Entry

Entry Strategies

Every Church Planting Movement begins with a meaningful way to tell non-Christians about the good news of Jesus Christ. We call this an entry strategy. Where an entry strategy is absent, no matter how theologically sound the Gospel presentation, no matter how comprehensive the discipleship curriculum, no matter how robust the leadership training, no matter how sound the ecclesiology, a CPM will never see the light of day.

Loving Tebow...Loving Muslims

Thursday, 26 August 2010 00:00 |

Written by Joey Allen |

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Ed - In the age of 9/11 American Christians have never had more difficulty understanding and loving the millions of Muslims that God has brought to their doorstep. How do you teach your American Christian friends to bridge that gap and love their Muslim neighbors? Joey Allen, a missionary serving among Muslims has learned to love them, and has a unique insight into how we can all see our Muslim cousins differently.

I was born a Bulldog, a Georgia Bulldog fan. I never came to a point in my life where I asked UGA to come into my heart. I never had a conversion experience where I repented and turned to the Bulldogs. I was taught Bulldog-lore from infancy. All my relatives loved the Dogs (except for one cousin who everyone thought was strange for going to Georgia Tech). Everyone I knew bled red and black. In the fall, we would gather around the television altar, turn down the volume, and turn on the radio to listen to the oratory of the high-priest of the Bulldog nation, Larry Munson, the Voice of the Dogs.

My favorite t-shirt growing up was a red shirt that had “How ‘bout them DAWGS” scrawled on the front. I remember thinking Hershel Walker was cooler than Luke Skywalker, and at one point, I had all the words to “Who Let the Dogs Out?” memorized.

It's great to be a Georgia Bulldog!

When I applied to college, I only applied to one school: The University of Georgia. When I received the acceptance letter, my family and I all danced around chanting, “It's great to be a Georgia Bulldog!”

All my friends went to school at UGA. Some of my best memories are from going to football games, basketball games, baseball games, gymnastics, intra-murals, art shows, concerts, walk-a-thons, scavenger hunts, and other events.

Jesus on Entry Strategies

Monday, 10 May 2010 19:06 |

Written by Kevin Greeson |

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Every Church Planting Movement begins with a meaningful way to tell non-Christians about the good news of Jesus Christ. We call this an entry strategy. Where an entry strategy is absent, no matter how theologically sound the Gospel presentation, no matter how comprehensive the discipleship curriculum, no matter how robust the leadership training, no matter how sound the ecclesiology, a CPM will never see the light of day.

Despite the importance of this CPM trigger, it is probably this same element that is neglected more than any other....

Despite the importance of this CPM trigger, it is probably this same element that is neglected more than any other to most practicing Christians. Church Planting Movements invariably begin with and a rapidly reproduce entry strategies that lead to meaningful and effective Gospel communication.

Jesus understood the importance of this initial point of contact that would usher in a Kingdom movement. That is why Jesus taught his disciples how to introduce the Kingdom. That's right, Jesus taught them entry strategies.

What does Jesus have to teach us about entry? What does he teach his disciples about connecting with the lost in a manner that will lead to a gospel presentation? Kevin Greeson, and imb colleagues Randy Owens and Mike Lopez, find insights and guidance from Jesus’ example and teachings. – Editor.

To read Greeson's insightful exegesis of Jesus' strategy for making initial gospel connections, click <Read More> below.

Are You Connected?

Monday, 05 April 2010 11:59 |

Written by David Garrison |

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The contrast could not have been more vivid.

Training a team of mission leaders several years ago in Europe, one of them made an astute observation. “David,” he said, “it’s 11 a.m. I bet if we

These missionaries had no direct connection with the lost....

telephoned everyone of our missionaries right now, we would find them at home.” His point was clear: These missionaries had no direct connection with the lost people in their community.

The Vedic Bridge to Hindus

Thursday, 01 April 2010 00:00 |

Written by BDB Moses |

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The Apostle Paul said it best, “I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22, NIV). Paul wasn’t talking about compromising his faith or his testimony. His life and witness were so bold that he didn’t worry that someone might mistake his use of Greek philosophy, Roman poetry, or Persian mysteries for an endorsement of “some other way” to heaven.

What Paul wanted was “by all possible means” to “save some.” And Paul succeeded!

If we want to speak to Hindus about Jesus, we must be willing and able to step into their shoes and speak the language of their worldview. For most Christians, this is no small step! Few worldviews baffle Christians more than the ancient and complex worldview of Hinduism.

“by all possible means...save some.”

Yet within that complex religious system, missionaries serving in South Asia are finding bridges, talking points from within the Hindu worldview, that can lead them out of their South Asian worldview and into a biblical consideration of Jesus Christ.