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A few years ago, Dan Grider and I set out to write a simple sermon series to answer people’s questions about God. We were surprised by the depth of response it received. During The God Questions, men, students, seekers and believers all raved about it! We saw real spiritual growth take place across our congregations.
Small Group enrollment sky-rocketed by 50 percent, church attendance increased by 15 percent, and people came to Christ every weekend.
Outreach, Inc. asked us to make the book available so other churches could benefit from it. Since then, The God Questions has seen similar results in hundreds of churches. Church leaders have begun using the tool in ways we never anticipated.
Here are seven ways The God Questions can help your church reach people for Christ:
1. Hold a Church-Wide Campaign.
This is the original purpose for the book. The keys to a great church-wide campaign are (1) a broadly-appealing topic that people want to invite friends to, (2) a well-written book with daily readings, and (3) an affordable price. We deliberately included the study guide as part of the book so that church members could purchase everything they needed at a reasonable price .
The best times to launch a church-wide campaign are September to November and mid-January to March. Build anticipation for your campaign by recruiting Small Group Leaders four to six weeks ahead of time, making announcements three to four weeks ahead of time, opening Small Group registration two to three weeks ahead of time, and mailing or handing out invitations ten days ahead of time.
2. Use The God Questions For Your New Believers Class.
The Crossing, Costa Mesa, CA, uses The God Questions for their “Discovery” class. The class is designed for seekers and new believers. Every month dozens discover answers to their questions in a Sunday School-like setting that mixes group teaching with Small Group discussions.
3. Use The God Questions For Short-Term Missions Training.
Bethany Church, Long Beach, CA, uses The God Questions to equip all their short-term missionaries for service overseas.
4. Use The Gift Edition As A Thank You Gift for First-Time Guests.
The Gift Edition is a simple thirty minute read with an invitation at the back. Many churches have begun giving it to their first-time guests to thank them for attending.
5. Use The Gift Edition As A Visitors’ Gift.
Heartland Christian Fellowship, Overland Park, KS uses The Gift Edition as a welcome gift for newcomers. Visitors are invited to bring their registration card to the Welcome Center for a free copy of this condensed version of the book. At $2.00 a piece, The Gift Edition is an excellent tool for visitor retention.
6. Use The Gift Edition As a Holiday Gift.
New Song Community Church, Oceanside, CA, (my church) uses The Gift Edition was a means for the pastor to meet holiday visitors. At Easter and Christmas services, I always invite people to receive Christ during the message. At the very end of the service I get back on stage and say, “I know that some of you weren’t able to pray that prayer today. You still have a lot of questions about God and Christianity that need answering before you’ll be ready to become a Christ-follower. I understand that. We have a book that was written to answer those questions. It’s called, ‘The God Questions.’ As soon as I finish my prayer, I invite you to come up for a free copy, which I’ll autograph for you if you’d like.” The last several holidays I have had so many people line up for a copy that I’ve enlisted ushers to chat with them while they wait to speak with me. This inexpensive gift enables me to meet each visitor and find out their spiritual condition by asking, “So, you have some questions about God?” I then encourage them to return and pursue their questions in the community of our church.
7. Use The God Questions Booklets As Evangelism Tools.
Last spring, I was asked to compose three short, eight-page booklets that answer The God Questions in even briefer form. These booklets are printed on magazine quality paper, with high-class graphics. The first one (“The God Questions: Truth”) answers the questions, “Is God Real?” and “Is the Bible True?” The second one (“The God Questions: Heaven”) answers the question, “Do All Religions Lead to Heaven?” The third one (“Does God Care?”) helps people understand God’s intimate, personal love for them. Each one concludes with an invitation to receive Christ. The booklets are designed for your members to share with their friends. The appeal is easy, “I think you’ll find this interesting. Would you read it and let me know what you think about it?”
Go to The God Questions
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