Talk about Jesus – share the good news of the gospel
We are a people that love to talk about Jesus, we want people to know that God loves them and that Jesus is the ultimate proof of that love – and that The Salvation Army has responsibility to share the good news of the gospel, that God loves them, that Jesus is the proof, and that welcome is available through him. I would pray that Salvationists all around the world would find it very natural and easy to speak to others about their personal relationship with Jesus Christ and the transformation that he has made in their lives. That’s a big idea of this movement. We want people to know the good news that there is life and there is purpose, and there is hope, and there is eternity through faith in Jesus Christ. And if we could get excited about that around the globe, think about the impact of that.
- General Lyndon Buckingham, Big Idea #1
This is how we live out this idea
‘WELCOME’ IS OUR DEFAULT SETTING
We demonstrate the inclusivity of the Gospel by showing hospitality to our guests and visitors, offering a warm welcome to anybody and everybody. We remove barriers by communicating openly, using modern and simple language. ‘Welcome’ should be more than just a word! See Luke 24:45, 47, Romans 15:7
WE BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF THE WORD
God’s Word has power, so we share it in any way we can - verbally, through printed matter and via digital media. We believe that when people have a relationship with Jesus, he has the power to renew and transform every person. We will not be afraid to call people to repentance (2 Corinthians 5:20) or invite them to claim salvation. See Acts 4:12
WE GIVE THE INVITATION – TO FAITH IN JESUS AND TO A COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS
In our corps and institutions, everyone should feel accepted and be able to deepen their relationship with Jesus and other believers. The activities we offer meet the holistic needs of people; our worship meetings should be attractive and focussed. See John 4:29
How will THQ support you?
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By sharing the Gospel through social media
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Being open about our faith in our website and print media
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Focussing on Mission and keeping the Gospel the main thing
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Supporting spiritual life and Christian witness in our social services institutions – ensuring every centre has a Chaplain
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Organising training courses to develop ministry skills (for example, preaching seminar)
For personal reflection or discussion:
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How are these goals evident in your corps or centre?
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How can you/we effectively share the good news of Jesus personally and corporately?