Some things in life are a must. You must drink a certain amount of water to hydrate your body. You have to eat a certain amount of food to give you energy. Our bodies must have oxygen to breath. I personally feel like if you don’t have at least three good cups of coffee every morning you cannot make it. But seriously, there are some things that pertain to life that are simply required.

This holds true in regards to the local church. There are certain areas that must be addressed in order for the church to be what God desires it to be. Now there are certain areas that some churches focus on more than others. Some churches focus on praise and worship while others emphasize only the preaching of the Word. Some churches funnel their efforts towards reaching the youth and others only direct their attention to world missions. Some are all about soul winning but not spiritual growing, and some churches are so legalistic they don’t really want anyone that doesn’t meet their standards or requirements. Let me say I agree most all of these aspects are important and the church that I pastor is involved in all these areas, except for having the legalist standards. (I believe that when God saves you, He will clean you up. That is His job, not ours.)

There is one facet that encompasses most of these other areas I have mentioned and that is evangelism. Evangelism is taking the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to the lost. The Bible says in Luke 14:23, “And the Lord said unto the servant, go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” Now as servants of the Lord, He has commanded us to go out and persuade them to come to the Lord’s house.

We at Victory Baptist recently went out on visitation and three different homes told us, “Y’all are doing something that is no longer done.” I realize others go and visit and am not insinuating ours is the only church visiting. It is my desire to share the wonderful grace of Jesus with the lost. Most of the growth in the local churches today is due to gaining members who left another church in the community because they got upset and their feelings got hurt so they run somewhere else only for the same thing to happen again. Have people stopped praying and seeking God’s will or do they allow the youth activities, musical programs, and networking opportunities that the churches offer dictate their decision to be apart of the church?

My point is there are not many sinners being born again and going to a local church to serve their Savior. If we as Christians do not share God’s grace, first we are not obedient to God’s Word. Second, we will only be a “Museum for the Saints” instead of a “Hospital for Sinners.” Evangelize your home, your family, your street, friends, and co-workers. People need Jesus and the sun is about to set on what we know as the “Day of Grace.” But thank God there is still time and Jesus still saves!

Tune in to WBCU 103.5 FM Sundays at noon for the Shining Light Broadcast. I preach a 15-minute message that I pray will be a blessing to those who listen. If you have a prayer concern, comment, or question, please write to: Voice of Victory, Attn: David Burrell, PO Box 1221, Pacolet, SC 29372, message me on Facebook, or e-mail me at daveburrell@live.com.