Evangelism Guidelines
Chapter members from common commission affiliate churches will go out two by two to knock on doors, pass out tracts, preach the gospel, and conduct Bible studies on college campuses and in other public spaces. If your worship team wants to set up on the street and play to reach people, do as you are lead.
A note on door knocking: each common commission affiliate church will be given a territory of houses that they will be responsible for door-knocking on.
Common Commission’s goal is that through the effort of all affiliate churches, there won’t be a door in the world that hasn’t been knocked on.
At minimum, Christ’s sinless life, Christ crucified as a payment for our sins, Christ buried and risen from the dead, and the benefits of the gospel (eternal life, salvation from hell, relationship with God, payment for sins, forgiveness of sins, new birth, and indwelling of the spirit,) received through repentance and faith and followed by baptism must be preached. Common commission endorses the living waters gospel presentation and the 3 circles gospel presentation, but we recognize that this isn’t the only way to share the gospel. Let us commit to leave room for the leading of the Holy Spirit for each unique individual and situation. We should strive to become all things to all men so that as many as possible may be saved.
It is encouraged that you go out two by two with members of your own church or denomination (preferably) or with a denomination close in theology with your own (in extraordinary circumstances). Men with men, women with women (a male may accompany if the women are more comfortable with this provision), husbands with wives. This is wise that we may avoid quarrels about secondary issues.
You may go out two by two with members of other denominations in extraordinary circumstances, but must agree not to quarrel so that those we are trying to reach see our unity. Not our division.
If denominational differences must be discussed with those who have questions, you can make a theological case for why your denomination believes one way and why others believe differently. Only be charitable and remind the questioner that every other church with a common commission ministry is a valid and faithful church despite disagreement.
However, If someone comes to Christ through the preaching of a pair of free Methodists for example, it is preferable that that person attends the church of those who preached to them for further discipleship. But to the seeker, every denominational option should be on the table so long as they come into a saving relationship with Jesus.
Become all things: we deeply encourage churches to recognize the demographics of where they are planted. If you are planted near an upper class neighborhood and they would respond better to you dressing in suits when you knock on their door, become all things to all men. Dress in suits to reach them. If you are trying to reach the college campus send your young people. If you are planted by a heavy metal venue, send those in your congregation with tattoos, piercings, and who like heavy metal in more casual/fitting dress.
If there is a large population of Hebrew Israelites (a jewish Christian cult) near your church, send your black and Hispanic congregants to reach them. If there are Mormons, send former Mormons. If there are Muslims, send former Muslims. If no former members of these cults/religions are in your congregation, still try all means to reach them. Become all things to all men.
Another goal of common commission ministries is that we disciple those who come to faith through the ministry and those already in the local church. If your church has a common commission chapter, there will be an option to catechize those who come to faith through your chapter and those who have already been long attending your church with common commission catechism materials. This catechism would go over the essentials of the faith, namely the trinity, the creeds, and justification. As well as how to evangelize, and how to share your personal testimony. Oftentimes, there is a deficiency in the knowledge that laypeople have of basic Christian teaching. Common commission aims to meet this deficiency so that all are prepared to give an answer to all who ask with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15).
Depending on the demographics of the area your church is planted in, there may be specialty training in how to reach certain groups. For example, If there is a surplus of Jehovah’s witnesses in your area, you will be trained on how to reach them through scripture, using their own materials, showing them false prophecies of former JW leaders, etc.
If there is a surplus of atheists in your area, there will be apologetics training to reach atheists.
Etc.
Secondary issues: secondary issues are defined as theological stances, worship preferences, and Christian living preferences that have no bearing on one’s salvation whether they hold to one position or another. Charitable discussion and debate on these issues is encouraged when not engaged in common commission evangelism ministries so that we may be in further agreement as the universal body of Christ. But if you are presently engaging in common commission evangelism, debates about secondary issues should be avoided during evangelism so that it doesn’t become a stumbling block to those we are attempting to reach. Save debates for events sponsored by common commission to promote unity, or to be had between mature believers while not in front of new converts.
Secondary issues include
Young earth vs old earth
Eternal conscious torment vs annihilationism
Theistic Evolution vs traditional creationism
Cessationism vs continuationism
Predestination and election
Eternal security vs possibility of losing salvation
Infant baptism vs believer’s baptism
Mode of baptism
Baptismal regeneration
Communion: symbolic vs various views of real presence
Communion: wine vs grape juice
Communion: intinction vs common cup vs pre-packaged communion cups.
The number of sacraments
Women’s ordination
Church government
Apostolic succession
Worship style/liturgy preferences
Worship music
Prayer practices: using prayer beads, rosaries, praying in tongues etc.
Holiness standards and style of dress
Tattoos and piercings
eschatology
Holy days and sabbath days
Etc.