Welcome back to The Stoop Sessions where we have casual conversations about ministry on the Baltimore stoop. In each episode, Joel, Stephanie, and Eric talk through different topics and occasionally bring on a friend.

In this episode, the Stoop crew wraps up a conversation on evangelism on the topic of church confirmation. Practically speaking, what do we do when someone makes a profession of faith? We baptize. However, Baptism is not merely the decision of an individual (an individual can’t baptize herself), and it is not merely the decision of a pastor. Baptism is a congregational act of confirmation and union.

Join us as we consider the topic of baptism and church membership in our evangelism. Listen as the crew explains why they would be concerned if someone made a “profession of faith” but never joined a church. Learn how the Body of Christ is given as fruit inspectors for new believers, and how this helps our personal evangelism.

Learn more about ONE HOPE: www.onehope.gives

Support the show: www.onehope.gives/donate

Welcome back to The Stoop Sessions where we have casual conversations about ministry on the Baltimore stoop. In each episode, Joel, Stephanie, and Eric talk through different topics and occasionally bring on a friend.

In the last two episodes, we’ve highlighted “personal evangelism”—the individual Christian’s role and work in taking the Gospel to the lost. This episode asks the question: How does the church together evangelize? For some, they have unfortunately disconnected their personal ministry from the broader community of the gathered saints. For us, it’s not an either/or but a both/and. While we evangelize personally, we also evangelize together.

In today’s episode, Joel and Stephanie talk about the church’s role. Because the church feels different or irrelevant to our friends, it’s often hard to imagine how this church can help me reach my friends. Yet, we forget the power of the Gospel through the testimony of God’s people. If we combine our efforts and work together, we can make a bigger impact. Stephanie and Joel talk about the importance of starting with who actually shows up to your church services; How membership interviews can turn into evangelistic opportunities; The importance of asking professing Christians for their understanding of the Gospel; and How to tell someone they’re not a Christian (in a winsome and Biblical way). The episode closes with a look back to the need for personal evangelism and why being part of an “evangelistic church” doesn’t mean that I am personally doing any work.

Joel Kurz serves as the pastor of The Garden Church and director of ONE HOPE. Stephanie Greer is a Gospel Worker funded through ONE HOPE serving with The Garden Church.

Learn more about ONE HOPE: www.onehope.gives

Support the show: www.onehope.gives/donate