In America, Bible churches are often known for their robust teaching and commitment to Scripture. Their members are frequently well-versed in the Bible, and their programs serve as a rich environment for children and families to grow in faith.
By Dr. Tim Orr
In America, Bible churches are often known for their robust teaching and commitment to Scripture. Their members are frequently well-versed in the Bible, and their programs serve as a rich environment for children and families to grow in faith. However, many Bible churches fall short of fulfilling the Great Commission when it comes to evangelism. They focus inwardly, fostering deep biblical knowledge but often missing the external call to reach the lost. Evangelism, which requires stepping out of the church’s comfort zone, tends to be overlooked.
According to recent statistics, there are over 12,000 Bible churches in the United States, and many of these churches are growing in membership. They are often non-denominational, emphasizing expository preaching and deep theological teaching. But despite this growth, many Bible churches struggle with evangelism, especially in reaching those outside the faith. A 2019 study revealed that 80% of evangelical churches in America are either plateauing or declining in their ability to win new converts. This raises serious questions about the church’s ability to balance internal growth with external mission. If a church grows numerically but not evangelistically, is it truly fulfilling the Great Commission?
Let me start with Tom's story. Tom was in his late forties, living a few blocks from a vibrant Bible church. He had passed by this church for years, noticing the bustling activity on Sunday mornings—families walking in with Bibles under their arms, children running around, and the sound of worship echoing through the street. But for Tom, that church might as well have been on another planet. Despite living so close, he was spiritually far away, and no one reached out to bridge that gap.
Tom was struggling. He was going through a painful divorce, his relationship with his children was deteriorating, and spiritually, he felt empty. He had deep, existential questions about the meaning of life and whether God was even real. However, as the weeks and months went by, no one from the Bible church ever knocked on his door, invited him to a service or sat with him over a cup of coffee. The thriving programs inside the church meant little to Tom because they never reached him. He became a casualty of the church’s inward focus, disconnected from the place that could offer him hope.
Eventually, Tom sought solace elsewhere. Unfortunately, he found community in secular circles and peace in “practical spirituality.” The Bible church, with all its knowledge and resources, missed the opportunity to walk alongside him during his darkest hour. This isn’t just Tom’s story. Across America, there are countless "Toms"—people who might be willing to explore faith but are never given the chance because no one takes the time to know them. These lost neighbors are slipping through the cracks of a church too consumed with its internal life to notice the world outside its walls.
In another part of the country, a church was well-known for its Bible studies, mission trips, and youth programs. Steve had been attending for years. He loved the fellowship, the deep dive into Scripture, and the theological discussions. But something was missing. While Steve grew in understanding the Bible, his ability to engage with non-Christians remained underdeveloped. He found that although his mind was filled with biblical knowledge, his heart had grown distant from the very people who needed that knowledge most.
Steve realized that while growing in his knowledge of the Bible, he wasn’t growing in his engagement with the lost. Every week, he attended Bible studies that went into incredible detail about the doctrines of grace, the intricacies of Reformed theology, and the importance of personal holiness. But rarely, if ever, did these studies focus on equipping believers to engage the lost. There were few discussions about how to converse with non-Christians or how to answer the hard questions that people outside the faith ask. Steve felt spiritually full but missionary empty, knowing much about the faith but doing little to share it.
Steve eventually admitted that while his head was filled with knowledge, his heart for the lost had grown cold. He had friends and neighbors who didn’t know Christ but didn’t feel equipped or motivated to reach out to them. While providing solid biblical teaching, the church neglected the relational aspect of evangelism. He had come to see the church as a classroom, not a mission field. The lack of practical evangelism training left Steve—and many others like him—feeling spiritually stagnant in their mission to share the Gospel with others.
Bible churches often face this dilemma. They emphasize the importance of Scripture—which is a strength—but in doing so, they sometimes neglect the messy, relational side of fulfilling the Great Commission. According to a 2020 survey, only 29% of evangelical Christians in America shared their faith with someone outside of church in the past year. Bible churches, with all their focus on internal growth, can fall into the trap of overlooking the mission field that exists right outside their doors. The result is a congregation well-versed in Scripture but disengaged from the world they’re called to reach, creating a dangerous imbalance between knowledge and action.
