An effective
Bible study ministry focuses on teaching people the message of God’s compassion
revealed most clearly through the life and sacrifice of his Son Jesus Christ.
Those people, however, will never hear what we have to say if we do not engage
them through our daily walk.
Outreach to
have effective results must begin with establishing sincere relationships. We
reach people for Bible study not to give us big numbers but for the sake of the
people we are trying to reach. Numerical growth may be a positive by-product of
our efforts, but our goal is to introduce people to Jesus Christ. From that
meeting they have the opportunity to accept Christ as their Lord and Savior and
know the blessings of a bountiful spiritual life now and eternal life in glory
with him.
Outreach
always includes an invitation. That may be the simplest form such as come to
our group and see what we are doing. Greater impact and more lasting results occur
when we take the time to introduce Jesus to someone by letting them see Jesus
in our own lives first.
This takes
time. This takes inconvenience. This takes sharing. This takes risk. Developing
a relationship with someone to try to meet their social needs, perhaps material
needs, and then their spiritual needs takes an intentional investment on our
part. They must be able to see our strengths, our goals, our weaknesses, and
our failures. They must be allowed to see we are just as human as they are and
face the same daily challenges.
When we
reach out to others with integrity, they will see we are approaching them with
a sense of understanding of who they are and their true value. When we identify
with the daily struggles and challenges of someone else, they will see our
honesty, our scars, and our daily struggles. In this context our message will
come across as one we need just as much as they do.
The small
group Bible study offers an individual the opportunity to be with others who
are on the same journey to the same destination. Each person recognizes their
personal need for Jesus as Savior and his strength to make it through each day
in a way that honors God. We are all sinners. No one is better than anyone
else.
As the
Apostle Paul said,
Rom 3:23 everyone has sinned and is far away from God's saving
presence.
Within the
supporting circle of the small group, an individual can be honest about their
struggles and their needs. The group members can provide that support by
sharing their experiences, their struggles, and how faith in Christ has helped
them meet the challenges of life in a sinful world.
Relationships
are developed as we get to know the people we are trying to reach. We know the
basics such as name, address, contact information, general age grouping, and
spiritual condition. We share our life experiences, circles of involvement, and
family connections as we encourage them to share similar information with us.
Relationships are strengthened as we acknowledge their life activities and as
possible share in them.
Relationships
are not strengthened through the rare contact. They are maintained through being
involved in each other’s life on a regular basis through phone calls, emails,
time spent together, and recognition of special events in each other’s life.
Birthday cards, special occasion notes, and simple “thinking of you” letters
keep the relationship growing.
When this
relationship is tied back into the activities of the small group Bible study,
then the group becomes more than a circle of acquaintances. It is more than just
a group learning Bible facts. They become family, a source of support and joy.
Outreach has moved from identifying a person who needs Christ to an inclusion
of the person in the family of God.
Rom
15:7 Accept one another, then, for the glory of God, as Christ has accepted
you.
