Winning Ways -- Hillcrest Baptist Church

Or! What Is It Good For?
by Tom Goodman
January 16, 2013

To promote their claim that their product has great taste AND no calories, Coke Zero released a commercial with Ken Jeong singing "Or! What Is It Good For?" to the tune of the 1969 protest song, "War."

I'm done with "or," too. Especially when it comes to defining evangelism as either inviting nonbelievers to church OR simply living an authentic Christian life of service out in the community.

Um... am I the only one who sees this as a false dichotomy?

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 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, let's do both. Let's build relationships "out there" with non-believers AND invite them to experience our congregation's life and study and worship. Wouldn't we want to expose them to a church where believers are praying for each other, serving each other, forbearing each other, worshipping God, and challenging each other with the Word?

In New Testament times, it was common for the churches to have seekers in their activities. In one of his letters, the Apostle Paul actually gave instruction on how to adjust the worship service to this reality. (1 Corinthians 14:24-25).

This Sunday we'll take a close look at that text. It's part of our January sermon series entitled, "This Is Your Wake-Up Call." You can catch up with the series here, and then join us @ 10 this Sunday for the latest message.

Don't Miss the "Winning Ways" Banquet! Enjoy Jay Simpson's BBQ and hear UT professor Mark Regnerus. This special event will take place on Sunday evening, January 27, from 6-8 p.m. in the Multipurpose Center. Tickets are $6, and childcare for babies through 4th grade will be available for $5 per child. The childcare price includes the child's dinner. Find more information here.

--Tom

Beacon Articles Available Online: The staff newsletters that appear each week in the Beacon are also available on our website. You can find them here.

Check out my weblog here.

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Winning Ways - from Hillcrest Baptist Church, Austin, Texas	Contact Tom Goodman, Pastor
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Or! What Is It Good For? by Tom Goodman January 16, 2013 To promote their claim that their product has great taste AND no calories, Coke Zero released a commercial with Ken Jeong singing "Or! What Is It Good For?" to the tune of the 1969 protest song, "War." I'm done with "or," too. Especially when it comes to defining evangelism as either inviting nonbelievers to church OR simply living an authentic Christian life of service out in the community. Um... am I the only one who sees this as a false dichotomy? 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 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, let's do both. Let's build relationships "out there" with non-believers AND invite them to experience our congregation's life and study and worship. Wouldn't we want to expose them to a church where believers are praying for each other, serving each other, forbearing each other, worshipping God, and challenging each other with the Word? In New Testament times, it was common for the churches to have seekers in their activities. In one of his letters, the Apostle Paul actually gave instruction on how to adjust the worship service to this reality. (1 Corinthians 14:24-25). This Sunday we'll take a close look at that text. It's part of our January sermon series entitled, "This Is Your Wake-Up Call." You can catch up with the series here, and then join us @ 10 this Sunday for the latest message. Don't Miss the "Winning Ways" Banquet! Enjoy Jay Simpson's BBQ and hear UT professor Mark Regnerus. This special event will take place on Sunday evening, January 27, from 6-8 p.m. in the Multipurpose Center. Tickets are $6, and childcare for babies through 4th grade will be available for $5 per child. The childcare price includes the child's dinner. Find more information here. --Tom Beacon Articles Available Online: The staff newsletters that appear each week in the Beacon are also available on our website. You can find them here. Check out my weblog here. 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.