Becoming An Externally Focused Church

1
Becoming An Externally Focused Church

• Dr. Steve R. Parr
• with Larry Wynn and Stacy Dyer
• Sponsored and Produced by Mike Turner
• of C.A.A. Outreach Ministries

2
WELCOME!

• Host Steve Parr
• V.P. for Evangelism Sunday School
• Georgia Baptist Convention

3
External Focus

• The Foundation
• The Challenge
• The Strategy

4
The Foundation

• Matthew 2818-20, The Great Commission
• Luke 153-7, Parable of the Lost Sheep
• Matthew 937-38, Fields ripe for harvest
• Luke 81- Soon afterwards He (Jesus) was
  traveling from one town and village, preaching
  and telling the good news of the Kingdom of God.
  The Twelve were with Him.

5
The Challenge

• Should you shepherd the flock (1 Peter 52) or
  do the work of an evangelist (2 Timothy 45)?
• Yes!
• The Squeaky Wheel Principle.
• The congregation continually, directly, and
  verbally cries out for your attention.
  

6
The Strategy

• Five Points of Application

7
1. Intentionality

• The number one lesson learned in the study of
  Georgias Top Evangelistic Churches
• Question How does your church differ from other
  Southern Baptist Churches in your area? We are
  more intentionally evangelistic or place more
  emphasis on evangelism was by far the most
  frequent response.

8
2. See and Share the Harvest

• Demographic information is available to your
  church at no cost upon request to Research
  Services of the Georgia Baptist Convention.
• Three sample slides

9
Population is the number of people (all
ages). Households consist of people who occupy a
housing unit regardless of their
relationship. Families are two or more people,
one of whom is the householder, related by birth,
marriage or adoption residing in the same housing
unit.
10
Notice the population trend over the last
decades. What changes are projected for the next
five years? Is your ministry area growing,
stable, or declining in number? It is often
easier for churches to grow in communities where
a large number of people are moving in. A
declining population may present challenges for
numeric church growth, but great opportunities
for ministry-based outreach. Are church members
building relationships with neighbors and
inviting them to worship and small group Bible
studies?
11
The North American Mission Board estimates that
60 of the population across the United States is
unchurched (attends services less than 3 times a
year) and 70 are unbelievers. Widely accepted
research today indicates that on average 80 of
our population is not attending a place of
worship each week. Remember the words of Jesus to
Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields for
they are white already to harvest. (John 435)
12
3. Open Your Campus

• Offer your facilities (rent free if possible) to
  local schools, neighborhoods, community groups,
  recreation groups.
• Question If your church disappeared tonight, how
  long would it take the community to notice?

13
4. Mobilization

• Utilize your largest organization Sunday School
  (or whatever you call your small group strategy).
• Provide Missionary Baby Steps.
• Find ways to serve the community.

14
5. Community Exposure

• Community Events on Campus
• Church Events in the Community
• Promoting your church
• Event Evangelism

15

• Conversation with Larry Wynn, Pastor of Hebron
  Baptist Church.

16

• Interview with guest pastor, Stacy Dyer, Harmony
  Grove Baptist Church, Blairsville.

17
TIME FOR YOUR QUESTIONS
18
Assignments

1. Last call to email sparr_at_gabaptist.org to order
   your two books.
2. Contact your accountability partner and discuss
   second session.
3. Discuss with your partner one immediate and one
   long-term application to becoming more Externally
   Focused.

19
Becoming An Externally Focused Church

• Dr. Steve R. Parr
• with Larry Wynn and Stacy Dyer
• Sponsored and Produced by Mike Turner
• of C.A.A. Outreach Ministries