Articles: Go

What is your church sign really saying?

Tom Bougher discusses the potential for influence that Christians have, the things that limit our influence, and how we can grow our influence.

Looking to promote Acts 2 in your church? Here are some logos to help you out.

I became a Christian shortly after I was married. My husband was in the army in Arkansas. He had been saved just before we married.

The central figure of the story you are about to read is presently the Kids’ Church Pastor of Timberline Church in Fort Collins, Colorado where he ministers to over 400 children every weekend.

Wes Bartel interviews Jim Hall about evangelism, the Harvester's Handbook, and One Plants One Discipleship.

Imagine thousands of missionaries entering a mission field with the resolve and the skills to make an eternal impact...

New Convert Care: What is it and who is it for?

To inform and remind you to follow Jesus in this simple and convenient plan to “LEAD others to Christ,” the Here 2 Help Discipler Guide is provided free of charge. You are encouraged to download and print as many copies as you can share with other followers of Christ to inform them that they are Here (on earth) 2 Help (others by being good news as well as telling the Good News). Let’s take as many to heaven as we can, with the help of Jesus who is Here 2 Help us!

Here's how to introduce the truths of Christianity in a relaxed, non-threatening setting that can even be fun!

by Rick Warren

Interview With Scott Davis, Daniel DeLeon, and Randal Ross

by Dan Betzer

I was approached by a big burly guy in our church service last Sunday night (yes, Virginia, we have Sunday night services and always will). He said, "I just wanted to tell you something. I have been quite successful in business, but now, in my late 50’s, life seems meaningless to me."

It seems strange that a community could come to dread a day of the week but that happened in Gloucester, England in the eighteenth century. Instead of inspiration and rest, Sunday became a day of dread for much of the population.

Effective teachers recognize the importance of teaching children at their developmental levels, using language they can understand...

Children who have had a genuine conversion experience want to share their faith with others but sometimes lack the understanding of where to begin. We can help by giving them practical experiences and training in the church setting. Here are some ideas to consider...

An easy way for your Sunday School to reach out to the surrounding community is to take care of the needs of the people who live there. Use any of these outreach ideas in your Sunday School class, or join together as an entire church.

If you asked pastors of churches that are effective in evangelism, "What is the key or keys to your effectiveness?" you would get a variety of responses: a traditional, Spirit-led worship service; nontraditional services that reach the unchurched; a pastor’s welcome class; praying people into the Kingdom; evangelism training and witnessing; Sunday school; small groups that build relationships; visitation; no visitation but quality ministries for the whole family.

In the classic film, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, a prosperous white couple faced the prospect of meeting their daughter’s black fiancé and his family for the first time. Suddenly confronted by this drastic change in their lives and faced with a new reality, they were forced to choose between their values and their fears–the security of their past and the risks of the future.

For many young families, a summer ideal is spending time in the sun, creating memories, and relaxing with one another. Limited time and money sometimes turn that ideal into a dream, rather than reality.

Dave A. Goetz of Leadership magazine lists multigenerational emphasis as one of the top 10 trends in the church world. He quotes Lyle Schaller, who said of this trend, "The only agreement among generations in the church can be captured in the statement, ’I want to leave more hopeful than I came.’ Worship styles, theology, technology—all divide. Churches that do well unite around a common cause. Too often, though, to try to make everyone happy, many churches unite around, ’Let’s take care of each other.’"

A question haunts many conscientious leaders. Although many people make commitments to Christ, few seem to remain. Their new birth often proves to be more of a stillbirth. How can we reduce the number of stillbirths and lead newborn Christians into meaningful relationships with the Lord and the church? Scripture is clear that we are to make disciples, not just decisions.

Admiral Perry planted the American flag at the North Pole. To accomplish this feat, he employed a dog sled, three Eskimos, and an African-American named Matthew Henson. Years later Congress awarded Henson a medal for being part of the expedition. The medal’s inscription expressed Admiral Perry’s reason for selecting Henson to be part of the team: "I can’t get along without him."

