Institutionalized Church / Your Input

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by jediwill83

Because it's a way to transfer guilt and the feeling of responsibility back onto whoever is rocking the boat while not acknowledging what you have said. It's usually a pride thing.

Now I'm not accusing Easias of being prideful or dodging responsibility.

Actually, that's pretty much what you did there.

[jediwill83]

Originally Posted by Esaias

How would I know? I do know lots of people complain about others not doing things they themselves aren't doing. So... your answer is that you are evangelizing people outside of the church?

So, what do you do? Open air.ministry? One-on-one? Tracts? Nursing homes? What are you engaged in, and what have you found effective?

Personally I feel the most effective way to evangelize is to market a line of pepper sauce called,"If you think THIS is hot...." and offer free taste tests along with a Bible study.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Esaias

How would I know? I do know lots of people complain about others not doing things they themselves aren't doing. So... your answer is that you are evangelizing people outside of the church?

So, what do you do? Open air.ministry? One-on-one? Tracts? Nursing homes? What are you engaged in, and what have you found effective?

BW is starting a church?

[BrainWashed]

Originally Posted by Esaias

How would I know? I do know lots of people complain about others not doing things they themselves aren't doing. So... your answer is that you are evangelizing people outside of the church?

So, what do you do? Open air.ministry? One-on-one? Tracts? Nursing homes? What are you engaged in, and what have you found effective?

Esaias,

Sorry for the late response. I was out-of-state and returned yesterday evening. What is open air ministry?

Here are a few methods I find effective.

• I have business card type tracts that I hand out when meeting people. It basically asks the reader if they're in need of emotional or physical healing (it has all my contact information).

• When God speaks to me about people's personal life, I walk up to the person and tell them. That usually gets their attention really quick.

I don't focus on a certain method. I just live life and allow God to use me anywhere. There really isn't a science to it. It's all about opening your mouth, and your willingness to open your mouth.

One of my hobbies is target shooting, and I do own a lot of firearms. Long time ago I would find myself sparking up conversations with strangers regarding firearms. Then one day God convicted me by telling me, you talk more about guns than you do about me. Yikes! That was a slap on the face that I deserved.

If you're honest with yourself, you'll notice that it's so easy to spark up conversations with strangers about hobbies, etc. However, when it comes to witnessing about God to strangers, we think there's some type of science that's involved in witnessing to strangers. That's how excuses begin. If it was so simple to speak to someone about food or cars, all you need to do is transition that mentality to witnessing.

However, people don't because they're full of excuses. Have you ever been happy over one of your accomplishments and told everyone you know?

It was simple to tell everyone because you were proud of your accomplishments.

How simple it is to talk about something that interest us, yet so difficult to speak with strangers about a God whom we profess to love.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by BrainWashed

Esaias,

Sorry for the late response. I was out-of-state and returned yesterday evening. What is open air ministry?

Here are a few methods I find effective.

• I have business card type tracts that I hand out when meeting people. It basically asks the reader if they're in need of emotional or physical healing (it has all my contact information).

• When God speaks to me about people's personal life, I walk up to the person and tell them. That usually gets their attention really quick.

I don't focus on a certain method. I just live life and allow God to use me anywhere. There really isn't a science to it. It's all about opening your mouth, and your willingness to open your mouth.

One of my hobbies is target shooting, and I do own a lot of firearms. Long time ago I would find myself sparking up conversations with strangers regarding firearms. Then one day God convicted me by telling me, you talk more about guns than you do about me. Yikes! That was a slap on the face that I deserved.

If you're honest with yourself, you'll notice that it's so easy to spark up conversations with strangers about hobbies, etc. However, when it comes to witnessing about God to strangers, we think there's some type of science that's involved in witnessing to strangers. That's how excuses begin. If it was so simple to speak to someone about food or cars, all you need to do is transition that mentality to witnessing.

However, people don't because they're full of excuses. Have you ever been happy over one of your accomplishments and told everyone you know?

It was simple to tell everyone because you were proud of your accomplishments.

How simple it is to talk about something that interest us, yet so difficult to speak with strangers about a God whom we profess to love.

