Bigger Isn't Always Better

Why you don't need a big crowd to preach the gospel

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G’day Everyone and thanks for reading another edition of The Holy Go! I write these newsletters to help you in your everyday evangelism and discipleship.

We’re in the middle of a series where we are allowing Jesus to reshape our motivation, message and method of evangelism and discipleship.

Last week we were challenged to pray for love. This week, we continue the motivation theme and look at how Jesus left the crowd in search of the one who was crying.

Equip

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I wish I could be involved in something BIG.

I remember going to the Christian book store looking for a book on evangelism, and came across Reinhard Bonnke’s book, “Evangelism by Fire.” (I highly recommend it by the way!)

I opened the book to the middle section which was filled with photographs. I had never seen anything like it.

The photo’s showed hundreds of thousands of people gathering together in CFAN evangelistic crusades, where hundreds of thousands of people responded to the gospel. No, that is not a typo! You can see in these images the incredible amount of people in these meetings. If you have never seen these photos before, go check them out because it is awe-inspiring!

Photo: A CFAN crusade

As I looked at these photo’s and read the stories of incredible stories of salvation, healing and deliverance, something inside of me yearned to see the exact same thing happen.

When I look at my instagram feed, I see stories of all these people around the world who are showcasing their amazing ministries. Hundreds of people lining altars, preachers with huge crowds, amazing platforms, and big crowds.

It’s easy to get disheartened when we compare ourselves to others. They say comparison is the thief of joy, and when we compare ourselves to some of these people and ministries, it can make us feel small, and insignificant.

I wonder if you have ever felt like that? Have you ever said to yourself, “Who am I compared to other people? I could never have a crowd or ministry like that!”

The good news is, bigger isn’t always better!

Jesus Walks Away

I love the story of Jesus in Mark 4:35-5:20.

Jesus is preaching and has crowds all around Him. You would think with a mission like “saving the whole world” He would love a big crowd as He is trying to reach as many as possible.

Imagine it… If you started preaching and all of a sudden you got a big crowd, your church grows, doubles, triples, miracles galore start breaking out… Then why would we ever want to move away? I’m thinking we should bigger halls, bigger platforms, and ride the momentum!

But Jesus doesn’t do that. Jesus leaves the crowd behind. He crosses to the other side of the lake, and there He comes across a man. A man who we are told would cry day and night, cut himself, and break chains whenever they tried to tie him up.

Jesus left the crowds because He heard this mans cry. Why would He do such a thing when He had so much momentum?

To Jesus - every person matters. The crowd mattered, but so did the one man on the other side of the lake who was crying out in pain.

Everyone Matters

We may think that we need a big crowd to be a good evangelist. But we don’t. Jesus shows us that what we need is a heart full of love, ears to hear the cry of those living in pain, and courage to leave the crowd in order to respond to those in need.

The man Jesus ministered to was so healed and so free after their meeting that he went preaching through all the towns near by. What may have looked like a silly ministry move, a man with no influence, an off the cuff encounter with no chance to build momentum, ended with the gospel being spread more widely than staying with the crowd ever would have.

When we look at how Jesus prioritised “the one” we see an example that we can all follow. God may or may not give you big crowds, but He will give you one’s… and He is looking for people motivated by love to respond to their cries.

Activate

This weeks challenge is to listen out for cries. These cries may not be a literal cry! Every day people say things and do things that are motivated by fear, hurt, and lack.

In your daily routine, listen to people as they talk. What is going on underneath the surface? Ask The Holy Spirit to help you hear the cry of those around you, then pluck up the courage to respond in love.

It may not be a crowd, but I am certain God will lead you to a one…

Let’s Go!