The church and the Sunday school are vital to reaching and keeping people. The pastor’s class for newcomers is one strategy we cannot get along without if we want to reach and keep people.

We are born reaching out. Our first outreaching is to get what we need—food and attention. All through life we reach for what we need: human contact, assurance, understanding. When we feel our deepest need, we reach out for God. And when we touch Him, He tells us to reach out to others.

by Gina Lee

Summer may bring vacationing Christians to your church. They may be just passing through on their way to some other destination, or they may be staying in your area for a week or more. Besides having an official greeter to meet them at the door, why not present each guest with a visitor’s package? Here are a few items you might want to include.

by Billie Davis

A sad dark face seemed to accuse me as I opened my morning paper. "Tears rolled from the eyes of the African-American teen," the front-page story began. She had found ugly racial words scrawled on her art-class project. The article called black/white relations in the school a "racial divide," and asked, "What can we do to bridge it?"

Gen X is the least churched generation in America. According to George Barna, only 28 percent of Gen Xers (ages 20-37) attend church compared to 51 percent of Builders (58+). Even so, there is reason to hope that more Gen Xers will attend church soon.

Do you remember a happy event that made you feel you were leaving childhood—that you were growing up? My event was the day I became a teacher. Well, not a real teacher at first. I was only 13.

by Billie Davi

by Leroy R. Bartel

(Download includes PowerPoint and Teaching Notes), and watch video by Dr. Debbie Gill

by Dr. Debbie Gill

by Greg Herrick Th.M., Ph.D.

by Greg Ogden

Here is a simple, reproducible way to grow disciples that will forever change your practice of ministry and leave your church with self-initiating, reproducing disciples of Christ.

by Stephen F. Olford

by Michael J. Wilkins

Consider these essential features of biblical discipleship that must characterize our attempts to develop a disciple-making ministry.

A program for introducing the basics of Christianity to those interested.

Host this one day seminar developed by Church Growth, Inc. or download the workbook for self study.

Four evangelism authors who practice what they preach tell what they’ve learned about bringing others into the Kingdom.

Recently, my family and I moved to a country in which Christians are a minority. After a dozen years as a pastor and a church planter, I now find myself in the position of being a prospect for people of other faiths. Friends and strangers regularly try to convert me to the major religion of our community. Being on the receiving end of their efforts has given me a new perspective. Here are a few things I wish I could communicate to those who have evangelized me—and some questions I've begun to ask myself as a result.

by Charles Arn

Nearly every pastor can testify that not all decisions result in disciples and responsible church members.

by Myron Augsburger

Integrate evangelism into every hour of the week, so that Christ is carried into people’s lives, into our work, play, and socializing.

by Steve R. Bierly

Just because your people don’t like to evangelize doesn’t mean they can’t share their faith.

Interview with Henry Blackaby

Read what the author of Experiencing God has to say about how walking in an intimate relationship with God impacts the pastor’s life and ministry.

by Bill Bright and Mark McCloskey

by Becky Brodin

When you’re sharing your faith, could you be talking too much?

by Becky Brodin

Asking questions is often the best way to connect with a non-Christian.

by Becky Brodin

Here are four ways to have an impact for Christ in the workplace before you say a word.

by Robbie Castleman

Sometimes patience is the key to a fruitful harvest.

by Earl G. Creps

Three shifts to reunderstand the challenge of discipling those who are navigating the postmodern turn.

by Don Detrick

To face new challenges and opportunities both in embracing our past and engaging our present, we must develop a missional mindset.

by Tim Downs

If no one responds, it doesn’t mean you’ve failed.

by Brett Eastman

Principles that have unlocked amazing growth and community outreach for church after church can happen in your church too.

by H. Dennis Fisher

How concerned are you for the salvation of the lost? What do your own actions reveal about that concern?

by H. Dennis Fisher

Sometimes patience is the key to successful evangelism.

by L. Alton Garrison

Misconceptions hamper the future of missions in America. But there are ways church leaders can overcome them and stand together for national revival.

