Winning Ways -- Hillcrest Baptist Church

'Come and See' or 'Go and Tell'?
by Tom Goodman
July 29, 2009

It’s wonderful to be back with the Hillcrest Family after 5 weeks in Zambia! On Wednesday, August 5, I will bring a report on my trip. But now that I’m back from the mission field across the sea, I’m anxious to turn our attention to our mission field across the street. So that will be the focus of my sermons the next few weeks.

What's our job? Should we tell people to "come to church"? Or should we, as God's people "go and tell"?

A lot of people are writing about this these days, dismissing the so-called "attactional" approach to outreach and advocating what they call a "missional" approach. They contend that we abandon all efforts to invite people to experience the life and worship of a church body ("attractional") and instead simply live an authentic Christian life in our workplace and neighborhood ("missional").

It's either-or, according to many: Either compel the community to "come and see" or compel the church to "go and tell."

Um.... Am I the only one who sees this as a false dichotomy? People veer off course in the whole "missional versus attractional" debate the moment they actually think the word "versus" belongs between those two words.

Should I build a genuine relationship with my neighbors? Yep. Should I live an authentic Christian life in their presence? Yep. Should I serve them? Yep.

But now, keep going: Should I bring my neighbors to sit in with my Bible study group and listen to us believers wrestle with the implications of the text? Yep. Should I invite my neighbors to the church ski retreat? Yep. Should I pray and work toward the time my neighbors begin to sit with me in a service where real worship is taking place? Yep. Should I enlist my neighbors' help on a church mission trip? Yep.

The point is: Of course we should be "in the world" building relationships, but we're not "doing church" right if we don't spontaneously and naturally want to bring someone with us to experience our congregation's life and study and worship.

If we have a church where people are doing all the stuff that a real church ought to be doing -- praying for each other, serving each other, forbearing each other, worshipping God, challenging each other with the Word -- well, wouldn't that be absolutely the best environment for the spiritually curious to see the life-changing difference Christ makes?

So, does Jesus want us "out there" with people or does he want us bringing people into the Christian community where we share life together?

Yes.

--Tom

Weblog: Check out my blog, "Get Anchored." Some things to look for...

Song of the Week, posted every Sunday.
Links to Your World, interesting and informative links, posted every Tuesday.

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'Come and See' or 'Go and Tell'? by Tom Goodman July 29, 2009 It’s wonderful to be back with the Hillcrest Family after 5 weeks in Zambia! On Wednesday, August 5, I will bring a report on my trip. But now that I’m back from the mission field across the sea, I’m anxious to turn our attention to our mission field across the street. So that will be the focus of my sermons the next few weeks. What's our job? Should we tell people to "come to church"? Or should we, as God's people "go and tell"? A lot of people are writing about this these days, dismissing the so-called "attactional" approach to outreach and advocating what they call a "missional" approach. They contend that we abandon all efforts to invite people to experience the life and worship of a church body ("attractional") and instead simply live an authentic Christian life in our workplace and neighborhood ("missional"). It's either-or, according to many: Either compel the community to "come and see" or compel the church to "go and tell." Um.... Am I the only one who sees this as a false dichotomy? People veer off course in the whole "missional versus attractional" debate the moment they actually think the word "versus" belongs between those two words. Should I build a genuine relationship with my neighbors? Yep. Should I live an authentic Christian life in their presence? Yep. Should I serve them? Yep. But now, keep going: Should I bring my neighbors to sit in with my Bible study group and listen to us believers wrestle with the implications of the text? Yep. Should I invite my neighbors to the church ski retreat? Yep. Should I pray and work toward the time my neighbors begin to sit with me in a service where real worship is taking place? Yep. Should I enlist my neighbors' help on a church mission trip? Yep. The point is: Of course we should be "in the world" building relationships, but we're not "doing church" right if we don't spontaneously and naturally want to bring someone with us to experience our congregation's life and study and worship. If we have a church where people are doing all the stuff that a real church ought to be doing -- praying for each other, serving each other, forbearing each other, worshipping God, challenging each other with the Word -- well, wouldn't that be absolutely the best environment for the spiritually curious to see the life-changing difference Christ makes? So, does Jesus want us "out there" with people or does he want us bringing people into the Christian community where we share life together? Yes. --Tom Weblog: Check out my blog, "Get Anchored." Some things to look for... Song of the Week, posted every Sunday. Links to Your World, interesting and informative links, posted every Tuesday. Do you know friends who would appreciate Winning Ways? Just forward this e-mail to them! Have you subscribed to Winning Ways? You can subscribe by clicking here and following the instructions. Your e-mail address will not be sold or given away to anyone, and you can automatically change your subscription or drop it by following the easy steps provided with each e-mail. FRESH NEWS AT HILLCREST UPDATED WEEKLY: www.hillcrestaustin.org LISTEN TO RECENT SERMONS: Click here. MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS TO OUR EMAIL NEWSLETTERS: Click here. If you do not have access to the web, please send a note to newsmaster@hbcaustin.org to tell us of any changes you would like to make.