Good post. However, I would add that a lot of Christians fail to witness but not because they don't love God, but rather because they expect push back, and aren't prepared or don't know how to respond to it.

Also, witnessing is often presented to people as some kind of advanced theological debating exercise, and many are intimidated by that, and thinking that's what witnessing involves, shy away from it.

Personal witnessing, however, isn't quite the same as the work of an evangelist.

[BrainWashed]

Originally Posted by Esaias

Good post. However, I would add that a lot of Christians fail to witness but not because they don't love God, but rather because they expect push back, and aren't prepared or don't know how to respond to it.

Also, witnessing is often presented to people as some kind of advanced theological debating exercise, and many are intimidated by that, and thinking that's what witnessing involves, shy away from it.

Personal witnessing, however, isn't quite the same as the work of an evangelist.

Esaias,

With all due respect, who cares about the push-back. We're not in this to feel some type of "emotional high" because there was no resistance or push-back.

Of course we're going to encounter resistance or push-back. However, that's not our problem. We've been instructed to spread the gospel, regardless of what we might encounter.

If I received a four letter word from someone not wanting to hear me, I just do a Matthew 10:14 and keep walking.

We do have to possess basic information about what we're preaching. And if they choose debate, such as you mentioned earlier, that's even better.

Use that as a tool to set-up a bible study with them, and when you get home, study your butt off in preparation for that bible study.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by BrainWashed

Esaias,

With all due respect, who cares about the push-back. We're not in this to feel some type of "emotional high" because there was no resistance or push-back.

You misunderstand me. I am saying many believers expect push back, not "four letter words" but an attempted debate for which many are ill-prepared (they think) to answer.

Also, many have been inadvertently led to place God in a "special" category of their lives, and thus talking about God is a "special thing" and THUS not a normal everyday thing (like one's hobbies, for example). Nobody.likes to be "THAT guy" who seems odd or weird. Many only hear or speak about the things of God in a religious setting (church service or Bible study), replete with special "preacher voice" or that affected religious tone.

It IS kind of weird to meet someone at the tire shop for example and blurt out "Hi! Have you been born again?" People feel weird talking like that. They feel essentially like a pesky used car salesman.

I've never met a born again Christian who didn't WANT to be a better witness. I've met PLENTY though who didn't know how to do it, and who have been hindered by a church culture that implies "Jesus on Sunday" and makes religion something OTHER than what you do 24/7 anyway.

Do people make excuses? Sure. The 80/20 principle doesn't seem to be restricted to the heathens. BUT, browbeating people and trying to guilt the pew warmer into witnessing more isn't necessarily the most effective way to get people involved.

Which is why I asked about "what are you doing". It's because I believe it is highly beneficial for people to share what they do, as encouragement to others.

[n david]

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by n david

[jediwill83]

We just have to recognize that it's the message that's sacred and not our methods.

I don't pass out tracts but I'm certainly not against it I'd it's done correctly. My MIL does it almost so that she can put notches on her belt. She's the type that will leave a tract instead of a tip.*shudders*

Yesterday, pastor preached from John 10:9 about Jesus saying, "I am the door...."

Later on last night something occured to me,"He is the door which means, I am not."

I think many times we set up our own door in front of Christ's door and we only open ours at certain times to let others through instead of being open at all times to point the way to Him.

No, I'm not a theological expert. I just try and read the Bible as written an understand it the best I can at face value. Most people you run into aren't wanting to argue theology, they are looking for a practical application of a practical, real Savior.

I just try and see the things in peoples lives where they are looking for or need help and approach them on the basis of how Jesus can help them and not demand they jump through hoops for it.

Whether they need healing, deliverance, encouragement, provision, peace, comfort...Whatever...I mean freely we have received, freely give right?

Also, remember when Jesus said that when someone asks for our coat to give them our cloak as well? Or if we are compelled to go one mile to go two?

Until recently I have never put that into the view of ministry....But isn't that what God does for us? He is more than enough...How many times has He provided in ways more than what we have asked for?

How can we incorporate that into our ministry with people we meet on a day to day basis? I'm looking for more ideas.

The business card idea is awesome in my opinion and I'd love to hear more about it and how it has been working out for you.