Cookie Evangelism

Proverbs 18:16 says, “A gift opens the way for the giver and ushers him into the presence of the great.”  Isn't it interesting that what was true about 2500 years ago is still true today; that gifts open doors? Who doesn’t like to receive a gift? Everyone I know of likes to receive a gift. It’s how we are made. We feel valued when someone gives us something, unless it’s a cold.

 

Recently, a few of us from church went out and knocked on some doors in the area with the purpose of inviting people to church. We handed them a bag with two homemade cookies, a booklet on the gospel, and an invitation card about the church. We handed out about 50 – 60 of these. All of us who went out were in agreement that all of the people we handed them to were receptive to what we were offering.  Maybe that is because of the cookies inside, but nonetheless, they were receptive. No one was ugly, or rude, or shouted at us, or slammed the door in our face. No one threatened us, or even made an ugly face at us. Maybe it was the cookies, or maybe people are more open to church than what we think they are.

 

Polls show that most Americans still consider themselves religious, or at least spiritual. Many people actually seemed appreciative that we would come and invite them to our church. Most of them were warm, friendly, and welcoming. Amazing what a couple of cookies, a warm greeting, and a knock on a door can do. True, no one has come to the church yet because of our “cookie invitation.” But they still might…

 

And I wonder if anyone in the church had a relationship with any of our cookie receivers, if that might even further the impact that our brief visit might have had. In other words, if they had gotten cookies, an invitation, AND they knew someone who went to our church, would they be even more receptive and possibly pay us a visit some Sunday? My hunch is that they might be more likely to under that scenario.  

 

We will likely try our “cookie outreach program” again, but what I think this teaches us is that we open doors to people’s lives and hearts when we reach out to them, even if all we are bearing is a small token of tasty calories and an invitation to acceptance. Most of us like both!

 

It’s my guess that some of your friends might be more receptive to church invitations if you asked them to come over to lunch afterwards or go to lunch with you. Relationships plus a gift will have more impact than just a gift from a stranger.

 

Paul talked about finding common ground with people and using that common ground to reach out to them for the cause of Christ. I don’t think he had cookies in mind at the time, but cookies seem to help.  What common ground can you find that will open doors and remove barriers so that Christ might be glorified? 

 

You are not called to win them, but you are called to go – with cookies or without!