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Today I talk about the Book Just Walk Across the Room By Bill Hybels. It’s a great book, and I’ve already started to put some of the ideas into practice.  Here are some of my favorite points.

The Zone of the Unknown

Christ spoke with prostitutes, tax collectors (who were considered the lowest of the low), and strangers.  If Christ was here today, think of him starting up a conversation with Bernie Madoff.
If we just listen to our christian music, and hang out with out christian friends and attend our christian events, the church will die.

We Need To Be Prepared

Right now I’m getting ready to graduate college for the second time. I will be preparing answers that I’m sure I will be asked in job interviews. In the same way we need to think of the questions that the unchurched are going to ask us and be prepared. Bill points out that many times when we get asked about our faith we unleash an answer that is 45 minutes long and during which we take a total of two breaths.

The Jesus Christ Elevator Pitch

Thomas Edison has to sell the concept of the telephone. Not everyone got the idea. Likewise, there are times we will need to explain the benefits (“sell”) the idea of Christ. Bill says to get this ready in 100 words or less. This is as easy as thinking about your life before knowing Christ and after knowing Christ.  For me this is different ans I was raised in the church from day one. But none the less here is my answer to “Why do you follow Jesus?”

“I was raised in the church, so I’m not sure what life without Christ would be like, but I know that when times are hard, like when my Mom died at an early age, when I went through my divorce, my bankruptcy, and now getting my second degree at age 44, I never would it made it through any of these without the hope that Christ provides. I know God has a plan for me if I stay alert I will see his guidance. I’ve never known life without Christ, and I can’t imagine a life without him. ” (98 words).

Throw a “Matthew Party”

This is a part where you invite your unchurched friends, and your friends from church and you have fun. You get to know them. You understand them before trying to be understood. We just did this at my church. We had a “Remembering the 50′s” night where we listened to old music, had a pie throwing contest (poor pastor), and drank malts, and had french fires.  We had a fair number of people who had never graced our church show up. Using the techniques from the book, I was able to walk across the room and say “Hi, my name is Dave.”

Buy Just Walk Across the Room

You can get the Curriculum Kit for $66 at Amazon.com

You can get the book for $13 at Amazon.com

You can get the audio book at Audible for $17 (get the unabridged version)

This show originates from www.growyourhcurchshow.com

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Today we interview Debi Hullinger the connections director from The Chapel in Akron, Oh and we great some great tips and resources.

Make Your Guests Feel Welcome

First things, they are not visitors. Visitors are those people that show up unannounced. You prepare for a guest (bake a cake? clean the house? etc).  But you can make them feel special in many ways such as:

1. Give them assigned parking (then you don’t have to guess if they are a visitor or not).
2. Give them a gift (like the book Anchor for the Soul), and have them fill out a card.
3. Have people designated to greet them.
4. Have a PLAN to DO SOMETHING with that card you have them fill out.

That guest to makes a first impression in as little as seven seconds. At that point they decide if they want come back again (before a song has been sung, a sermon has been preached, etc.).

The Attitude of the Chapel

Debi explains at how its nice on Sundays when they “bring the Church inside.” During the week the congregation is the church as they are “out there.” They occasionally hold classes on evangelism using the curriculum “Just Walk Across the Room” ( I just bought this audio book from Audible and its awesome). They have a library (why not pool all your Christian related books so your congregation can have a constant stream of knowledge).

It Was Nice to Worship With You

One thing you can do (regardless of your church size) is to look around you at the end of the service and find someone you don’t know. Go to them and say, “Hi I’m ___ I don’t think I’ve met you before. It was nice worshiping with you. Then take a few minutes and chit chat. Now next week you have a new friend. Find another person you don’t know. Maybe introduce your new friend to the person you met last week.

Music

Green Bananas by the Rev. Jimmie Bratcher

I had the pleasure of meeting Jimmie in California at a podcasting convention. This song is great fun with a great message. We don’t know when Christ is coming back. It might be a year from now, it might be tomorrow, so don’t sell me no green bananas.

Coming In the Future

In future episodes I will be talking about the book Fusion, my Connection Power demo, your website, and more.

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This show originates from www.growyourchurchshow.com