Describe your method?

I try to engage people in conversations. In these conversations I seek to get to know them a little--family, work, interests. Then I begin to ask them spiritual questions. I tell them about how Jesus has changed my life, then I share with them what the Word of God says about their own sinfulness and need for a Savior.

 

I simply tell people I'm the Grim Reaper and tell them to prepare to meet their maker.

 

It obvious depends on the situation as far as how long it takes to get to know them but for me it always comes to this question: If you died today do you know where you would spend eternity?
1. If they answer no or question what I mean by enternity then I share the Gospel message.
2. If they answer yes then I ask them for their testimony and if that testimony involves something contrary to the Gospel I share with the them the path to salvation by grace through faith in what Jesus did for us on the cross.
3. If they answer yes and give testimony of salvation by grace and through their faith in what Jesus did then I invite them to worship with us at church if they don't have a church already.

 

I try to put out a positive image to people. I don't mean that I have a fake plastic smile on my face, but I do try to be pleasant and polite to people. When I get to know someone, I will start to talk about my Christianity, and how it effects me. If they ask questions, then I answer them. I am very shy, so it is very hard for me to talk to strangers. It is my own limitation.

 

As a stay at home mom, I am not in contact very much at all with people outside the church. But I do ask God to bring people into my life and HE has many, many times but usually just one at a time. I have always developed a friendship first with everyone I have ever shared Christ with.

Right now, my "victim" is a retired neighbor named Carol. I have been praying for her for 5 years now and have been developing a friendship with her for that amount of time. It has only been in the last year and a half that I have really shared the Gospel with her. In the last year she has come to church about 5 times. My girls sing duets from time to time and Carol always comes to hear them and once recently she came on her own.

When I get right down to sharing the Gospel with them one on one I always ask, "If you stood before God right now and He would say to you 'why should I let you into my Heaven' what would you say"?

God always brings someone to me when I ask Him to. He knows my situation and He works accordingly.

I believe Carol will get saved. She is open, but it is all new to her. I am glad God is never in a hurry. She knows we are "different" and has told me that we are the richest family she knows--and we probably are as I don't think she knows any other born again Christians. I love her so much and can't imagine eternity without her there.

My 2 cents for whatever it is worth.

 

I like this method:

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

 

Joseph, awesome verses!

What does that look like in real life though?

 

I think it looks like a person who preaches the Gospel of Christ to the lost and leaves it to the power of God to convince them and save them. I think it is a difference between someone who spends all their time trying to convince someone of the truth of God using human wisdom, and someone who believes in the total hopelessness of mankind to be saved without the power of God. It is the difference between a person who seeks to win souls and a person who seeks to obey God's commands and leave the soul winning to him. That is the way I see it, anyhow.

Joseph Botwinick

 

Joseph, good stuff! How about this? I am a lost friend of yours, and the Lord lays it on your heart to share the gospel with me, what do you do? How does the method you described go?

 

Mima, I can't 'win' any soul. I am more like a signpost pointing the way. I think God told us how to deal with people when He said we should love our neighbors as we love ourselves. In caring, laughing with, crying with, sharing, and even leaving them alone when they want it, I pray they see Christ and His kindness and love and care in me. Then, when any questions are asked, it is up to me to know the Bible and my Lord well enough to answer.

When Philip was sent to the Ethiopian, he was only told to 'walk alongside.' When you have walked alongside someone for awhile, they will feel more comfortable around you and conversations about all kinds of things will start easily and naturally.

There have been times when I have seen an old friend I haven't seen in years. And before the reunion gets too old they do know I am a Christian -- a serious one. That either turns them off or causes them to....ask questions! If my attitude is friendly and casual and caring then the other person can lead the way to get as serious as he or she likes. I try to follow their lead. They are the ones who can either take the steps or not. Like I said, I'm only a sign post.

But I strongly believe that because every person in the world is an individual that there is no 'set method' for evangelizing. Except for caring...

 

Pastor,

1. Since you are a friend of mine, I already have an established relationship with you. Therefore, there is already a certain level of established mutual respect.

2. In the past, I have simply discussed differences of beliefs and then shared the Gospel. I have actually been given the opportunity to do this with some Jewish friends of mine. It really wasn't something that I was pushing to do or trying to manipulate into a conversation...but it was just a situation where I believe God opened the door where they were interested in dialoging about our different beliefs and they kept asking questions about the Bible and what true Christian beliefs were (apparently, they were very familiar with what they thought was true Christianity: Catholicism, and thought that this was what most Christians believed). So they asked, and I gave them the Biblical answers about the total depravity of mankind and how it is only through Jesus Christ that they can be saved from their sin and Hell.
3. At that point, I had laid the truth out on the table, and I pray for them continually, and I believe it is now in God's hands to convince them of the truth. If they have questions, I try to point them toward the Biblical answer.

Joseph Botwinick

 

I try to do the same thing Jesus did by engaging people where they are in their life and move them forward.

 

Personally, my preferred method is through relationship building. That's not always possible, though, so if its someone I dont know well, I try to just talk to them about themselves and then move on toward spiritual things. If I have a target person, I will pray for that person and for an opportunity to arise to talk to them about the Lord.

 

I guess I don't really prefer the term "method" myself. Sometimes one approach works with one person and a different angle with the next person. I think what is most important is that we spend time with the Lord so that we are in tune with the Holy Spirit and able to respond to those promptings and then we just have to be obedient when we receive those promptings. I think that following a set prescription might make it easy for me to lean on my own wisdom. This is certainly not to say that I think those who use a "method" are not lead.

 

I was taught the Roman Road soul-winning method by Leon Kilbreth, who many years ago conducted what he called Sunday School Revivals. In his written material, he suggested a couple of quesiton to open conversation.

1. Do you give much thought to spiritual things?
2. Where are you spiritually?

Romans is a useful book to aid in presenting the gospel to a lost person, but I no longer rely solely on the Roman Road method. And I also quit using the "sinner's prayer" a long time ago, after failing to find scriptural warrant for it.

However, the two questions Bro. Kilbreth suggested are excellent questions. They are non-threatening, and give you immediate feedback.

Tom B

 

1. Try to live what I believe, thus making the fact of Christ in me obvious to others.

2. Show myself friendly, establishing the opportunity for conversation.

3. Invite discussion about beliefs.

It has led to some raised eyebrows when people see who I associate with, I can tell you that much. LOL But...who are we supposed to witness to? The saved?

 

I like the Evangelism Explosion diagnostic questions and their tracts for the most part. I will use most any tract that clearly explains the bad news of sin and judgment before giving the Good News of forgiveness. I like using the various Romans passages. Also Eph. 2:8-10. I make sure to include v. 10 and explain what are the results of salvation.

I think an effective method is to have the person read the Scriptures outloud and then ask them what the verses mean to them. If they answer correctly, great, but it also leaves room for dialogue if they are wrong. I think it's better than just telling them what you think without giving them any input to begin with. There's something about having them read the Bible outloud that conveys that this is God's word and not just me telling them my opinions.

 

P.S. - I'm not very good at hit and run type evangelism. I'm not saying it can't be done - I think some people are gifted in that regard. But if I know that I'm only going to have 5 minutes with this person, I find it hard to give them an abbreviated version and press for a "decision" right there.