how do we share the gospel

tedincarolina · Aug 21, 2024

Hey folks,

I looked over all the topic titles and didn't really see one that fit for just asking questions of the 'church'. But since the foundation of my question is based on Jesus' commands to his followers, I figured this is the best spot.

I just wondered if anyone were willing to give a personal testimony as to 'how' they go about sharing the gospel with their friends, neighbors, co-workers, even family?

While I do talk about Jesus and God a lot with people, I'm finding myself rather deficient, often times, in being faithful to Jesus in this task. I know that I have read the Roman Road of salvation, but I'm not really faithful at preaching it. I've even read books, such as 'Share Jesus Without Fear' and 'Evangelism Explosion' and many other books describing methods used to talk to others about Jesus. While I have made half-hearted efforts to practice these things, I find myself wondering how others bring Jesus into their day-to-day conversations and are, therefore, able to talk about him and salvation.

So anyway, if anyone is comfortable sharing their 'process', I'd like to hear.

God bless,
Ted

studentoftheword · Aug 21, 2024

My View

Rely on the Holy Spirit to give you daily direction on this ------today just going and preaching the Gospel to anyone could land you in hot water ------The Holy Spirit knows who--how and when you should preach the Gospel and you will be received -----God does not want people fired or Suspended or beat up today for randomly going about preaching His Word on their own accord ---we have been given the Holy Spirit to guide us in our daily walk and preaching to others ----I say Use what God has given us -----

The Legal Implications of Witnessing at Work
Christian Law Association (David Gibbs)

https://www2.cbn.com/article/finances/legal-implications-witnessing-work

High school student: I've been suspended 3 times for preaching, handing out Bible tracts
By Rob Mackay
Published November 19, 2014 10:49pm PST
FOX 13 Seattle

https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/h...-times-for-preaching-handing-out-bible-tracts

ResidentAlien · Aug 21, 2024

Not everyone is called to preach. Some people can, and are very effective. I just work it into the conversation whenever there's an opening. I don't believe you have to be pushy. If people know you're a believer, believe me they're watching you; and how you live will be a lot more effective witness than talk.

tedincarolina · Aug 21, 2024

ResidentAlien said:

HI @ResidentAlien

While I absolutely agree that how we live does provide a testimony to people of our heart, I think Jesus was speaking more about actually speaking words to people when he spoke the great commission to his followers. Yes, he said that they will know us by our love for one another. But before he ascended into heaven, he left a very specific instruction for us to be working on until he returns. Honoring that instruction is what I'm interested in. Now, I agree that not everyone does it, but I think it is something that God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit expect us to make an effort at.

fredoheaven · Aug 21, 2024

I usually do it using the Romans Road Plan in sharing the gospel. God bless

fredoheaven · Aug 21, 2024

Door knocking still works. If the house has it gates simply wave the tracts, this will attract people to come to it, then respectfully request a few minutes to share the gospel. It works for me.

ResidentAlien · Aug 21, 2024

tedincarolina said:

Well it was my impression you were interested in hearing how others approached it. I gave you my thoughts. It actually sounds like you already have it figured out, so I'm not really sure what the point of your thread is.

tourist · Aug 21, 2024

ResidentAlien said:

Exactly. An excellent example to witness for the Lord is to conduct yourself, in both your acts and speech, accordingly. Set a godly example for others to emulate.

tourist · Aug 21, 2024

tedincarolina said:

A critical element of this great commission is, as stated by Jesus, to allow others to know you by the love that you actually show. Otherwise, any speaking words are rendered meaningless without value. If you don't walk the talk don't bother to tell others what they are supposedly lacking spiritually in their life.

tourist · Aug 21, 2024

fredoheaven said:

That's a good report for sure.

fredoheaven · Aug 21, 2024

studentoftheword said:

The method Ive posted sounds I will be in a hotwater if I'm leaving in the US. But since Im living far the country, we have the liberty to do it. However, we ate free to do it, the response of the people we share the gospel is very diificult to penetrate their hearts. Many people we are dealing are mosly not interested, only a few. Anyway, we just share, thats our business as we depend on the Holy Spirit will work in their lives. We just communicate whether they belive or not.

