Thanks for asking about 1-3-5.

When I first initiated this, I met with a few people who were family or coworkers and, by God’s grace, had some great interactions. I suspended it over a busy summer, then reintroduced it this fall. I am hopeful to meet with some others soon.

One of the unintended results was that several members of the church who invited others told me they received some polite declines, but then had significant conversations with their invitees. One even led to a invite to a Bible study that was accepted. So I’m thankful that at the very least it stimulated our folks to be engaging unbelievers around them.

For me personally, I am grateful to enter the world of some of our members to break out of the “church insulation” that can begin to crowd around the pastorate. I really enjoyed that aspect of it.

you’ve probably considered this, but it would also be helpful to follow up with your congregants after the lunch meetings, to encourage them to follow up with their friends, and also urge them to ask such questions on their own, now that they’ve seen it done. there can be a danger of “leaving it to the professional” as well as the danger of assuming one gospel conversation is sufficient in every case.

Certainly members of the church should pray for their community and invite their friends to church, and we encourage such. Yet there are those who will not come to the Word, so the Word should be brought to them. As you say, both/and. The apostles preached to people when they assembled and also took the gospel door-to-door and to the marketplace. My article was explaining just one way I’m attempting to do so. Also, it is part of the equipping I want to do, as coming alongside a fellow believer and witnessing to their friend can help them to better do so.

Thanks for your good thoughts!