Comments on: Practical Steps for Personal Evangelism

by: Edward

Sun, 20 Jan 2008 02:03:08 +0000

Thank you Jesse. My family and I are currently living and serving in one of the last remaining communist countries. As a result we are sometimes limited to what we can say and do. However, we are not prevented from “living transfomed lives” or “praying relentlessly.” We are daily learning how important it is to live transformed lives before the lost. Everyday we are being watched and observed by the nationals. It is vital that we demonstrate “transformed lives” in our personal lives, marriage, family and encounters with locals. Just this week a dear friend was severly injured when she fell off a transit bus. As the authorities questioned us about the accident, we told them the family didn’t want compensation (a practice in this country) nor did they want anything to happen to the driver. Our friend who was awaiting medical evac for surgery in another country, wanted the authorities, case worker and the driver to know she forgave the driver. When this was explained they could not believe it! Tears came to the eyes of the case worker and the driver (who would have lost his job and severely punished). We further explained she could forgive because Jesus had forgiven her. They commented that we were not typical foreigners! Praise God! Now we must “relentlessly pray” for these people who have been exposed to a “transformed life.” In our setting it is the “transformed life” (and the Holy Spirit of course!) that frees us to “explain the gospel” with integrity.

by: owen tunaep

Fri, 11 Jan 2008 01:19:34 +0000

I’m amazed that your definition of a saving response includes nothing about faith, belief or trust in Christ. It’s all about a person’s own actions. This is the result of an overbalanced Lordship view which comes from a position in extremed Reformed theology. How sad to so complicate the simple Gospel.

“And finally, tell them what a saving response looks like by challenging them to count the cost, deny themselves, and become a follower of Christ.” (quote from article)

by: Caleb Kolstad

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 18:43:18 +0000

Great stuff

by: Eddie

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 00:49:49 +0000

Thanks for sharing Wes, keep fighting the good fight of faith!

Amen Wayne, use the law to go for the conscience!

Eddie

by: Brian Culver

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 21:31:04 +0000

Good post and good comment Wayne. I agree the need for the Law of God is essential. I have used Way of the Master evangelism for the past 10 months or so. It works so well. Sure gives you confidence to go out and reach the lost the way Jesus did!

by: Diane Lytle

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 21:15:45 +0000

Wayne

I appreciate you comment about the importance of using the Law. I had no clue how wretched I really was until I came face to face with God’s standard of goodness as seen in the 10 Commandments. Then I was totally desperate for a Savior.

by: Wayne Albrecht

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:56:00 +0000

I would add that before anyone should present the Gospel, the Law must precede. Spurgeon said, “The sharp needle of the law makes way for the scarlet thread of the gospel.”

It is imperative that the sinner knows that he is a sinner. The Law does this. Then the beautiful Gospel will make sense in light of the persons sinfulness.

by: Douglas Grogg

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 07:30:45 +0000

Three and one half years ago while living as a missionary near a Mono Indian reservation I had a neighbor, a white man who thought he was a Christian. He began living in open fornication so I went to him with the scriptures, warning him not to be deceived. He ended up cutting off my water supply so I had to resort to hauling water in barrels from 35 miles away. A man from the reservation stopped me and asked why I was hauling water. Not wanting to go into too much detail I asked him. “Manuel, if you knew that every time someone went down that path over there they never came back alive and you saw someone start to go down that path and you said nothing… “That would be murder” was his reply. How sad that a normally drunk (He was sober that day) pagen idolator had more spiritual insight than most “Christians”. Oh, that God would grant us the grace to be able to say with Paul. “I am innocent of every man’s blood”!

by: Wes

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 04:44:25 +0000

Eddie,

I had a similar experience on Saturday. My wife and I had befriended an older, lonely man… we met him in the local coffee shop and saw him every day, eventually had him over for dinner, even shared some holidays, most recently Thanksgiving. We shared our belief, and talked with him about Jesus, but he put us off, and I kept thinking that we would continue to share more and I’d let my “quiet witness” grow.

After being concerned that I hadn’t seen him in a few days, I went to his apartment this past Saturday afternoon. The landlord (doing a “wellness check”) opened the man’s apartment and let me in - and I found my friend dead in his bed. My wife and I are still stunned, and our opportunities are now all past.

Don’t wait another minute… when the Lord is sending you, GO. When He’s telling you to talk, SPEAK UP. You never know when time runs out for them or for us.

by: Eddie

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 01:08:44 +0000

Chris, Dennis,
Thanks for your comments!
2Tim 4:2