Pilgrimshope · Aug 21, 2024

tedincarolina said:

i just ask people after I become aquatinted and sometimes even strangers I interact with .but also opportunities arose like If anyone ever asks me for a favor a ride or money I always do whatever I’m able and everything to help which isn’t a lot anymore , but also I usually converse about Jesus with the person

you make it a part of who you are sort of some people will not wanna hear it others will most will let you know once you mention his name

i was an alcoholic for about 15 years which I’m not proud of but , I would just meet a person just social chat and pretty quickly would ask what they thought about Jesus

i realize it’s not the best time to say it but I figured I was a broken struggling believer there must be others . And I met a lot of people with good hearts for Jesus even though we’re we’re sitting in a bar drinking and living as we shouldn’t at the time. Actually had some really deep conversations about God and Jesus

but sometimes also people get pretty buligerent when you mention his name . it annoys some people but gotta just put it out there . You never know when the people are open to it or not . Takes a little bravery honestly to start doing it more openly with people who aren’t in your church. But also it’s very liberating and satisfying when someone receives it with interest or already believes and it leads to maybe an invite to chrich or even a friendship or something

it can also cause issues and cost friends and neighbors and people at times but it’s more important to share the message of salvation in Christ even if it’s just his name or talking about the cross ect that’s the gospel too

HealthAndHappiness · Aug 21, 2024

tedincarolina said:

Hi Ted,

Do a search with my name and you'll find some examples. I usually lead others to Christ with an open Bible and the plan of salvation. On line I usually do this too, but it's very time consuming to type it out each time anew. It's like coming up with a new Bible tract each time. I will often post videos of good gospel presentations.
Sometimes I combine the two. I'll post some examples that might be of help to you.

tedincarolina · Aug 21, 2024

Hi again guys,

I apologize to anyone I have offended. It certainly wasn't my intent. I just wanted to start a discussion among believers as to how others were able to actually share the gospel as Jesus asked his followers to do. No, I don't have it all figured out. And even if I did, it is still a valid subject for discussion among believers... I would think.

In the book "Share Jesus Without Fear' for example, he gives several probing questions that you can ask someone when you're standing in the checkout line. Although, now a days with automated check outs, I know that in most of the stores I go into, you really don't stand in line much. But I was just interested in 'how' others are able to do that.

We don't all get to stand on a stage like some of the fine teachers that preach the gospel to large crowds as Billy Graham used to do, but we do have 'meetings' with people on some days that might mean 5-10 minutes of standing around. We really want to tell our friends and neighbors about Jesus, but how do we practically bring that up in a normal conversation? That's all I was looking for and for those who do evangelize those that they meet, then 'how' do you do it?

I know a man that walks throughout our local Walmart with tracts in his pocket, and he just walks up to people while they are shopping and just asks them if they know who Jesus is? Depending on the response he begins to ask probing questions. It's not an ideal place to fully share the gospel because most people are in too much of a hurry to stop in their shopping and listen to someone explain the gospel. But he is doing what Jesus told asked him to do.

If we really believe that Jesus is the only life raft out of this dire place that we're in; if we really believe that hell is real and will be a place of great pain and suffering, then wouldn't it be a great sign of our love for others to at least tell them about the way out? I think that's how Jesus saw it, and meant for us to see it, as we live our lives among the lost.

So, if anyone has had some practice at sharing the gospel and is bold enough to practice it in their daily life, I'd like to hear your experience and the kinds of things that you say to people to turn conversations towards the spiritual.

God bless,
Ted

tedincarolina · Aug 21, 2024

Pilgrimshope said:

Hey @Pilgrimshope

What specifically do you ask them? Have they heard of Jesus? Do they know Jesus? Can I tell you about Jesus? Who is Jesus to you?

I picked a young man up that was walking on the road one day and he and I had a delightful conversation about Jesus. I was pretty sure that he already knew him because he spoke of being involved in telling others.

Pilgrimshope said:

I've long believed that those of us who have struggled in our lives with addictions can often be the most bold in this. Praise God for your effort and may your reward be great in God's kingdom.

