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God bless…

I understand what you are saying. However, unless we are prompted by the spirit we should not be using the buckshot approach for evangelizing.

The model most used biblically is living your life differently than those who are of the world. If a person approaches you to find out why you are different the spirit has already done the “set up” work so to speak. Unless you are really prompted by the spirit I do not believe we should be approaching people.

In any case the facts of course stand on their own, however, the difficult work has already been done by the spirit. It is up to us to cooperate.

You’re right the gospel is more than mere facts and you’re right that facts cannot regenerate the heart only the spirit of God can do that.

Here’s the rub. When presenting the gospel to unregenerate people who have no understanding of the spirit, wouldn’t it be wise to present the gospel as facts and rely on the Spirit to do His work in transforming the heart?

The Spirit never works apart from God’s word in salvation. If He did, there would be no need for preaching. Paul said in Romans 10 that “faith comes from hearing and hearing from the word of God.”

So it seems that we ought to be faithful to two things and that is live a life that testifies to the loveliness of Christ and present faithfully the Word. We then rest in prayer knowing the Spirit must be the one who transforms the heart. Amen?

I understand that. The emphasis is with the spirit and not us. I understand the gospel as fact, however do not present the gospel only as s fact amoung many facts.

Mark Dever’s book emphasizes our evangelism using facts because Christ coming into the world was a fact, him dying on the cross was a fact, along with his resurrection was fact.

We treat our evangel as a historical event. Why? Because we begin with objective data not subjective data. Yes, I amen that our lives must reflect the love of Christ to a fallen world, but our roller-coaster testimony is not the Gospel. The Gospel is news, an event that took place in history. It is an event where God who entered into our history in human flesh. This is the news we tell, that there is a God. That God created man in his image but man fell due to his sin. God sent His son Jesus Christ to enter our fallen world to redeem sinners. Man is then left to respond to that truth.

Our life and testimony is the platform where we can present this news. If our testimony is lacking then we have no platform to stand on and present this news.. atleast it will be much more difficult.

I disagree mightily about evangelizing based on the gospel as fact. We know it is fact based on faith. Once you start presenting the gospel as fact the next step from the non believer is requiring human proofs. By the fact of its very nature the supernatural cannot be proven with human proofs. Then you put the burden on yourself to “prove” the gospel. The most effective way to evangelize, and, the method most supported in scripture is the way you live you life as an example. The spirit prompts the elect to wonder why you are so different from the world.

Very true, and also remember that just because you never see that person come to Christ, that doesn’t mean they never will. Some people I know have a problem with sharing the Gospel once and then then throwing their hands up in the air if they don’t see immediate results. Sometimes your evangelism is just a small link in a chain of Christ’s calling, the full effects of which might not be felt in that person’s life until years later.

That being said, I know I’ve always struggled with friends of mine who continue to be non-believers despite my evangelism. I hope and pray that they will one day come to Christ… That he will call them to him. And I continue to share the Gospel with them at every appropriate opportunity. Perhaps I’ll never in this lifetime be assured of their salvation, but I can’t lie and say that there aren’t people I care for deeply who I really want to see in heaven!

There is no specific mention of the gift of evangelism in the New Testament. The only mention in Eph 4:11 are offices or leadership positions in the local church not spiritual gifts.

Acts 1:8, Jesus said to the disciples (all who followed Him) that “you shall be My witnesses” for Him. That includes you and I as present day disciples who follow Jesus and have the Holy Spirit in us to enable us to share the good news with others.

Sorry, but the “I’m not an evangelist” excuse cannot be entertained nor taught as it diminishes the glory of Christ to use feeble people like us to display the power of God (2Cor 1:26-31).

“For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised, God has chosen, the things that are not, that He might nullify the things that are, that no man should boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, that, just as it is written, “let him who boasts, boast in the lord.”

You will serve God successfully when you exercise the gift God has given you – not when you try to exercise somebody else’s gift.

God bless!

Living in Taxachusetts, though, spreading the good word can lead to being accused of a hate crime.

Isn’t that ridiculous?

That’s us! We’re going…long term! Currently in the process of paperwork, visas, language, support raising, and more. Please pray for us.