God Calls Us to Reach Out
“And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled” (Jesus in Luke 14:23 RSV). The first thing we need to take note of in this verse is the command to “go out.” We cannot reach others merely by opening the doors of our churches and trying to “think” people in.
For folks to hear “ya’ll come,” “we’ all” have to “go out” and invite them — invite them to receive Jesus — and invite them to His house. His house is both the local church for worship and His heavenly house.
To “go out” requires everyone in the church to reach out to others — friends, family, acquaintances — everyone you meet on the highways and hedges. There’s just no way our corps officers or church leaders can build up a solid congregation on their own. People need to connect with the person of Jesus. Dedicated soldiers of Christ must share the gospel and their testimony of what the Lord has done in their lives. This will make real converts who will enter into the life of the church.
Early Salvationists understood this mandate for outreach. They scoured the streets of London, lifting up the fallen, encouraging the weary and wounded. In other words, they got interested in God’s mission to reach out. And God got interested in them and poured out His Spirit upon them and their work.
Please forgive me if I offend; that isn’t my intention. But we’ve become a rather soft army [of believers] over the years, me included. It seems we think the world must come to us instead of us going to the world.
Well, in my best Dr. Phil imitation, let me ask, “How’s that workin’ out for ya?”
Answer: It isn’t.
About Chris Wynn
A graduate of Cincinnati Bible College and Marywood College Graduate School, Chris Wynn has been a pastor for 37 years. Currently, he works for The Salvation Army and is pastoral minister of Hadley Friends Church, Coatesville, IN.
Mary Beth Burch
I agree with you, Chris. We need to reach out, and go forth to our friend and neighbors. Thank you for your ministry.
Jack Wellman
Amen Mr. Winn. I so totally agree with this message. For years as a Christian, I was disobedient to the Great Commission which for me was the Great Omission. Today, after having 2 years of training on the street and door-to-door with an evangelist, I trained another church and my own the last 7 months. When I became the pastor of the church I am at present, I was told that this church had not had an Outreach for 25 years. Even this morning when I went out into the community, I was told that it has been over 25 years since ANY church came by to share the gospel, save Jehovah’s Witnesses.
My intent is not to fill the pews or build church membership, but to save those who are lost. I repented at my disobedience of years and today I can not help but “Go!” because of Jesus Christ’s imperative command. Thank you for your passion for the lost. May God richly bless this message and your labor of love in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. I thank God for you sir.