Each One Reach One

⁴⁰ Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. ⁴¹ The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). ⁴² And he brought him to Jesus. - John 1: 40-42 (NIV)

Imagine if we sought to grow our ministries one member at a time.  What if we sat aside the church growth theories that say otherwise for a moment? Think about what the Bible says about reaching others.  Take a look at Andrew's example.  Each believer can reach someone else.

I believe that everyone is not connected to everyone else, but every one of us is connected to someone.  We all know somebody who we could reach for Jesus and share about our personal experience and encounter with Jesus.  That's genuine growth.  It's based on relationships.

Train your members to reach out to other people.  Challenge each member of your congregation or your small group to reach twelve other people.  Make it doable.  Tell them and train them how to reach another person each month and bring them to your Bible study, prayer meeting or Sunday school class.  That's just one person per month.  That's three people per quarter.  Challenge them to do it based on their relationships.  If you have ten people in your ministry, you could potentially have 120 people touched by your ministry within the first year.  Imagine how much more that you could do through your people once they get comfortable doing such a mighty work.

Taking on The Messiah on the Move

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. - Mark 1:1 (NKJV)

 
The Gospel of Mark is an action-filled account of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.  It has oftentimes been referred to as the Gospel of Jesus in action or on the move.  It reveals Jesus' comings and goings, His teaching and doings.  The shortest of all four of the New Testament's Gospels, the Gospel of Mark shows Jesus in the midst of serving, performing miracles and preaching messages throughout the land.

 
Take this challenge.  Try reading the Gospel of Mark in one sitting.  If you cannot see yourself doing such a thing, try to get in throughout one single weekend.  It's only 16 chapters.  Even if you read a single chapter each day, you could finish the Gospel of Mark in its entirety in a little over two weeks. 
 
Reading may not be your thing either.  Try listening to the Gospel of Mark.  I often listen to the Bible over the Internet via sites like www.youversion.com.  I prefer the dramatic readings of the Bible.  That's just my preference.  You can even get a copy of the Bible on CD or downloaded to your MP3 or iPod, so that you can listen to it on your drive to work or while you work out or do the dishes.  Today's technology offers you many options.

 

Take in the Gospel of Mark.  Once you have taken it in, take on the Gospel of Mark.  See how you can serve with more sacrifice after experiencing the Gospel of Mark.  Make some changes to your approach to ministry and good works based upon what you read and what the red letters of the Gospel have stated as kingdom priorities.  Take it on and check yourself on how well you do in regards to the carrying out your calling of service in His name.