When preaching in Louisville some years ago, some brethren and I went into the community and knocked on doors in an attempt to win souls. I know that cold calling is not the best way to win souls to Christ, but as a secondary plan of growth, there can be some value in it, specifically, fulfilling a command given to us by God (Matthew 28:19). Anyway, we did not have as much success in the neighborhood that we hit as we had in the past. Some neighborhoods are more likely to produce prospects than others. One thing that I observed in the particular neighborhood that we worked that day, was that it was very settled. This may well explain the lack of response.

You may be wondering what I mean by a settled neighborhood. Well, as I looked around, I noticed that the houses were very well kept. The lawns were all cut nicely, the shrubs were trimmed, and most of the houses had a nice car or two sitting in the driveway. The neighborhood, as a whole, was nice and quiet and very orderly. I got the impression that the families inside of the houses were most likely a lot like the yards. Their lives were probably very orderly and settled. Now, please know that I am in no way putting down that lifestyle. In fact, it is the kind of lifestyle that most of us desire. We want to raise our children in an environment that is safe, and where we can feel comfortable and secure. We want to give our children the comfort of having an orderly setting, apart from the chaos and confusion of an unsettled life. There is nothing wrong with that at all. However, there is something about a settled life that is not conducive to the acceptance of the gospel of Christ. There are at least two reasons for this. First, when we get settled in life, we have the tendency to think we do not need anything other than what we already have. Second, when our life is well-ordered and comfortable, change is not very appealing. Thus, when someone comes along with a message that says you need something more in your life, in this case, Jesus Christ, and a message that demands change, it is usually going to be a hard sell. Well, is there anything to learn from all of this? Yes there is, and it does not have anything to do with not living a settled life. Having a settled life is actually good and can even help us better serve the Lord. But there are a few things to avoid.

1. Avoid a resistance to change. The gospel is a message that demands change, that is, a turning from sin to the living God (1 Thessalonians 1:9). In fact, it is through the gospel of Christ that God changes our hearts, and molds us into being new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:10).

2. Avoid becoming dependent on comfort. We all want to live a comfortable life. There is nothing wrong with that unless we stay away from being uncomfortable at all cost. You see, sometimes we must be uncomfortable for Christ. Paul had a very comfortable lifestyle before he obeyed the Lord (Philippians 3:4-8). He had power and prestige and respectability in the community. But, he counted it all loss to gain Christ. Paul was willing to give up a comfortable life for one of turmoil. Read 2 Corinthians 11:24-28 to see what I mean. However, in the end, he gained something better than comfort here on earth. He gained a relationship with Jesus now and a home in heaven later (2 Timothy 4:6-8). He would have gained neither of these if he were unwilling to give up the comfort of an orderly life.

3. Do not avoid those whose lives are unsettled. Not only have I observed the difficulties of reaching people, who are comfortable, with the gospel, I have noticed that people who are struggling with life are usually more receptive to the Word. I say usually because sometimes the very opposite is true. But often, people who are struggling can see clearly that they need something more than what they have, and they are willing to give Jesus a try. The truth is everyone deserves a chance to hear the precious gospel. That includes the drunkard, the prostitute, the drug addict, and all others in like situations. Remember, Jesus said “go into all the world,” not just the settled neighborhoods of our community.