by Judy Gomoll

What would happen if you began to see evangelism as introducing someone to the Savior—rather than as salesmanship?

by Jonathan Graf

Being ‘salt’ and ‘light’ can be as simple as sweeping off your neighbor’s porch.

by Dan Greene

Jesus has sent us to scale the mountains of misunderstanding and bring the good news to the ends of the earth—and that includes the people down the street!

by Jim Hall

New believer disciple making is indispensable if churches are to curb the alarming spiritual death rate among them. Consider these practical steps that will turn decisions into additions and additions into disciplers.

by Lynn Hallimore

How a small group of Christians built bridges on their block.

by Lynn Hallimore

The most overlooked way to influence your coworkers for Christ.

by Randy Hurst

These principles provide a biblical framework for teaching personal evangelism that can become an integral part of any believer’s lifestyle.

By Randy Hurst

By Randy Hurst

The cycle of evangelism and discipleship is an unending process of reaching and retaining people who become citizens of Christ’s eternal kingdom.

by Bob Jacks

All you need to reach the people around you with the Good News is a living room, a few paperback Bibles, and faith.

by Ian John

We’ve got to leave the safe, secure environment of the Enterprise.

by Kima Jude

Some people seem to attract seekers like a magnet. What’s their secret?

By Linda Wakefield Kelley

How four couples work together to reach their neighbors

by Sherri Langton

A self-confessed introvert tells how she reaches out to her neighbors.

by Mark Lauterbach

Given a pastor’s lifestyle, is lifestyle evangelism even possible? One pastor’s refreshing discovery.

By Beth J. Lueders

Four evangelistic small groups that are fruitful and fun

by Dennis McCallum

How to build bridges to people who believe that truth is different for everyone.

By Major Denise McGarvey

by Cathy Miller

Jesus’ encounter with a Samaritan woman shows us how to reach our unbelieving friends.

by Steve Mills

by Grant Nauman

Ever think of yourself as a missionary to your own community? Here are three ways to have an impact for Christ wherever you live and work.

by Grant Nauman

Ever think of yourself as a missionary to your own community? Here are three ways to have an impact for Christ wherever you live and work.

by Dary Northrop

The principle of Christ’s love transformed this church’s entire approach to ministry.

by Jim Petersen

Christians have a lot to learn about taking the gospel to secularized people.

by Steve Pike

While church planting in Utah, Steve Pike, the Director of Church Planting for the Assemblies of God U. S. Missions, used these stages for discipling the unchurched and pre-converts of his community. Also available is a portion of BootCamp training material, How Will We Do It? , which Steve provides to introduce the concept of the discipleship pathway. If you would like more information about this concept please contact Steve at spike@ag.org

by Dr. Thomas S. Rainer

Their seven most common responses about the churched.

By Dr. Thomas Rainer

Understanding their hearts and mind

by Randy D. Raysbrook

Evangelism can be as natural as conversation.

by Randy D. Raysbrook

Here’s an uncomplicated new way to present the Bridge illustration, using only one verse.

by Michael Ridgeway

What bait are you using to reach people with the Gospel? What does the Great Commission really call us to do? “Discipleship is an inseparable part of evangelism—it begins before and continues long after conversion.”

by John D. Sloan

Are you willing to take a chance with people who don’t seem like a sure bet for success?

by Stephen W. Sorenson

Here are some easy, practical ways to get to know the people who live around you.

by J. Mack Stiles

It takes more than the right arguments to lead people to faith.

by J. Mack Stiles

What will you miss if you don’t share your faith?

by Robert J. Tamasy

You spend nearly half your waking hours with the people at your job. How can you influence them for Christ?

by Paul Thigpen

Small but effective ways to share your faith.

by Charles Gallaudet Trumbull

This article offers us timeless help in answering these questions: What should I be thinking about when I am trying to help a nonChristian become a believer? How can I develop tact in speaking about Christ? What do I say about sinful habits in a nonChristian’s lifestyle? How can I help him be interested in my message?