I think it's what you've said and much more. We live in an age of serial rapists, serial murderers, home invasions, etc. People are scared to open their front doors and let strangers into their homes.
And in some areas by stepping onto private property, you're risking being shot.
It has been our experience that crusades are not nearly as powerful in third world countries as going in and training pastors. Of all the people that come to the Lord in Crusades, most of them never become churched and they end up back like they were. They are moved by emotions at the crusade, and make some sort of commitment. But alot of time there is no follow up. If you go in and train national workers and pastors, you are a lot more effective in soul winning/discipleship. I think this is probably what he meant.
I would definitely agree with a lot of that. EWebster just came across to me as being pretty down on crusades. Crusades are certainly not an end-all-be-all, but they've proven to be be a good way to expose people to the gospel, who otherwise would not normally show up to a church service on Sunday morning.
I believe strongly that crusades are a useful part of the church's evangelistic plan to reach a nation. and one of the key things to making it successful is solid planning, including having a good network of chuches in place to disciple the new believers and others who visited the crusade, reducing the chance that the new people will "fall through the cracks". Seems to me that the follow-up part of the equation has been somewhat lacking in times past.
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Daniel 12:3 And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars for ever.
Then why do all the sermons that use the term revival twine it with church growth?
Also where is the new testament context for the idea of "revival"? I am open to scriptural correction.
I will probably not take the time to read this thread....didnt take time to read the long opening post (or at least not all of it)....but this one is so easy to answer it is crazy.....when revival comes (the church coming alive again).......the power is evident......sinners will find what they are looking for.....revival does bring in the sinner.....it is just not the sinner coming in.....
I will probably not take the time to read this thread....didnt take time to read the long opening post (or at least not all of it)....but this one is so easy to answer it is crazy.....when revival comes (the church coming alive again).......the power is evident......sinners will find what they are looking for.....revival does bring in the sinner.....it is just not the sinner coming in.....
I can say it even more abbreviated than you: Revival sparks Evangelism. There...
If churches don't need reviving then why in the book of Revelation was a church instructed to return to their first love ?
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People who are always looking for fault,can find it easily all they have to do,is look into their mirror.
There they can find plenty of fault.
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