Featured John R. Rice on lifestyle evangelism

I have to agree with Evan I don't think many people get saved by osmosis. Yes, I'm aware of Matthew 5:16, and of course living right is important, but I don't think living a good life is sufficient. There has to be a word spoken, a tract or NT given away, an invitation to church extended.

 

I'm Preaching a Topical Series about "The Fruit of Our Lives Should be well pleasing to the Lord"

Previously, i've spoken on the reality of the Gospel producing Godly Attitudes/Characteristics and Godly Works. This week i am going to speak on "Making Disciples". Part of that is Witnessing/testifying about the Faith Once Delivered unto the Saints: Making a Case that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the Truth that Surrounds the Universe we Live in.

Well, in order to be a witness, we must be able to testify about something. We have a testimony that we can say with 100% confidence, "This is True". But here is the reality, if the witness' CHARACTER comes into question, so does his testimony.

If one is known to be a liar, one who exaggerates, deceitful, self-willed, etc. the testimony will be taken lightly or not at all!

So yes, the walk must match the Talk. Surely Scripture talks about this?

1 Peter 3
14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

 

The main way God uses to reach out to the lost though is individual relationship ministry, as you and I rub shoulders with friend and hamily who we earn te respect an righ to speak to them on Jesus.
Thisi hard work , and takes sometime, as the Lord finally saved my Father and a goodfriend after r 30 years of livng as as a Christian and telling them about Jesus impact on my life all those years!

 

Our godly lifestyles and our interaction with them grants to us the privelge of sharing jesus with them!

 

We need both, as our words should match our deeds, and personal evangelism is how God reaches the masses best...

 

True lifestyle evangelism involves investing in the lives of unchurched people and both living and speaking the truth of Jesus.

I don't do that tract thing because I have found it to be shockingly ineffective. Moreover, too many people have misused tracts or have passed out bad one (Jack Chick's come to mind) and there is a bias against them.

As someone who lives lifestyle evangelism, I have had Spirit-empowered talks with many people simply by being a good listener, investing in other people, and being bold enough to speak when there is an opportunity. Just last week I had an opportunity to share my testimony with an agnostic over dinner and he was quite intrigued. I am following up with him this weekend.

When you make yourself available to God - and not try to force your own agenda - God puts you in touch with people He wants to touch. Oh, it also happened last weekend with a young woman who has been out of church for a while and is disillusioned after her church and leadership collapsed in a fit of ungodly hubris. She ended up attending church last Sunday with my wife and me, and seemed to find her way again.

And I'm not anyone special or following any kind of method described in a book. I'm just available and ready.

 

You're quoting from the best!

 

The best way to reach people fo Jesus is to invest time in their lives, so that they can see Him in us, and will then taketime to reallylisten to us!
We are to be as living Epistles to be seen and read by them. as per Peter!