Jesus is God in the flesh. God come to be with us. God among us. We call this the incarnation of Christ. God didn’t send an invitation with an RSVP. He didn’t send an emissary. He sent His only Son. He identified with us so He could save us.

People rarely come to Jesus through a mailer, as the result of a program, or because someone shared a well-rehearsed presentation of the four spiritual laws. They usually come through a personal relationship.

incarnate_inlineWe have the opportunity to do what Jesus did—to engage in incarnational ministry. This requires a choice to share with people rather than talking at them. It means inviting people to join us on a journey rather than telling them how to walk. It necessitates our personal involvement more than it requires another program at the church. It’s a recognition that getting people into our home is of far greater value than getting them into our church.

This approach to reaching our neighbors lies at the heart of evangelistic church planting. Slick programs can steal sheep from other churches, or reach the de-churched people in our community. But it takes a commitment to Biblical hospitality and love to make a serious dent in the lostness that surrounds us. That’s the approach to church planting we want to foster within the GARBC. It’s the approach to evangelism that will grow your church. And inevitably, it’s the approach that will lead you to start new churches—churches that accelerate your efforts to fulfill the Great Commission.

We can celebrate Christmas or we can be Christmas. I’m praying you’ll join me in a little bit of both.

Clare_JewellClare Jewell
National Church Planting Coordinator
for Regular Baptist Ministries