Sharing the gospel

[Noah Cotterill]

It makes me sick to say this, but in the 21 years or so of believing in Jesus, I've never focused on sharing Him. I'm turning 23 in October. Of course I've shared Jesus some. We saw one of our friends get baptized this year, but she's stopped coming to church and talking with us. She's still living with her boyfriend who doesn't seem to want Christ. I'm a very shy person and find it hard to open up to people. I want to, but I lose heart. I know this is a terrible excuse. Being in school and having a son, I don't know where and when I can share. I feel like I have to scrounge for even the possible opportunities of sharing Jesus, and even then I've got to suppress my shyness. Is there an exhortive, scriptural word that a brother or sister can give me? I know I'm asking stuff, but it's not for me - I just want to share Jesus better.

 

[mattfivefour]

Witnessing is the way you live, letting people see Christ THROUGH you as a result of what the Holy Spirit is doing IN you. When you do, sometimes people will come up to you and ask about your faith. I have had that happen; people are curious. As to setting out to share the gospel, if you find it hard to approach people then buy some good tracts and start leaving them anywhere and everywhere. A gospel tract in a rented van was one very important thing that God used to bring me to Him. (I believe I refer to it in my testimony posted here on RF.)


You will find that as you concentrate on loving Him, getting to know Him better through His Word, through prayer, worship, through obedience to Him, that you will be so filled with His Presence that you just bubble over and cannot help but speak of Him. Don't try to manufacture opportunities to share; simply ask God to provide them. He will.

 

[Noah Cotterill]

Thanks, Matt
I'm encouraged. It does make sense to not try to make things happen, and be simply willing where God would have me as I go.

 

[anath]

He is preparing your heart right now, Noah. All we need to do is be willing to be used by Him. He will provide the opportunity.

 

[REKG]

I sometimes will copy various topics off RF & RR and post them at work, have a couple of people always asking when is the next batch. I do assume with everyone it's ok to copy your views on various topics, I believe I now have about 4 0r 5 large notebooks full of the RF & RR topics. Also I love to go back thru and read a lot of them. I find that the items I copy have a more personal feel to them, which of course they are.

 

[Noah Cotterill]

I sometimes will copy various topics off RF & RR and post them at work, have a couple of people always asking when is the next batch. I do assume with everyone it's ok to copy your views on various topics, I believe I now have about 4 0r 5 large notebooks full of the RF & RR topics. Also I love to go back thru and read a lot of them. I find that the items I copy have a more personal feel to them, which of course they are.

I don't think anyone cares, especially since it's used in such an edifying purpose, and not for self-gain.

 

[Noah Cotterill]

It seems everyone I've been witnessing to either ignores me or tells me to shut up. I feel like Jeremiah ing

 

[DanLW]

Evangelism isn't everybody's gift. Yes, we are all ultimately called to it, but perhaps not to the level of the people who have the ability to walk up to random strangers on the street and effectively share the gospel. There are many gifts other than evangelism which are just as important, and no gift is more important than another.

1 Chorintians 12 is a good example of what I mean.

I don't believe that to be an exhaustive list of every possible gift, but a good starting point. A church, both the people and the building, needs many people with differing gifts to work effectively. All gifts boil down to various types of ministry, which could be called service. If your gift is evangelism, God is using you to serve other people's need for salvation. If your gift is teaching, you serve the need other members of the church have for scriptural knowledge and wisdom. Your gift could even be various trade skills. If a member is a certified electrician, he could do electrical work for the church. Or perhaps somebody has earned wealth, and so their gift of business savvy could be used as financing the church. Somebody may be good with computers, so they could help out as the church's IT guy, or run a website, or simply run the media computer during the service.

So don't get discouraged if you aren't going door to door winning your enire neighborhood for Christ. Not many people can do that effectively. Just take inventory of what you're good at, what you enjoy doing, and somehow apply it within the church.

 

[dave-o]

I'm a very shy person and find it hard to open up to people. I want to, but I lose heart. I know this is a terrible excuse.

