What should draw them in?

What would draw a person closer to the Lord is different for everyone, so many answers to that one. How we should help the process? Live good lives, exercise strong morals, and be an example.

 

Oh, I KNOW, simple question filled with the potential for much contention.

John 6:44 NAS “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day."

That being said, they will know we are Christians by our.... godly debate forums. (?XXX). :laugh: :wavey:

Rob

 

The Spirit does the drawing.

What can we do? Anything and everthing. There are so many ways to attract the attention of the lost. As long as the church does not be as the world...

 

The Bible answers that in Romans 2:4 -- "...God's kindness leads you toward repentance."

Thus His kindness in our characters is going to be a big part of any person's reaction to God, at least initially. We who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit must not quench that Spirit but cooperate with Him in the transforming of our lives so that the character of Christ is evident in us.

That attracts people to the Lord. It does not forge their relationship with Him. The Holy spirit does that. But we can attract people by who we are because of Christ Himself in us.

 

Oh so its you that wants the heated debate huh??? :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Well I am not a shepard and havent been around many lambs, sheep, or shepards in my life time, so couldnt give you much perspective about that.

Living example is the hardest thing to do in one's faith. Anyone can walk around quoting the Bible, but living the word? A whole other thing.

I dont think making things complicated helps at all, especially when the love of God is so wonderfully simple to obtain. Man makes things complicated, God makes them simple.

 

Jesus said, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me."

John 12:32

 

We lift up Christ through our word and through our walk, and God convicts the hearts of lost people through us.

 

"No where in the bible does it command lost folks to come into the church. But it does command the church to Go ye into all the world." Dr. Curtis Hudson 1975 Evangelism Conference.

The power is in the gospel. Not attention getters.

 

One of my favorite Bible verses:

Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Testify of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering. His love is what brought me and broke this stoney heart. HE IS GOOD!!

 

I don't understand this part of your statement, can you explain?

 

Sounds like you have more problems than you imagined if you didnt understand that. Some people just dont get it. And thats okay you dont have to. But what fulfillment are you missing out on!

You didnt make it complicated for me...you made it complicated for yourself. Maybe youre your own crown of thorns?

I dont know you and dont think Ive ever posted a response to anything you have posted, but it does not sound like youre very interested in more than the sound of your own typing. *shrugs*

 

Simple?

OK - The Holy Spirit draws people to God. He convicts them of their sin.

 

If it is not the gospel, and the resulting changed lives that the gospel brings then it is a sad form of Christianity that you are presenting to the world. Jesus said to His disciples:

John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

The evidence of our Christianity in this world is our love towards our brothers and sisters in Christ. If we fail to show love to others we are failures in our walk with Christ. Love attracts others to Christ.
I am afraid that among many Baptists, there has been a backlash. We have heard for too long preaching about the “easy-believism” gospel, the “social” gospel, the evils of New Evangelical’s emphasis on love to the exclusion of preaching on sin, especially social sins. This has led to many Baptists having an over-emphasis on the negative. Most sermons are on sin, the evils of socieity, the purpose of the law, etc, almost to the exclusion of the love of God. The preaching of the cross was never meant to be that way.

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
--The preaching of the cross is preaching the great love of Christ that he had for us; great enough to die for us.

1 Corinthians 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

1 Corinthians 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

Acts 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
Acts 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Acts 9:20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
--The first message that Paul preached after getting saved was that Christ is the Son of God.

Acts 9:22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

Acts 16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
--Their attitude was positive. Though persecuted, they praised God, and sang His praises. They glorified the Lord in all that they did. Others could see love—the love that they had for their Saviour.
Acts 16:29-31 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Philippians 1:12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
--Paul rejoices and tries to make the Philippians understand that the persecution that he is suffering is God’s will, and will result in the furtherance of the gospel. He doesn’t complain. He rejoices.
Philippians 1:13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;

Philippians 1:16-17 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.
Paul was the one who preached Christ out of love, and it was love that made the difference.

Philippians 4:21-22 Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you. All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household.
--Paul wrote this while in prison. He is giving greetings from other Christians around him, which include those of Caesar’s household. Remarkable! No matter where Paul was he preached the gospel—a message of the love of Christ. His life was a life of the love of God. He was in prison, the prison of one of the most brutal dictators alive—Nero, who burned Rome and blamed it on the Christians. He used Christians as human torches in his garden. It was a terrible persecution against the Christians. But Paul is in prison winning the guards in the prison to the Lord. “They of Ceasar’s household salute thee.” They had become Christians. He was a witness, even in prison.

2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 3:14-19 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

What will attract others. The wonderful message of love, The love of the Saviour; the love of the brethren; a love for the lost; loving your neighbor; loving the Lord your God.
DHK

 

"God convicts the hearts of men through us" just meant that God uses our words to convict the people we talk to about Him. As long as those words are His gospel of salvation, that is.

 

How bout stop baiting people with condescending questions you dont seem to want answers to anyway? If you thought my advice was unChristian, you might want to reflect on your own musings there. Your sarcasting posting only to my comments make it seem you are uninterested in anything but a hotly worded debate. Others have given you biblical references and others just plain out told you what they think. And they are all right.

Just ask yourself this: Are you really interested in the souls of men? Or is this an exercise in self esteem building?

Take my advice. Live a better life and youll be far too busy finding the answers yourself instead of looking for the easy way out. There is no quick "15 steps to salvation" checklist for bringing the gospel to others. It takes work, time, dedication, and a lifetime commitment. That brings people in and keeps them in. That is what did it for me. :flower: