Tell me how you witness to folks - day to day.
What methods - opportunities - situations do you look for/use?
When Quoting Scripture Inflicts Harm
6 years ago
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Evangelism
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- Ray McDonald
- I am willing to do what no one else is doing, that I might reach those no one is reaching for Jesus.
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8 comments:
I just try and live like Jesus as best I can (tripping and stumbling constantly). I try and be careful what comes out of my mouth as one word or comment can kill a witness quicker than anything.
I also try and use my music to witness to others by sharing with people thru what the Lord has given me thru songs and the songs I have written.
I also try to host a concert once a year at my church using other musicians that are Christians that have original material to share. I encourage all who attend to invite unchurched family and friends to attend a fun night out where their unchurched friends do not have to worry about getting bonked on the head with a Bible and "having religion shoved down their throats". Funny how often I hear that as a reason to not attend church functions. I try and just plant seeds along the way.
I raise spiritual hooks in the work setting and see who bites. Things like quoting the Bible, or using a Jesus parable to get a business point across, or put a picture on my wall that has a spiritual story behind it, or sending "in your face" Christmas cards, or mentioning the ministries (Emmaus and prison) we're involved in - "if you can talk about your weekend (football), why can't I talk about mine?", etc.
If somebody nibbles, we get into a conversation about my faith. Evangelyzing in a Jewish firm is tricky, but if someone asks me a question - well, I just answer.
Basically, I set traps and see what I catch.
from jtg-
I think you need to develop frequent meaningful connections (maybe others use the word relationships,-that seems rather deep), and in the course of those interactions you can talk of/spread the Word. I think folks then may have a better chance of witnessing. Sure general acts of kindness creates opportunities as well.
My everyday experiences seeem to suggest these situations: It's a shame but neighbors these days tend to park in garages and quickly run into/from their homes, so opportunities are seldom and I've lived on my street for 12 yrs.
Employment- Many of us are employed in mega employment centers with most folks living far and in between from where we work and therefore never socialize beyond the daily employment centers.
Most of us that have been attending Church for 15 + or more years, tend to only socialize amongst our fellow Christians. Most want to partake in similar insterests.
So whether merely witnessing by acts of kindness and helping which may not lead to verbalizing the Gospel, is considered Evangelizing or not? But it's not up to us to need to know if those folks eventually come to Christ or not. I think as long as we are a link in however long the chain is, truly is what most of us are called to be.
Just sharing my personal experiences.
I tell people what God has done in my life. I gently correct those who use His name in vain. I make sure I say "God" and then bless you. When someone is feeling low, I offer to pray for them.
To Henry: I like your style - a genuine fisherman (with the hook analogy). May God bless you in your daily fishing trips.
This is exactly what Jesus did.
Look at John 4 and see for yourself, when speaking to the woman at the well, He spoke of natural things and then moved right into the spiritual. He also used the law to bring about conviction and then moved into grace. Shouldn't we follow how the master did it? As the Bible states so clearly "Law to the proud, and grace to the humble.."
Amen!
Oh yea: I generally do the same thing and I also use tracts and email and literature (a teacher teaching on scripture) etc.
Dear MikeFred:
I like your ideas of living in a way that reflects ‘good behavior’ and I would only like to comment about your statement “I encourage all who attend to invite unchurched family and friends to attend a fun night out where their unchurched friends do not have to worry about getting bonked on the head with a Bible and "having religion shoved down their throats".”
I would however like to pose it in a question; how do you handle your statement above in relation to these verses from Romans 1? “14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
…and this verse from Mark 15 “16 …And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”
While I agree that our “behavior” can be an act of worship by being obedient to Word of God. There also should be some balance. Just being “well behaved” doesn’t save anyone. It’s the proclamation and the hearing of the Gospel that saves or is the mechanism that God the Father has ordained to save. While behavior is an inward worship between us and the Father, and the proclamation is the outward call to worship between the lost and the Father.
I guess this can be a difficult balance and while I don’t question your intent or your sincerity, I would just like to offer the thoughts above for your consideration.
Bob R;
Thanks for the comment!
My statement about "not have to worry about getting bonked on the head with a Bible and "having religion shoved down their throats" refers to some people who seem to think they need to push their religion on other people to the point of becoming overbearing and rude and to some degree self righteous. I believe the Holy Spirit will make the time available to share the Gospel. I do agree that our speech should be seasoned with salt at all times and the musical events I host at home here in Florida, all the performers do share a bit about their lives and even this Jesus we all love and worship. That is why I refer to myself as a musician that is a Christian as opposed to a Christian Musician. I tend to try and lay a foundation about where I stand with Christ and I do not feel led to be more Evangelistic in my approach from the stage. I always share a bit about how I feel the Lord led me to write a certain song and drop enough verbiage to let the audience know here I am coming from. I tend to be better with the one on one conversations after my performances sharing my faith more deeply. Perhaps as time goes on the Lord will lead me to sharing to a larger audience. I do appreciate your reply to me on this as I struggle with just how far am I to go with sharing my faith and be effective at planting seeds.
When I am in Utah (that is where most of my performances take place), the venue I play at is already a "hostile" environment towards the Gospel (a Unitarian "church" which is rented out by a group of people who put the shows on), and as you can imagine, a very interesting audience can be had. I made mention of Jesus while sharing a bit about myself on my first time there and you could have heard a pin drop as soon as I mentioned His name (it was awesome). Over the past 10 years I have made a lot of friends there and had some great sharing time off stage with several people who were truly searching for an answer.
Hope some of this made sense I have not had my coffee yet this morning. Also please pray for me as I am scheduled to perform in Cocoa Beach next week at a place that hosts "spiritual advisers", psychics, and tarot card readings. None of which will be taking place while the show is going on, but I am looking at this time as a special time to spread seeds.
Mike
Mikefred:
Thanks for your reply, I will keep you in my prayers. I actually just prayed for you as I finished reading your reply. It is awesome to hear that folks are actually using the name of our Lord in public and are engaging people in eternal matters. It seems so few folks get to share or boldy speak up regarding the Gospel. It can be very intimidating at times and I certainly am not a perfect example.
But, when I think and ponder what the furture holds as it is written, I can't help but to be motivated by the shear sadness I feel for those who reject so great a salvation.
Some verses that I try and remember at all times when tilling the soil, "Romans: 10: 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Praise the Lord and may He save a multitude.
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