Bethel Church of Houston

God has blessed us with spiritual blessings, enabling us to live above and beyond. He chose us and is sanctifying us ans has adopted us into His family. But at what cost? Precisely what means did the Father design to "grace" us, to the praise of His glorious grace? We likely know it, but too often forget it. Let's allow our minds to be renewed.

Richard Houston, of Search Ministries, presents “Heart for the Harvest” at Bethel’s Sunday Night Seminar for three evenings starting March 27.

A noted Christian author once observed that Believers and Unbelievers have at least one thing in common – that the word “Evangelism” makes them both nervous.

Christians believe God’s Word to be true and that Jesus is the only way to the Father. Yet at the same time we live in a world that is at times mockingly condescending, even very hostile to biblical Christianity. How can we tell others about the Good News of Jesus without experiencing our twin fears – fear of rejection and fear of failure?

The Heart for the Harvest seminar will focus on three parts in a 1-2-3 paradigm.

1. God is concerned about even ONE person – start with ONE person.

2. There are two principles to remember: Evangelism is a process – so be patient; and God is responsible for the results – so relax.

3. We must address and overcome the three principle barriers that keep people from trusting in Christ. The Emotional Barrier is caused by Bad Experiences with Christians or Christianity. The Intellectual Barrier is the result of Bad Information about God, the Bible and Christianity. The Volition Barrier is caused by all of us having a Bad Nature (Sin).

The seminar will offer in each session very practical guides, examples and illustrations that help us overcome the resistance to the Gospel. We hope that you come away from this seminar realizing that you were not that far off from being able to present the Gospel in an attractive and effective fashion. As a matter of fact, our desire is that at the end of this seminar you exclaim, “Wow! Even I Can Do That!”

God is blessed when we recognize all He's done on our behalf: cleansing us, accepting us on the basis of faith, giving us grace and peace, and enabling us with spiritual empowerment to live beyond the here and now. The more we plumb these depths, the deeper our commitment and higher our praise.

How mundane was your life this week? Routine chores... everyday hassles. Or perhaps you faced a crisis (or crises) in your family or on the job. Normal or unusual, it's sometimes difficult to link up our daily lives with cosmic, eternal realities. Yet that's precisely what today's text does.

We are called to participate with God in making the nations glad. We learned last Sunday that it takes a body of believers to become equipped for that task. But if it's really cut-and-dried, why doesn't it happen more often, more effectively, more obviously? As we head into a year studying who we are in Christ from Ephesians, it's time for a heart check-up.

Islam is more prevalent in America than ever before. Whether it is news of foiled terrorist attacks or announcements of mosque constructions, we are constantly confronted with Muslims in our midst. But how much of this do we truly understand? We hear from many sources how we should respond to this new environment, pro and con. But how should Evangelicals respond to this? What are our missional responsibilities? And how do we carry out that mission? Is our biblical alertness being overcome by the political outcries? These seminars will take a close look at these matters and focus on how we should sharpen our efforts to take the gospel to the Muslims.

God's heart is not simply to create Christians, but to create churches. This is confirmed by all the images of the Church in the New Testament. These new people also have a clear mission to make disciples and expand the Kingdom of God. God is accomplishing this mission primarily through the Church, which is his intention because it is the only institution formed in the New Testament. Our passage today is a call to put the Church first, prioritize missionary church plants in our missions strategy, and embrace the mission as the vehicle that forms genuine community.

Islam is more prevalent in America than ever before. Whether it is news of foiled terrorist attacks or announcements of mosque constructions, we are constantly confronted with Muslims in our midst. But how much of this do we truly understand? We hear from many sources how we should respond to this new environment, pro and con. But how should Evangelicals respond to this? What are our missional responsibilities? And how do we carry out that mission? Is our biblical alertness being overcome by the political outcries? These seminars will take a close look at these matters and focus on how we should sharpen our efforts to take the gospel to the Muslims.

FEBRUARY 27 & MARCH 7 - How Can We Effectively Communicate With Muslims?

- Understanding Our Gospel Responsibilities

- The Need for Understanding, Respect, and Relationship

- How Should We Communicate?

Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't. Worship is ultimate.

Consequently, then, worship is the fuel and goal of missions. It’s the goal of missions because in missions we simply aim to bring the nations into the white hot enjoyment of God’s glory. The goal of missions is the gladness of the peoples in the greatness of God.

“Let the peoples praise thee, O God; let all the peoples praise thee! Let the nations be glad and sing for joy!” (Ps 67:3-4).

Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't. Worship is ultimate.

Consequently, then, worship is the fuel and goal of missions. It’s the goal of missions because in missions we simply aim to bring the nations into the white hot enjoyment of God’s glory. The goal of missions is the gladness of the peoples in the greatness of God.

“Let the peoples praise thee, O God; let all the peoples praise thee! Let the nations be glad and sing for joy!” (Ps 67:3-4).