The secret to successful evangelism and outreach at your church is that there is no secret. We want there to be a secret, a special method, a unique program, a surefire strategy. We’ll try almost anything—once.

What if, instead of looking for secrets, we focused on promises? What if we picked up our Bibles, highlighted God’s promises, and acted with the awareness that these promises are true? For example, Jesus tells us we are to be at work in the harvest field of the world, sowing and reaping. He tells us that there will be a variety of responses to our sowing, so that should come as no surprise. He also tells us that God will bring a bountiful harvest.

Nowhere does the Bible tell us, Stop scattering that seed everywhere; find out where all the good soil is and don’t waste other seeds elsewhere. We are to preach the good news to all. That is our job. Knowing where and how to produce fruit is God’s work.

When you focus on God’s promises and your faithfulness, it can be tremendously freeing. In evangelism and outreach, you simply look for places and people among whom you can be faithful in sharing the good news (and supporting others who are doing the same). You gauge your purpose not by the results but by God’s promises.

I’ve experienced frustration as a witness, and I’ve experienced it along with my congregation. I’ve also heard about frustrations with evangelism and outreach in many of your congregations. What I’ve seen is that the churches who have greater confidence in their witnessing and outreach often are the churches who have stuck with it. They don’t throw in the towel after the first or second or third apparent failure. They realize there are lost people around them and that God has commissioned them to keep going. They might learn along the way how to be more faithful, more loving, and wiser; but they keep walking the walk. They might not even see the fruit in their lifetime, but they leave those results to God. They know they are obeying.

A potential snare in being Reformed is to always expect things to be done perfectly the first time. When we don’t witness or reach out perfectly, we often have detractors lining up to tell us how and why we erred. For many of us, it’s easier to stop what we are doing, get off the front lines, and wait for others to take the lead. Perhaps we can study evangelism and outreach more, and then at some future time get back to work.

Friends, we need to get back out there. Pray about the people and places God has put upon your heart, and go out and demonstrate “a long obedience in the same direction.” As you do that, your congregation will be encouraged to do that. As your congregation is encouraged to do that, well, one day in this life or the next you will look back and give resounding praise to God for keeping every one of His promises.