Increasing Your Spiritual Conversations
Ed Stetzer once said, “If you want your church to be evangelistic and you yourself are not evangelistic – you are on a fools errand.”
If you are going to see the spiritual conversations in your church increase this year you must see them increase in your life as a leader.
The first step is to: Own it as the leader.
Let’s face it, if reaching people far from Jesus is not on the front burner of your life it will not even be on the radar screen of your church or organization you lead.
Every time I get frustration with the lack of meaningful contact with people far from Jesus, I pray this simple prayer,
“Father, I’m sorry for my ineffectiveness and insensitivity to the people you are bringing into my life. Help me today to get into a meaningful spiritual conservation with someone you love and are drawing to yourself. In Jesus Name, Amen.”
One morning at my workplace, I pray this prayer with my Bible in hand. When I finished and lifted my head, I noticed a gentleman standing right in front of me. He asked, “Doesn’t that book get old after a while?” referring to the Bible. I replied, “No, it’s like a fresh cup of water from a cool mountain stream. It gets better every time you drink from it.” Then I offered, “Would you like to read it?” He responded, “Sure,” and took my Bible. This led to several spiritual conversations, and eventually, he opened his heart to Jesus.
God will answer this prayer quicker than we realize, if we are willing to pray it. For prayer is more about aligning our lives with God’s purposes than with meeting our own personal needs.
Not all of us as pastoral leaders are gifted in evangelism, but all of us are charged “to do the work of an evangelist” (2 Timothy 4:5).
No matter where your primary calling or giftedness lies, whether it is to be a shepherd, teacher, or a leader of God’s people, I believe Paul’s pastoral charge applies to us all.
If you are a shepherd, then use your shepherding gift to guide your people into the work of evangelism.
If you are a teacher, then use your teaching gift to inspire your people into the mission of God.
And if you are a leader, then use your leadership gifts to lead your church into the great harvest that surrounds your church.
Two takeaways:
Pray the prayer in this post every day for the next 30 days. See how God will answer it!
Find a coach that will help you guide, inspire or lead your people into the work of evangelism. Contact team@garyrohrmayer.com for more information on three month coaching process that will help you increase your spiritual conversations.
