Apologetics in Evangelism

[Van]

Just a small observation. If you look through Acts, you will see several presentations of the gospel. Now, when presenting to the Jews, who believed in the God of the Bible, the presentation starts with the life of Jesus. However, when presenting to those who did not believe in God, or believed in many gods, the presentation was altered, to start with God. As Jesus said, you must believe in the One who sent me in order to believe in Me.

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

If the OP is to follow Paul's method of evangelism he should begin with the Jews of each city.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Ro 1:16

And do you believe that, twenty-one centuries later, that is how it should be? Or do you think our dynamic might be different?

 

[kyredneck]

No, I believe your advice to follow Paul's method of evangelism is seriously flawed.

 

[quantumfaith]

Apologetics in street preaching it seems would require a vast body of secular knowledge. One must be educated in not only the sciences and the prevailing philosophies of the age, but also in classical studies. Even that's not enough. One must be able to answer them.

To be an effective apologist is a life-long discipline, and requires a wearying study of worldly philosophies, and a not a few lumps and stripes, which one is sure to get if he reads one or two books on a subject and thinks he can take on the world on it's own turf. Just reading a book on snakes doesn't make one a dragon slayer.

The power in preaching comes from the Spirit of God. He quickens the word in the hearts of the his sheep, and His sheep hear his voice. Just stick to the plain and simple preaching of the Cross.

How rare, although I thought it might happen one day....when we would actually be on the same page.

 

[Yeshua1]

No, I believe your advice to follow Paul's method of evangelism is seriously flawed.

So the greatest evangelist/missionary/Theologian in church history had flawed methods?

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

No, I believe your advice to follow Paul's method of evangelism is seriously flawed.

My advice to follow Paul's method of evangelism is not flawed. What his method was is was what you are really debating. :smilewinkgrin:

 

[SolaSaint]

Evangel, I don't street preach for I don't feel called to do so. I even don't like it for before I was saved I was put off by street preachers shoving Jesus down my throat (as I thought back then). However if you feel God has called you to preach this way then Hallelujah!!!! Who are we to criticize what you feel is God's call on your life especially if it can be backed scripturally. I don't think anyone can prove street preaching isn't for today or for anytime. God calls some to differing services and we must all respect each other. God Bless.

 

[kyredneck]

So the greatest evangelist/missionary/Theologian in church history had flawed methods?

My advice to follow Paul's method of evangelism is not flawed. What his method was is was what you are really debating. :smilewinkgrin:

So belief cometh of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. But I say, Did they not hear? Yea, verily, Their sound went out into all the earth, And their words unto the ends of the world. Ro 10:17-18

5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,
6 which is come unto you; even as it is also in all the world bearing fruit and increasing, as it doth in you also, since the day ye heard and knew the grace of God in truth;
23 if so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven; whereof I Paul was made a minister. Col 1

Now to him that is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which hath been kept in silence through times eternal, but now is manifested, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, is made known unto all the nations unto obedience of faith: Ro 16:25-26

Don't be knuckleheads. Strain your brains, think real hard. What was the conduit through which the gospel spread with lightning speed throughout all the earth before the word of God was even completed?

 

[kyredneck]

If the question is too hard for you I'll give you a hint: Acts 15:21.

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

Don't be knuckleheads. Strain your brains, think real hard. What was the conduit through which the gospel spread with lightning speed throughout all the earth before the word of God was even completed?

Your assumption that we do not credit the Holy Spirit with the work of the spread of the gospel is off base. Obviously He is responsible for not only the rapid first-century spread of the gospel, but the belief implanted in every new believer since.

Nonetheless, Paul's formula for spreading the gospel was relational. He got to know the people to whom he preached, he appealed to them where they were at -- the Gentiles, after all, had no knowledge of Jewish writings -- and used his own life as an example of sin washed away and a soul redeemed. You can argue against that all you want, but you will be dead wrong.

 

[kyredneck]

Your assumption that we do not credit the Holy Spirit with the work of the spread of the gospel is off base. Obviously He is responsible for not only the rapid first-century spread of the gospel, but the belief implanted in every new believer since.

Nonetheless, Paul's formula for spreading the gospel was relational. He got to know the people to whom he preached, he appealed to them where they were at -- the Gentiles, after all, had no knowledge of Jewish writings -- and used his own life as an example of sin washed away and a soul redeemed. You can argue against that all you want, but you will be dead wrong.

Aaron is right, you're confused concerning evangelism vs. pastoring. And you totally missed the significance of Acts 15:21. Look at Acts 2:5 for another hint, or, another hint but from the negative viewpoint: Rev 17:15.

What was the conduit through which the gospel spread with lightning speed throughout all the earth before the word of God was even completed?

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

Aaron is right, you're confused concerning evangelism vs. pastoring.

Aaron is wrong, because Paul was not a pastor. He was a apostle/evangelist.

And you totally missed the significance of Acts 15:21. Look at Acts 2:5 for another hint, or, another hint but from the negative viewpoint: Rev 17:15.

And you actually think those verses are germane to this discussion? Ridiculous.

What was the conduit through which the gospel spread with lightning speed throughout all the earth before the word of God was even completed?

You don't read others' posts before you hair-trigger a response, do you?