HOW TO SHARE YOUR FAITH AND
FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT!
Matthew 28:18 and Acts 1:8 are only two
of the scriptures that tell us of God's
plan for world evangelization. Most believers
know about the great commission. They understand
it but are reluctant to "practice it".
WHY IS THAT?
1. Fear of rejection.
2. Fear of not saying it right.
3. Not knowing how and leaving it for the
professional or those who know how.
4. Being too busy.
5. Being insensitive to others
6. Feeling unworthy because of sin in their
lives.
7. Some do not believe that Jesus is the
only way or that God will allow "good"
people into heaven without Jesus.
MOST PEOPLE HAVE NO CLUE WHY THEY ARE HERE
ON EARTH...AND DON'T KNOW JESUS PERSONALLY
But they don't want to be preached at!
Luke 9:60 tells us to proclaim the Gospel,
meaning to ANNOUNCE the "Good News",
outside the church. But by and large the
church has not done this. In fact, a person
must come to the church to hear the "Good
News". Because so many people refuse
the truth many believers have quit sharing
the message and feel personally rejected
if people don't want to hear.
One of the reasons the message is rejected
is because of the style we have been taught
to use. Many believers are uncomfortable
about following Jesus' command therefore
it is delivered condemning and forceful.
(Such as, "You're going to hell if
you don't accept Christ.")
While this is true, this method rarely
accomplishes an open door for dialog. If
we follow the example Jesus gives, our results
will be much more fruitful...and besides
the results are up to Him anyway!
Pulpit preaching won't change Saginaw.
Committed people living and sharing their
faith will change Saginaw.
The best form of evangelism is to those
who know you...but this means we must live
what we believe. Many believers would rather
go to Africa than to their neighbor who
plays his radio too loud, or lets his dog
run, etc. The best way to turn people off
is to preach on symptoms such as, how a
good Christian should live.
Try these on a non-believer and check his
response: YOU SHOULDN'T drink, smoke, dance,
gamble, attend movies, swear, or work on
Sundays.
It isn't the absence of all these things
that changes a person. It is surrendering
to our Heavenly Father who gently and at
the right time deals with us to make changes.
Advise from a fisherman:
Catch your fish before you clean them!
Our nation has turned it's back on God
and He is looking for people who will share
His love with the lost before it is too
late. Some say Christianity is increasing
in the U.S., look at all the new churches.
But 85-90% of church growth is saints changing
churches. For example: Most church growth
seminars focus on providing better services
for people, not evangelizing the lost. This
fosters saints changing churches for better
facilities, Sunday School, coffee hours
or some other reason.
Real church growth comes only as people
turn to Christ.
If we will see the lost through God's eyes
and feel His love and compassion for our
city, sharing will become the desire of
our heart instead of a chore.
The inability to contend for the Gospel
seems to be a major reason why many Christians
keep their mouths shut and their light hidden
under a bushel. Many people in our culture
believer that if you do enough good you'll
make it to heaven. Someone needs to show
them that Jesus is the only way and good
works don't get us there.
For by grace have you been saved through
faith, and that not of yourselves; it is
the gift of God, not of works lest anyone
should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
We are finding at Old Town that evangelism
is based on relationship building where
non-believers are integrated into the church
through friendships. Friends and family
are initiated to attend and each week we
seem them coming closer to the truth. Conversion
is often a gradual process and any coercion
is not by the pastor but is left up to the
sovereign work of the Holy Spirit. When
we realize that our greatness is in God
and He is with us, empowering and strengthening
us this should remove much of the fear of
sharing.
Every Christian is called to be a witness,
but not all have the gift of evangelism.
Being a witness is simply sharing our faith
with friends, family, neighbors, work mates
and school friends. A major barrier for
Christians today is the "fortress mentality",
which means that shortly after coming to
Christ, all of our friends and contacts
are only with other Christians. That leaves
no opportunity to share the love of Christ
with the unsaved. So, to share our faith
we must have contact with those who need
to hear. This means we must be strong enough
so we influence the world for good and not
the world influencing us. We need to look
for opportunities and ask God to make appointments
for us with the lost.
Some ideas are to discover your neighbor's
interests or needs and spend informal time
with them. Help them in a practical way
and invite them to church.
We must not manipulate, argue, ridicule
or give up.
Jesus shows us some things about evangelism:
1. Contact others socially.
2. Establish common ground. He was a master
at relating to others.
3. Look for the right opportunity and don't
be pushy. Go only as far as you see the
person is open.
4. Don't be pulled off course.
-Remember your life is a witness
-Earn the right to be heard by sincerely
listening to others
-This is not a formula or outline but an
introduction to the Lord Jesus Christ
-Stress the love of God, not the sin factor
-Keep it simple, there is only one way
to know God
ESSENTIALS OF SHARING TO GOSPEL
1. God loves us. John 3:16-17
2. Sin separates us from God's love. Romans
5:12, 3:23
3. God's love can be experienced by: confessing
sin I John 1:9; and inviting Jesus to enter
our life. Rev. 3:20
CONTROL THE CONVERSATION
(not dominate or manipulate, but control)
1. Identification...We must identify in
some way with the person we are speaking
with. Find a common interest.
2. Transition...Turning the conversation
to spiritual matters.
3. Presentation...Begin to share the Gospel,
watching for body language and reactions.
Be sensitive to what they will allow.
4. Closing...If the entire plan of salvation
was given, bring the person to a commitment
and pray with them.
Once a person comes to Christ there must
be follow-up. This is why we offer the FOUNDATIONS
CLASS.
Remember...You and I are God's plan to
reach our community and world for Christ.
If we don't who will? Many people don't
share their faith because they are going
through hard times in life. But when God
is moving through you as you reach to the
lost HE will take care of you and also work
in YOUR LIFE!
LET YOUR LIFE COUNT FOR ETERNITY!
By: Donald H. Dinninger, Pastor
Old Town C.O.C. Missions Ministry
The goal of the Mission's Ministry at Old
Town C.O.C. is to have a strategic part in
fulfilling the great commission by reaching
the lost by showing god's love in our communities
and beyond..
Find out how you can get involved in a
missions trip this year.
