conversion of those who heard the gospel. The effort of the people did not matter unless God was with them.
Unless God is with us, nothing we do will matter. If God is with us, nothing can stop us. If God is with us, the message of the gospel will go forward with power.
Prayer is key
Prayer is a key to experiencing the power of the Lord. Outreach efforts must be bathed in prayer. We must pray for those who do not know Christ. We pray and we go. We pray for people who need Christ, and we seek to have gospel conversation with them. It is not an “either/or.” It is a “both/and.”
The writer of Acts recorded that “a great number who believed turned to the Lord” (Acts 11:21). They believed and they turned. These two actions are simultaneous.
The gospel had the effect of convincing them of their need for salvation, and they turned to the Lord. In believing, they turned to the Lord. They changed the path they were walking. Their lives were changed because they believed.
Keep reaching out
If the people of the church are not spreading the gospel, you can be sure the church is in decline. If the people of the church are not loving God fully, as evidenced in their behaviors, you can be sure the church is in decline. If the people of the church are not loving their neighbors, then you can be sure the church is in decline.
We must not grow tired of doing the work of reaching people for Christ. In God’s work and kingdom, there is no retirement age and no pension plan. God expects his people always to be about his business of reaching more people for him.
There is a temptation to think doing God’s work is the job of the pastor and deacons. There is a temptation to think you are unqualified to help people find Jesus.
However, we cannot think those things, because God has called you to do his work, and his calling is your qualification. You need no other training, certification or experience. You have the Holy Spirit living inside of you as a believer, and he is all you need.
Have gospel conversations with people. Allow God to do his work of drawing people to himself. Move in the power of the Lord.
Ben Karner is the senior pastor of Pine Forest Baptist Church in Vidor. The views expressed in this opinion article are those of the author.
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