Creating a Culture of Evangelism in Your Worship Service

How would a first-time guest feel visiting your worship service?

Would they feel welcomed?

Would they understand what’s going on?

It’s easy to assume that the answer to these questions is yes, but that’s often not the case. Many churches struggle with organizing a worship service that is welcoming to first-time guests and evangelistic while faithfully sharing the gospel and holding onto your church’s traditions.

As a church leader, you can faithfully and biblically worship God in the presence of non-Christians and first-time quests. Here are three steps you can take to create a culture of evangelism in your worship service.

#1. Expect non-Christians to visit

You cannot lead a non-Christian to faith if non-Christians are not present in your worship service. The best way you can encourage the members of your church to invite people to your worship service is to worship as if non-Christians are present.

In time, this small act will lead to big changes in your church’s evangelism culture by creating a welcoming environment for visitors.

#2. Make your worship service comprehensible

The Christian faith is something you are not born with; It is something you receive and learn (Matt. 28:18–20). Keep this in mind when you are creating an environment for visitors and non-Christians who may not know anything about God, the Bible, or what to expect in a worship service. In other words, don’t assume everyone in attendance knows why you are doing what you are doing.

Here are some practical ways you can make your worship services more comprehensible to people unfamiliar with Christianity:

* Explain your service as you go along

* Welcome non-Christians

* Speak directly to non-Christians

* Answer the questions of non-Christians in your sermon

#3. Facilitate faith

As you preach the gospel and teach the Bible, you should expect people to come to faith and for people to be convicted of their sins, which is why you need to prepare for this to happen.

There are a few fundamental ways you can help people who have questions, who need to confess, or who desire to learn more about Jesus:

* Have members wait after your service to pray for and talk with people

* Provide ways people can follow up privately — e.g., cards, online

* Offer regular meetings or classes to answer the questions of skeptics

* Invite people to repent or place their faith in Jesus

These few tactics will place you and your church in a position to participate in the work of God in someone’s life.

What are ways you create an evangelistic environment in your worship service? Share your thoughts in the comments below!