Has Anybody Told You Today that Jesus Loves You?

by   A. C. Smith                                                                                                                                             Vol. XIII, No. 3, March 2000

Reaching new people for Christ and His Church involves having good entry spots for them. Most make their first visit to a church by coming to a morning worship service. That way they can check out the congregation without having to feel put on the spot or embarrassed. The newcomers can look around the worshiping congregation and ask themselves, "Could I fit in here?"

The downside for the congregation that wants to reach people is, we may never know who they are, or we may have no opportunity to show them that we are nice, friendly people. One estimate says that 85% of people are shy in certain instances. In most social situations people do not take the initiative to introduce themselves to others. It's easy to end up with lots of people standing around wondering why no one is speaking to them. When you're a member of the church please take the initiative to speak to others and introduce yourself if you don't know someone. Most people you introduce yourself to will be glad that you took the initiative. Plus, you may make a good friend.

Also, look for opportunities to invite unchurched people you know to come with you. This is advantageous since the new person already knows at least one person: you! Be sure to introduce the new comer to others, especially those who have similar interests.

[Rev. A.C. Smith is pastor of Evergreen BC, Evergreen, VA, and this article is excerpted from his "pastor's Paragraphs" in the church newsletter, the Evergreen Evangel.]

[Comment: Though many Christians seem to think so, the church was never primarily intended to be a place where Christians come to socialize with like-mined folks, or to eat Wednesday night dinner, or to praise God in song, or to listen to expository sermons, or even to study the Bible. Each of these can be enjoyable, edifying, important, but the primary purpose of the church is to win the lost to Christ, to do "unto others as ye would have them do unto you." Every day in every contact with others our primary thought should be to witness -- even if it is in some small way -- for Jesus. Of course we have to get our jobs done, the groceries bought, clothes purchased, the gas tank filled, the telemarketer off the line ... but in each of these and the many other contacts we have every day with other people the mere mechanics of life should not be first and foremost in our minds, but rather to find some pleasant, kind, attractive way to witness. Let me suggest you take as your goal to witness to every person with whom you speak either face to face or on the phone.

The technique I use I learned from Rudy Hernandez, the wonderful Texas evangelist. Just ask the person, "Has anybody told you today that Jesus loves you?" It is a non-threatening question because it is not prying into their personal beliefs but is only asking a question of fact, "has anybody told you". Nevertheless, it focusses their attention on Jesus. Then you can follow up as their reply suggests. I have been amazed that of the thousands of people I have asked, well over 90% have responded very affirmatively, and of those a surprising number have said something like, "Oh, thank you. My life is a mess today, and I really needed to hear that. You will never know what this means to me!"

Remember, God is a God of love and reaching out. Satan spreads fear. Speak to new people. Invite neighbors to church. Give the routines of life their necessary time and attention, and do them well as unto the Lord, but make your life's real purpose to bring others to Jesus. TCP]