The Secret to Effective Outreach

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"I'll never be able to do that. I just don't have that gift." Have you ever heard someone say this? Have you ever said this? We all have!

Often we think of tasks, goals, activities we want to or know we should be doing, but we fall down in self-defeat. It's discouraging at times wanting to be part of something exciting, but something inside tells us we can't. An area that is usually at the top of the list for Christians is outreach and/or evangelism (I'll use the terms interchangeably).


But what if there was a way - a formula to do effective outreach that freed you from self-defeat and doubt? There is. Look at 1 Corinthians 3:5-9:
After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.
The Apostle Paul says, "We are only God's servants." We are simply workers in the field of missions. Apollos, he watered. Paul, he did some seed scattering. But it was not Paul or Apollos who made the seed take and grow. It was and is God alone. This gives you and me so much freedom. It gives us freedom to use the outreach formula of Paul, Apollos, and myself.
PR + PL + HS = EO

PRAY (PR) In Acts 26:18, Luke is recounting Paul's defense before King Agrippa. Paul is recorded saying his desire and prayer for his Jewish people is "to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me." Part of the watering for you and I is to daily pray for our friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, neighborhood, workplace and others who are far from Jesus. Pray that their hearts would be open to the gospel. Pray that God would open doors to love them and share our story and the gospel.

PLAY (PL) - This is probably the most fun element for me. In verse 6, Paul says, he planted and scattered seeds. Apollos watered. This obedience to the great commission: "Go make disciples of all nations..." One way to read this is "While going make disciples..." In other words, while you playing.
  • While you are in engaged in your daily lives make disciples. While you are working at your cubicle, make disciples.
  • While you are a student in class make disciples.
  • While you are living in your neighborhood barbecuing make disciples.
  • While you are out hunting, make disciples.
  • While you are watching your kids play team sports, make disciples.

Do you see how easy this is? Simply play. Play in the fields, hobbies, circles of influence, mission fields, and simultaneously make disciples. 

HOLY SPIRIT (HS) Paul reminds us that all we can and should try to do is pray and play. It is the work of God through the Holy Spirit that anyone gets saved. If anyone says, "I saved someone today" remind them they didn't save anyone. It was God alone. The Holy Spirit provides freedom. The Holy Spirit is the one who prompts us to share the gospel and He is the one who softens the hearts and lets the gospel seed take root.

EFFECTIVE OUTREACH (EO) The result of Praying and Playing and letting the Spirit do His work is effective outreach. It’s effective because we get to do our natural, everyday part. It takes all the fear away because we get to do what we love with the people we love. God does the rest.

Question: What are your natural mission fields? What will you do differently in your outreach now that you know all you need

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