In that case try formulating your case for salvation by Grace alone in as few words as possible. People in America these days have very short attention spans so if you could make it few enough words to print on a business card that would be great.

Then get some printable blank business cards and do just that. Now leave one whenever you go. On the gas pump. windshields, with a tip at a restaurant or whatever.

Here in America you will seldom find someone who hasn't heard that Jesus died for our sins. Our job has become more apologetics than anything else so just a few words to help a person change their mind (repent) about their current opinion of why they need Jesus can go a long ways especially seeing how you have the Holy Spirit to give incredible dept to even just a few words to those who are ready.

 

[Noah Cotterill]

Thanks, Dan! I know what you mean. It's not a special gift of mine, but we were all called to witness in some form or fashion. I'm just sad for all the people who seem to hate the gospel. I know I've planted the seed and God will work it in them the way He sees fit. What my concern is, people are so set in their ways, and they don't know all of what you and I know.


Dave, that's exactly what I do. I have just been saying the gospel and nothing else pretty much unless the conversation steers there and I feel confident and knowledgeable enough to answer them in that way. I've stepped out of my comfort zone a lot to witness lately cause I find it so important.

 

[Andy C]

Witnessing is the way you live, letting people see Christ THROUGH you as a result of what the Holy Spirit is doing IN you. When you do, sometimes people will come up to you and ask about your faith. I have had that happen; people are curious. As to setting out to share the gospel, if you find it hard to approach people then buy some good tracts and start leaving them anywhere and everywhere. A gospel tract in a rented van was one very important thing that God used to bring me to Him. (I believe I refer to it in my testimony posted here on RF.)


You will find that as you concentrate on loving Him, getting to know Him better through His Word, through prayer, worship, through obedience to Him, that you will be so filled with His Presence that you just bubble over and cannot help but speak of Him. Don't try to manufacture opportunities to share; simply ask God to provide them. He will.

As usual, an excellent response. Your words are very encouraging to me.

 

[Andy C]

Evangelism isn't everybody's gift. Yes, we are all ultimately called to it, but perhaps not to the level of the people who have the ability to walk up to random strangers on the street and effectively share the gospel. There are many gifts other than evangelism which are just as important, and no gift is more important than another.

1 Chorintians 12 is a good example of what I mean.

I don't believe that to be an exhaustive list of every possible gift, but a good starting point. A church, both the people and the building, needs many people with differing gifts to work effectively. All gifts boil down to various types of ministry, which could be called service. If your gift is evangelism, God is using you to serve other people's need for salvation. If your gift is teaching, you serve the need other members of the church have for scriptural knowledge and wisdom. Your gift could even be various trade skills. If a member is a certified electrician, he could do electrical work for the church. Or perhaps somebody has earned wealth, and so their gift of business savvy could be used as financing the church. Somebody may be good with computers, so they could help out as the church's IT guy, or run a website, or simply run the media computer during the service.

So don't get discouraged if you aren't going door to door winning your enire neighborhood for Christ. Not many people can do that effectively. Just take inventory of what you're good at, what you enjoy doing, and somehow apply it within the church.

Great post.

 

[Andy C]

Sharing the Gospel is one area I'm weak in. I've never been one to approach strangers for anything, let alone sharing the Good News. I've tried to share by my own ways, but I'm now learning to let Him show me what to do.

I try and live the best life I can, and allow that to be my witness. Now, I don't "try" to do anything. I simply yield to Him, and follow where it may lead me.

I go to the gym several times a week, and always wear a Christian shirt with Bible verses for all to see. Sometimes I get stares, and also a few comments. I'm not afraid to share my faith, but I'm also not a very outgoing person as I tend to be introverted around folks I don't know.

For a long time I felt like I was not doing "my fair share" in helping spread the good news. But now I understand He does not need my help, but also that He will place me in situations where I can share. Make sense?

 

[Andrew]

I sometimes will copy various topics off RF & RR and post them at work, have a couple of people always asking when is the next batch. I do assume with everyone it's ok to copy your views on various topics, I believe I now have about 4 0r 5 large notebooks full of the RF & RR topics. Also I love to go back thru and read a lot of them. I find that the items I copy have a more personal feel to them, which of course they are.

