REGIONALOUTREACH

CONFERENCE

Nashville, TNSeptember 7, 2013

BUILDING BRIDGESTO YOUR COMMUNITY

Hinge Factor: Community Outreach

The church has a strategy for reaching the community that results in people being saved and God’s Kingdom being enlarged.

Community Outreach

Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.  Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered.

Community Outreach

He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

Community Outreach

Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.

John 21:1-11

• “I’m going out to fish.”

• “We’ll go with you.”

• …but…they caught nothing.

• “…at Your word we will let down our nets.”

• 153 fish

• the net was not torn.

A Fishing Story

• You have to go fishing to catch any fish

• You learn best how to fish by watching a good fisherman and doing what he does

• You catch more fish with a net than with a rod and reel

• Net fishing is an organized enterprise

Fishing Principles

• Outreach into the community is not an end in itself

• The immediate goal is for us to engage with people of the community

• The ultimate goal is to form relationships wherein the Gospel may be shared

• We serve the community because it is a Godly thing to do. This is not bait and switch.

Outreach Principles

• Incarnational churches organize their members to serve the community

• What does it mean to be incarnational?

GOING NET FISHING

THE TWO APPROACHES

1.THEY COME TO US

2.WE GO TO THEM

Dechurched

Unchurched

Attractional

Incarnational

HOW DO WE REACH THEM?

Two Approaches

Dechurched

Member as inviter(People come to Church and find Jesus)

Unchurched

Member as missionary(Jesus finds people through His people, who bring them to church)

Two Approaches

Dechurched

Programs will draw people to a church

Unchurched

Process. Relationship building, witness.

7 MISSIONAL ACTIVITIES

A way to get started:

1. Prayer Walking2. Community Surveying3. Visioning Process4. Service Projects5. Personal Testimonies6. Outreach Events7. Sharing the Gospel

SERVING THE COMMUNITY

Meeting a community need Community Surveys Interviewing community officials

Asking individuals in the community “how can we serve you?”

See Chapter 2 in People of Passion

Modern Day Good Samaritans

Tanglewood Apts.

Who are the people in your neighborhood?

Think of one example of a typical person who lives in your community

Each person at your table share their example What do they value? What do they they need? How can we serve them?

• Being where the fish are

• Knowing what they want and need

• Discovering the crosspoint of what they need and what you have to offer

• Creating a Vision Strategy

• See Chapter 3 in People of Passion

Finding Common Ground

• Incarnational churches organize their members to serve the community

• Incarnational churches attract people to events, not worship services

GOING NET FISHING

COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS

Service Project Sundays Adopt a School Neighborhood Cleanups Free Giveaways Mission Trips First Lutheran, Hot Springs, AR

COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS

Trunk or Treat Operation Christmas Child Backyard Bible Studies Nursing Home Ministry Educational Events Support Groups Members intentionally interact with

people in the community and form relationships with them.

Response to God’s Love

“He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds, we are healed.”

Isaiah 53:5

Response to God’s Love

“Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

John 15:13

Modern Day Good Samaritans

Joplin Tornado

Modern Day Good Samaritans

Service Projects

Modern Day Good Samaritans Memphis Union

Mission

Modern Day Good Samaritans

Colombia Mission

Help Someone this Week!

Colombia Mission

At your Table

What are some Community Service Projects or Outreach Events that you could do at your church or in your community? (See Chapters 4 & 6 in People of Passion.)

Pray for these activities and events, and pray for each other to follow through on your blessed intentions.

• Incarnational churches organize their members to serve the community

• Incarnational churches attract people to events, not worship services

• Incarnational church members are intentional about sharing their faith in the context of a relationship

GOING NET FISHING

Crafting a Personal Testimony

Talking about the Gospel

See Chapters 5 & 7

Sharing faith in the context of a relationship

Opening Doors to Your Community

Through Seasonsof Discovery

WHAT?

What is Seasons of Discovery?

Transforming Churches Network

Seasons of Discovery Is …

A Two-Year Introductory Process

Delivered into Four Seasons That helps your church begin

to engage your community with the Gospel of Jesus

Each Season Includes:

Personal Coaching & Peer Learning Group for the Pastor

Tools for Equipping People for Ministry

Events to Rally the People of the Church around the Theme of the Season

Outreach Activities

Each Season Equips 3 Groups

Pastor & Staff A Mission-Minded Group Called

People of Passion The Entire Church

HOW?

How Does Seasons of DiscoveryWork?

Timeline of the SeasonsChurches have 2 blocks of time (seasons)

in a year in which to work consistently on projects;

Fall (Labor Day to Thanksgiving)Winter/Spring (Jan-Feb & Easter to June15)

This multi-phase process focuses on areas of discovery spread out into four or more seasons.

Year 1Season 1

Preparation

Introduction to the Basic

Principles and Practices of

Transformation(Romans 12:2)

Season 2Visioning

Discovering God’s Vision

for your Community

Year 2Season 3Outreach

Finding Practical Ways to Reach Lost People in your Context

Season 4Empowerment

Empowering your Congregation to

Effectively EngagePeople in your

CommunityWith the Gospel

Year 3+Season 5 & Following

Discovering How Your ChurchCan Adapt to

Meet the Future Needs of Your Community

Learning How to be Missional in a Post-Church Culture

At your Table

Share the two people who have emerged on your list with the group (first names only). Discuss your plan to share Jesus with them.

Pray for all these people to come to know Christ, and pray for each other to follow through on your blessed intentions.

1160 Vickery Lane, Suite #1 Cordova, TN 38016 901-757-9700 www.transformingchurchesnetwork.org terry@transformingchurchesnetwork.org

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