DISCUSSIONS PAGE

Hi Shalom,
I believe both Ejay and ruthy2401 have made a few interesting comments about this very fundermental issue of evangelism that i have but just a few to add. The have both shared enough about LOVE, PRAYING for them, and more importantly living as examples so that our lives in Christ will attract others and will make them want to listen to us when we are DEBATING about faith. The scripture says, "we are the light of this world,....we are the salt of the world".These verses and many more point to the fact that we cannot be effective in ministerng to others if we ourselves are living double lives. In my first personal encounter with christians, what attracted me to them was the WAY the lived, behaved, acted or talked. Therefore, our way of life should portray Christ, and this fact cannot be overemphasized. Also, messengermicah added that the gospel indeed is offensive to the lost and that is absolutely true too, especially to atheist and muslims. But God gives us wisdom through His HOLY SPIRIT in the discharge of the truth about HIM to others. That's why he asked the deciples to wait until the Holy spirit has come upon them, because it's not us doing the converting, we are only asked to convince or preach to them.
Shalom, don't be to disappointed when your friends are not converted right away. Sometimes it takes time and the continued work of the spirit in such people for them to finally come to the truth about of GOD. So continue to preach to them "both in season and out of season" as paul admonished Timothy. Because this is the time when many will not adhere to sound doctrine..
My sister, be persistent and unmovable always abounding in the work of the LORD. I know that you have a heart for the lost souls and I don't share the same view that your preaching is diluted. And remember that Jesus is with you ALWAYS. He will answer you in HIS own time. I have no doubts YOUR friends will come to the full knowledge of Christ, and this is why? Because God has placed you at your work environment for a reason, pray for his revelation knowledge and follow his directions and a few suggestions the brethren have made here on this forum. Get to know them outside of work. I remember the scripture union folks comming to my neighborhood after school to play soccer with us. They were persistent but patient with us, knowing that we were lost. I will pray with you on this issue..
God bless you.

I understand what Shalom is saying over here. Sometime you meet people with very strong opinions that God doesn't exist, and trying to present the truth to these people will sound argumentative which wouldn't benefit either of you at the long last. With people like those, you just have to pray for them. With people like your co-workers, you have a better chance presenting God to them because they are closer to you than just the random people you meet. Always remember to pray for them but avoid arguing with them by trying to make a point. Defend your faith but try as much as you can not to argue. Let them understand the great Love of God, by being caring and loving to them. I know you're not Jesus Christ and you can't die for them, but there could be something peculiar about you that can make them understand the Love of God. Keep them in your prayer my sister.

I believe that fisrt of all we have to present our self as true Christians so that we can set an example. if I am not a true Christian how can i convert some one else.
so with such people it takes time, take it step by step, never argue with them.
just set yourself as an example.
as time goes on you just add few and simple topics about the Word of God and testimonies, may be they will start to ask you questions about the Bible.
and most important back it with prayer for it is not by our power or ability that somebody will be converted but is the work of the Holy Spirit!

tvttttb!

If we know what the True Gospel is,How to share it depends on you as an individual and your walk the Spirit of God.Th gospel is not mechanics that you are told how to share it,the question is do we who profess to be Christians know what the Gospel is?
1Co 1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel; not in wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.
1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is foolishness to those being lost, but to us being saved, it is the power of God.
Paul interchanged the gospel with the cross of Christ (they are the same)and he says that it is foolishness to unbelievers,foolishness is what it really is to them and he says that he does not preach it with human wisdom so that the cross of Christ is not emptied with power.Jesus died for them and not us,in our bid to preach the gospel ,we should never bring the gospel down to human level.I Posted a discussion sometime ago and no one wanted to discuss it ,i asked what the gospel is,maybe we all thought that we know what it means,it is paramount that we personally and corporately understand what the gospel is so that when we present the gospel it will not be found diluted in our mouth.The gospel is offensive,it is totally offensive,we should not ever bring it down to human level,we did not die for unbelievers,true love is to tell people the true gospel that is offensive and let them choose,most of what we call love today,before God is total hatred for the soul of man...May the Lord open our eyes....My sister,it might sound like i deviated from your question,but i said all these because of your heart pain and expression for the lost,my heart for you and everyone of us that have this heart pain is that in our bid to see people saved,that we ourselves should know the true gospel and present it to these people undiluted;and again,we are told to preach the gospel but are not given mechanics to do it except by our individual true understanding of the gospel and the help of the Holy Spirit;never respond to the outer pressure respond to the inner move of the spirit and you will flow in presenting the true offensive good news to people.......The father so loved the world so much that he gave his only begotten son,that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life........whoever believes not is condemned already.......Remember that the unbeliever is dead,reasoning will not help the person,but speaking the truth which is offensive and indeed foolishness to them and leaving the truth to do its work in the person,salvation is a supernatural work,the place in the bible that Jesus said it is impossible with men,it was salvation he was talking about,he was saying that salvation is impossible with men,you cannot save a man with your diluted preaching of your own version of the gospel ,if we understand,we will be praying everyday for a heart rendering revelation of the gospel ......God Help us.....Do you know what the Gospel is??????????