Bible churches have grown steadily over the past few decades as a movement. Their focus on biblical literacy and solid teaching has attracted many families, particularly those seeking a church that prioritizes theological depth. However, the data shows a disconnect between internal growth and external evangelism. Theologically deep doesn’t always mean missionally effective; many Bible churches struggle to bridge that gap.
While many Bible churches are growing in attendance, there’s a gap in the number of new believers being brought into the fold. A study by Lifeway Research found that 65% of churchgoers in the United States haven’t seen a single new convert in the past six months. This raises the question: Are Bible churches, despite their solid teaching, effectively reaching the lost? If a church’s programs are aimed more at members than those outside the faith, even a growing church can feel like it’s standing still in impact. True growth in numbers and spiritual fruit should include new believers coming to faith.
Bible churches offer many strengths that should not be overlooked. Their emphasis on biblical knowledge is critical for a healthy Christian life. They often provide deep, expository preaching that helps believers understand Scripture in its context and apply it to their daily lives. For families, Bible churches frequently offer strong children’s ministries, ensuring the next generation is raised in the faith. These churches provide a strong foundation, offering a safe and nurturing environment for their members to grow.
Additionally, Bible churches are usually community-oriented, providing a sense of belonging and fellowship for their members. They foster environments where believers can grow in their understanding of theology, and they often prioritize personal discipleship through small groups and Bible studies. These are essential functions of a healthy church. However, while these internal benefits are undeniable, the church's mission remains unfinished if outreach is neglected. The goal is to build a thriving, Christ-centered, outward-focused community, always looking for ways to bring others into the fold.
But the challenge lies here: Knowing the Bible well is not enough to fulfill the Great Commission. Jesus didn’t simply teach from a distance—He spent time with people, entering into their lives, answering their questions, and walking through their struggles. Bible churches can become so focused on internal growth that they lose sight of this outward mission. We've missed the point entirely if our knowledge of Scripture doesn’t move us to love others and share the Gospel. We must turn our deep knowledge into actionable love that reaches beyond our church walls.
To win people to Christ, we need more than biblical knowledge; we must be present in their lives. Let me tell you about Hamid, a Muslim man I met through my ministry. Hamid had countless questions about Christianity. But what made the difference in his journey wasn’t just hearing the Gospel preached from a pulpit—the countless hours spent answering his questions, sitting with him over meals, and being there when he needed guidance. Hamid’s journey to faith wasn’t a program or sermon but a relationship built on trust and care.
This type of relational evangelism takes time, patience, and love. But it’s what makes the Gospel real to people like Hamid, Tom, and Steve. It’s easy to assume that simply knowing the Bible will lead people to Christ, but in reality, our willingness to spend time with the lost makes the difference. People are not projects but individuals with unique stories, struggles, and questions. We must invest in their lives to fulfill the Great Commission, just as Jesus did. Relationships, more than programs, create opportunities for life-changing conversations. It’s in these moments that we see the Gospel come alive.
Fulfilling the Great Commission means knowing the Bible well, but it also means living it out. Bible churches have the strength of solid theological teaching, but they must couple that with intentional evangelism. Programs and Bible studies are valuable, but they must be balanced with a focus on the lost—those who may never step foot in a church without an invitation or a relationship with someone who knows and loves Christ. A balanced church doesn’t just educate its members; it equips them to share their faith with a world desperate for hope.
Let’s not be churches that exist solely for ourselves. Let’s be churches that spend time with the lost, build relationships with non-believers, and answer their questions with truth and love. The Great Commission calls us to go into the world, not just stay in our Bible studies. If our faith is lived out only among other believers, then we’ve forgotten what Christ called us to do—make disciples of all nations. Our faith must extend beyond the pews and into the lives of those who need the love of Christ.
In the end, fulfilling the Great Commission requires both knowledge and love. Bible churches know, but it’s time to take that knowledge outside the church's walls and use it to build relationships, answer questions, and share the love of Christ with a world that desperately needs Him. Remember that the Gospel is best shared in a loving relationship, where questions can be answered and lives transformed. By balancing biblical truth with relational outreach, we can ensure our churches fulfill their internal and external missions.
The ideas in this blog are mine,but AI assisted me in writing it.
