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Ready!

Probably because we just opened a brand new worship center, we had numerous visitors at both AM and PM services last Sunday. We were successful in getting names and phones numbers on 17 of them. We were so READY to receive these guests. Four friends found us on the Internet and noted that we offered one-on-one Bible study. They came to learn more about it. We were so READY! We got their numbers, called Monday night, set up one-on-one appointments for Wednesday, and one received Christ. We were READY! Another lady who had been attending invited her friend. We got her number and called on Monday. The two ladies came on Wednesday for one-on-one Bible study and they both received Christ! We were READY! Of the 17 folks who signed in, six came for one-on-one Bible study on Wednesday and two said they would come the following week.

Emma was among these visitors. She was called on Monday and agreed to come on Wednesday for one-on-one. Once the lesson began, she hesitated and was not ready to receive Christ. She read the card that contained the sinner’s prayer. It made her weep. But she wasn’t ready to receive. But we were READY! She promised to keep studying.

There are many important and vital components for a successful church: It is important to have great preaching, kids programs, youth ministry, nursery, worship and a spiritual and loving atmosphere. And these work together to win new people. But the "fish need cleaning." And we are Ready to clean fish. You clean fish through one-on-one follow up.

How do you get ready? This is the absolute responsibility of the pastors. Ephesians 4:11-12 says that pastors (and other leadership gifts) equip and train and prepare the people to clean fish (do works of service). This means that the pastor does not clean fish. He inspires and provides training for the membership to clean fish. That is, ordinary folks who love God, faithfully support the church and care about lost people. These are the ones God wants to raise up to lead new people to Christ. It all starts with the pastor. His job is to get the folks READY!

The second way to get ready is to be sure that the follow up is one-on-one. Believe it or not, trained ordinary lay people can connect better than the clergy with folks who walk in the door. So come on everybody, let’s get READY!