Obnoxious Habits in Personal Evangelism – The out of place transition
In my early zeal, I used to seize any opportunity to steer a conversation to Jesus. My forced transitions were obnoxious. I've learned to do this instead
In my early zeal, I used to seize any opportunity to steer a conversation to Jesus. My forced transitions were obnoxious. I've learned to do this instead
In a recent Outreach Magazine article (Nov/Dec 2012), Larry Osborne put together a list of 7 detours in evangelistic conversations. Detours are conversational rabbit trails that are deflect significant evangelistic conversation elsewhere, rather than at the true spiritual need of others. We often step into those rabbit trails, thinking that we might have to: defend …
Here is a sample Christmas Party icebreaker and conversational guide that is similar to the one found on page 38 of Christmas Party Games from Creative Youth Ideas. You can use this icebreaker as a Christmas party game for adults, for youth, and for kids. You can probably find this party game for Christmas everywhere …
You’ve probably seen it: An opening in a conversation when a non Christian expresses their spiritual insight, or opens up about some restlessness in their heart. Then well-meaning Christians become a one-way torrent of gospel information about what a person needs to believe and why other religions are wrong. Or maybe you’ve seen this: Your …
Have you ever felt like you’ve been caught off guard? Imagine sitting in a coffee shop talking about life with a friend. The conversation begins to go deep about some personal issue: your friend is confessing a deep sense of remorse over some sin in their life and how they seek forgiveness. Your friend looks …
Evangelism is a process that includes many conversations with a person on their spiritual journey to Christ. You might be a stranger who has one conversation (like with a passenger on the airplane). Or you might be a close friend that is able to have multiple spiritual conversations that shape a person’s journey to Christ.
In Organic Outreach for Ordinary People: Sharing Good News Naturally, author Kevin Harney sets out to show us a way that ordinary people can do evangelism. The book offers solid theology of appropriate Bible passages specific actions steps one can take after each chapter, Questions for personal and group reflection. Kevin looks at relational evangelism …
I’ve coached enough pastors and done enough evangelism training seminars to know that one challenge that many of you face is equipping your people for evangelism. How do you lead your congregation in effective evangelism? How do you equip your members to be more confident in sharing their faith? How do you do evangelism training? …
Moving a conversation around to spiritual things can be the most difficult part of witnessing. We can talk freely with our friends about many subjects, but are at a loss when we want to bridge the gap between everyday life and the Lord. What does driving to work every morning or playing golf or washing …
Darrell Davis points out how many conversations that Jesus had. Out of 132 contacts that Jesus had with people recorded in the New Testament, 6 were in the temple, 4 were in the synagogue, and 122 were out in the mainstream of life. (Adapted from Why Christians Sin, by J.K Johnson, Discovery House, 1992) As …
Today’s guest article is by Ed Cyzewski, author of Coffeehouse Theology: Reflecting on God in Everyday Life. I’m doing a lot of travel and speaking here at the end of October and a few of my friends are helping me out with guest posts. Addressing the “What works for me” Paradox When I discuss my …
In this FREE online webinar, author and church growth consultant Bill Tenny-Brittian of 21st Century Strategies Inc will share practical steps to Overcome your fear of messing up. Find confidence to explain the value of your faith. Talk about your faith journey, walk, or conversion experience Bill Tenny-Brittian, the senior editor of Net Results magazine, …
Most of us find that the frequency of our spiritual conversations diminish over time, simply because we are too busy with life. The Ebb and Flow of Evangelism Conversations We go to a conference, get pumped to talk with people about Jesus, and then over time, the number of conversations diminish. We might read an …
Today’s guest article is provided by Paul Stokes, renewal advocate for the Group for Evangelism and Renewalwithin the United Reformed Church (UK), or GEAR. I am on mission work, conducting Evangelism Training Ministry in Nicaragua working with Young Life Leadership on the Healing Ministry of Jesus. ___________________________________________________________ Is it rude to listen-in on other people’s …
I remember a model of evangelism that felt like a sales pitch. I would attend a seminar and learn the newest script for evangelism. The idea is that I would learn a series of conversational steps that would help people See their need for Jesus Make a decision to follow Christ Repeat a prayer after …
Dare to Share Youth Ministries has posted an article about How to Share Your Faith Using Thanksgiving (link broken). It has a few good spiritual discussion questions that can be used during Thanksgiving celebrations. Thanksgiving weekend in America typically involves large family gatherings, more food than one could eat, and for some families, hours of …