I don't think this should be a problem as these are public forums so by posting here, we have already consented to it being seen by anybody who has access to the internet.

 

[Geri7]

It makes me sick to say this, but in the 21 years or so of believing in Jesus, I've never focused on sharing Him. I'm turning 23 in October. Of course I've shared Jesus some. We saw one of our friends get baptized this year, but she's stopped coming to church and talking with us. She's still living with her boyfriend who doesn't seem to want Christ. I'm a very shy person and find it hard to open up to people. I want to, but I lose heart. I know this is a terrible excuse. Being in school and having a son, I don't know where and when I can share. I feel like I have to scrounge for even the possible opportunities of sharing Jesus, and even then I've got to suppress my shyness. Is there an exhortive, scriptural word that a brother or sister can give me? I know I'm asking stuff, but it's not for me - I just want to share Jesus better.

Don't be so hard on yourself. Just carry some good Bible Tracts with you and when you're eating out at a restaurant place a tract with the tip, or if you go into a public bathroom of the stores or gym perhaps you can leave some in the bathroom stalls or in the dressing rooms, if you take a bus leave one on the seat, etc. These are silent witnessing methods. If you see people selling something in front of the stores (Girl Scout Cookies) or wanting a donation for some cause (Veteran's Fund, etc.) just hand them a $1.00 or $2.00 with a Bible Tract. I had one lady who had a little daughter that was selling Girl Scout Cookies at a gas station literally hand me a box of cookies even though I only gave $2.00 because she was so grateful to hear about how she can have assurance of heaven. I said "oh no, thank you anyway for the cookies". Another person gave me a discount coupon to Chili's restaurant. So don't be afraid, it does get easier each time you witness and its really fun and you do meet some interesting people.

 

[jonshaff]

You got saved when you were 2?

 

[Andy C]

Watching the Pope walk through or drive by crowds is sickening. The people are star struck seeing their Idol up close. We have a lot of work to do in order to steer those pope fans back towards Jesus. They think they have a good relation with Jesus based on their following and adhering to the CC Sacraments. We need to show them through scripture what the Bible teaches about Salvation.

 

[BarbT]

IMO a lot of Christians get hung up on the word "evangelism" because it invokes the image of going out and trying to convert strangers on street corners. Others may feel guilty for not telling every person they meet about the Good News.

In truth, each of us is a unique individual with talents and abilities all our own, given by God. There are probably as many ways to spread the Gospel as there are believers so it's wrong when we berate ourselves or others for not having the same witnessing styles. Things that may seem to have no value may be exactly what the Lord is leading us to do.

From childhood to age 47, God put dozens of people in my path who pointed the way toward Him by their "small" yet powerful witnesses. Even as I navigated the dark world of false religions and immoral living for decades, He would use people to draw me to Him, again in quiet ways that made an impact on my mind & heart. It could be as simple as seeing the message "Jesus loves you" on a stranger's t-shirt or finding a Christ-centered tract at the bus stop that read "Where will you go when death comes?" At other times I would be amazed when someone would give praise to the Savior while in a secular setting.

I love thinking about the many "brushes with God" that helped prepare me for the day of salvation. I also love the thought of one day meeting each of the aforementioned "evangelists" and thanking them for faithfully doing their jobs in the Great Commission.

 

[mbrown1219]

Truthfully, I think posting edifying posts on a Christian forum such as this forum can be a very effective witnessing tool. I've shared a lot of sermons on Google+ and pray that in the sharing of those some hearts have been drawn by the writer of the sermon to Christ for salvation. Posted links to a few very good apologetics films, and Intelligent Design DVDs. The link I posted to Ben Carson's Gifted Hands video has had several thousand views here on the forum!)

Praying for the salvation of friends and loved ones is also an effective ministry. We can all pray for friends, neighbors, loved ones, and even our enemies.

 

[Belle of Grace]

Excellent, Mary!