First Christian Church, Flora, Indiana

In her book, Unbinding Your Heart”, Disciples of Christ author Martha Grace Reese says, “We have heard stories of inspiration, struggle, excitement, disappointment, spiritual learning and changes in lives in churches for years. We have found no rigid formula for success, no magic plan that will work for every church. Each individual must enter the great adventure by thinking, learning, learning more, praying and asking God a humble question, Which small things can I do today to help more people know you?”

Flora First Christian Church will use Reese’s book as the basis for a study into ways the church can reach out to those who do not know Christ, or have allowed that relationship to become less important in their lives. This is a class about Evangelism, an often misunderstood word that is tossed around in the church today. All think it should happen, but few want to do it.

After talking with more than 1200 lay people and pastors, Reese came up with the following answers to the question, “What do you think about when you hear the word evangelism?

• I don’t want to knock on the doors of strangers and give them a pamphlet.
• Our pastor gives this boring, annual muddled sermon that “evangelism is pointing out the laden table to a hungry man . . . ” whatever that means.
• I cringe at the memories from the years when I pummeled people with these embarrassing questions about salvation.
• I don’t even want to think about evangelism. We’re doing a bad job, period.
• I know we are supposed to talk with people about faith and invite them to church but I don’t want to lose friends.  I feel guilty.

The format for the Unbinding Your Heart study is simple. There will be 3 groups that meet each week, each one repeating the same lesson. If you are unable to come to your regular meeting, you can “make it up” at one of the others. We will be led by Pastor Woody as he shares the following topics:

Why Do Evangelism

Unbinding the Gospel - with prayer

Real Life

What New Members Want - transformed lives

How’s Flora First Christian Church doing?

Smart Sailing - navigating distractions and getting started

Class 1: Sunday afternoons 4:30 - 6:00. February 7, 21, 28, March 7, 14, 28 (3:30 on Feb. 7)

Class 2: Wednesday noon hour 11:00 - 12:30. February 10, 24, March 3, 10, 17, 31

Class 3: Wednesday evenings 7:00 - 8:30. February 10, 24, March 3, 10, 17, 31

There are at least 4 important questions we must consider, and answer, if possible:

1. What do we think when we hear the word “evangelism”?
2. What difference does it make if people are Christian?
3. What motivates us to share the gospel?
4. How could being a Christian matter in someone else’s life?

Sign up forms are available in the church, or you may (E-mail Pastor Woody) pastorwoody (at) ffni (dot) com.