1 Corinthians 9:19-23 SEVEN TIPS: To Bring the Young To God’s Son

First Tip: Teach people to set aside personal desires and preferences, “Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring men to Christ” (9:19).

Scripture Examples Mark 10:45 – “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). “Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had” (Philippians 2:4-5).

Is your church bound by traditions or open to change? Ask your people to sit in a different areas of the auditorium. The amount of discomfort they feel will reveal their openness or resistance to change and a fresh move of the Spirit.

Second Tip: Explain that they must go to them; they are not coming to you, “When I was with the Jew, I lived like a Jew” (9:20).

American Religion by Mark Chavez In 2008, 22 percent of the general population had never attended Church. In 2008, 22 percent of the general population had never attended Church. In 1965, approximately 40 percent of the population attended church regularly. In 1965, approximately 40 percent of the population attended church regularly. In 1993, only 27 percent regularly attended church. In 1993, only 27 percent regularly attended church. In 2008, that number declined to 22 percent. In 2008, that number declined to 22 percent. In 1990, 13 percent of the general population never attended Church. In 1990, 13 percent of the general population never attended Church.

Third Tip: Your church must be willing to adapt to other people around them, “When I was with those who follow the Jewish Law, I too lived under that law.... When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish Law, I too lived apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ” (9:20).

Some Practical Ideas Include: Provide WiFi access in the auditorium and educational building. Provide WiFi access in the auditorium and educational building. Preach from a more modern translation of the Bible. Preach from a more modern translation of the Bible. Sing hymns, choruses, and praise music that appeals to young people Sing hymns, choruses, and praise music that appeals to young people Be more expressive in our worship with smiles, clapping, smiling, and raising hands. Be more expressive in our worship with smiles, clapping, smiling, and raising hands. Have a minister do the children’s message and kid’s children’s church. Have a minister do the children’s message and kid’s children’s church.

Fourth Tip: Talk to God before you talk to people, “But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ” (9:21).

Fifth Tip: Shoot for their hearts, not just their heads, “When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ” (9:22).

How to reach hearts: Find common ground Find common ground Avoided a preachy or condescending attitudes Avoided a preachy or condescending attitudes Expressed sincere concern and acceptance Expressed sincere concern and acceptance Take time to earn trust Take time to earn trust Be sensitive to their immediate felt-needs Be sensitive to their immediate felt-needs

Sixth Tip: Answer the questions people are asking, “Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some” (9:22).

Practical Suggestions: Reading buddies or school tutors Reading buddies or school tutors Back-to-school, backpack, and material drives for schools Back-to-school, backpack, and material drives for schools Teachers’ breakfasts Teachers’ breakfasts Good News Clubs Good News Clubs AWANA AWANA Fall Festivals and Community Dinners Fall Festivals and Community Dinners

Seventh Tip: Offer them a relation- ship, not a religion, “I do everything to spread the Goods News and share in its blessings” (9:23).

Practical Suggestions for Members: Ask them to greet and ask visitors to sit with you in church. Ask them to greet and ask visitors to sit with you in church. Offer to take new families out to lunch Offer to take new families out to lunch Invite visitors to your Bible study classes Invite visitors to your Bible study classes Get them to serve in the nursery; or serve as an outreach leader in your Bible study class. Get them to serve in the nursery; or serve as an outreach leader in your Bible study class. Volunteer with family ministries Volunteer with family ministries

Challenge: Challenge your church members to lead one person to Christ who half their age and help that person to become active serving the Lord at Lockhart Church (discipleship).

Invitation As of last Sunday night, we have received six commitment cards. Show the Lord that the leadership of this church that you are serious about serving Christ and growing this church. Fill out a commitment card for 2013 and pray that God unleashes a spiritual revival in Lockhart Church this New Year.