Pilgrimshope said:

Right. And I think that's what keeps most of us from being bold in proclaiming to the world the greatest gift for mankind. Fear of rejection or being mocked in some way.

God bless,
Ted

studentoftheword · Aug 21, 2024

[QUOTE="fredoheaven, post: 5351071, member: 231643"]the response of the people we share the gospel is very diificult to penetrate their hearts.[/QUOTE]

You won't penetrate their hearts nor can you -----

People need to get this -----

God the Father is the only one who can take a sinners hardened heart and change it to a responsive heart ------we cannot do that nor does the Holy spirit -----

Ezekiel 36:26
New Living Translation
And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.

And Sinners cannot come to God unless God the Father Draws them ------so People who go randomly about approaching people on their own power to preach the word to are doing a fruitless deed unless the person has already been drawn by the Father to have their heart open to be responsive to accept the message your trying to convey ----that is why you should ASK for the Holy Spirits Direction before you go out trying to spread the Word ----

John 6:44 Amplified Bible (AMP)
No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him [giving him the desire to come to Me]; and I will raise him up [from the dead] on the last day.

This word draw here ----means

Strong's Concordance

helkó: to drag

induce (draw in), focusing on the attraction-power involved with the drawing.
metaphorically, to draw by inward power, lead, impel: John 6:44

Sinners are deemed as the Natural Man in Scripture and God says this about them ------your words are going on deaf ears and a hardened heart -----

! Corinthians 2:14

AMP
But the natural [unbelieving] man does not accept the things [the teachings and revelations] of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness [absurd and illogical] to him; and he is incapable of understanding them, because they are spiritually discerned and appreciated, [and he is unqualified to judge spiritual matters].

tedincarolina · Aug 21, 2024

Hi @studentoftheword

You must not be quoting correctly. It isn't supposed to populate like that.

studentoftheword said:

It should look like the above when you quote someone's words.

I'm not sure I'm understanding all that you're saying in that. I do agree that we should always pray for the Holy Spirit's help in our endeavors in this and that's a good point. Any effort that we make to speak to others should begin with that first step.

God bless,
Ted

studentoftheword · Aug 21, 2024

fredoheaven said:

Another false Statement here ---no one Scripture says in the New Testament that the Holy Spirit works with in or with sinners -----the Scripture says this

Isaiah 59:2

Amplified Bible
2
But your wickedness has separated you from your God,
And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.

So If Sin turns God's face from us then that includes the Holy spirit -----there is only one way to have the Holy spirit work in you ----Receive Jesus as your Lord and Saviour ---and then the Holy Spirit works in you

tedincarolina · Aug 21, 2024

studentoftheword said:

Hi @studentoftheword

I'm not much in agreement with your correction. Jesus said that no one comes to the Father that the Spirit doesn't draw them. So, according to Jesus' words, the Spirit does draw the unbeliever as we proclaim the gospel. Now, that's certainly not true in every case of sharing, but it is the truth about any who do hear what the gospel is saying as we proclaim it.

For the record, you're quoting old covenant words of God to His people, Israel. But Jesus can look upon sin. He spent his entire life doing just that. I believe that whenever the gospel of Jesus is proclaimed, the Holy Spirit is at work. My guess is that you don't see the difference in 'having the Holy Spirit work 'in' someone' and 'having the Holy Spirit to draw someone'.

Yes, it's true that the Holy Spirit does not indwell and work within those who are lost to God, as far as guiding them as they live a life following the Lord. But the Scriptures seem clear that He has the ability to draw unbelievers to God so that they can then be indwelled with him, if they believe what they are being told.

God bless,
Ted

wattie · Aug 21, 2024

tedincarolina said:

Sometimes I go door knocking around houses nearby the church building. With another church member.

We have a card with the gospel summarized on the back and an invite to our church on the front.

We give the card inviting them to service..and then ask if they are christian and/or attend church.

But the key thing we ask is if you died today, how sure are you, you are going to heaven?

If people aren't sure..we ask 5 minutes of their time to share how they can be sure.

John 3:16, Romans 10:9-10, John 5:24, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 5:8 etc..

how do we share the gospel

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