Check this out;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvYFvhx1dcY

A friend showed it to a few members of my youth group awhile back, part of me loves the message in it and part of me is not as sure. The bible says that we are to be "fishers of men" in otherwords it's the whole spiritual multipication/ evangelism idea. What are your thoughts on evangelism? I've done it a few different ways, there's the really out there way of going to the foodcourt in the mall and asking if you can join someone and chat and then tell them about your beliefs etc. and learn about their's. but I've recently been wondering if that's maybe too pushy or more of a turn off to some people? Other Christians I've spoken to say it's better to simply build strong relationships with as many people as possible make sure they know you are a Christian and just let your kindness and Christ-like examples + prayer be your evangelism.

thoughts?

While relational evangelism (make a friend, be a friend, tell a friend) is the most likely to bear fruit over the long haul, the numbers you can effectively reach is significantly smaller than trying to share your faith in love with whomever you meet. Billions of people will be going to hell - we have the cure. I think we should tell all the people we can. I like Way of the Master.

Oh Beth.....that was fantastic!!!

I agree that relational evangelism might be more likely to allow you to truly show your faith to others, but it seems like many Christians just use that as an excuse to not share the gospel with strangers (or anyone in some cases).

topshot rhit wrote:

I think we should tell all the people we can. I like Way of the Master.

8 months ago I would have disagreed. I thought Ray Comfort was more than a little crazy (I still think he is a little, but in a good way). The more I look into their ministry the more I agree with what they are doing. I have actually signed up for one of their evangelism courses being offered at a local church this fall.

Okay, but you asked for it.

Well it had quite a bit to do with the very "seeker friendly" church I was a member of for the last 7 years. I bought into their whole ideal that the church should be made to fit the needs/demands of the "unchurched" in an effort to make them feel welcome.

The "Way of the Master" group insisted that church should be for Christians, and that non-believers are welcome to attend, but not have a say in how the church works (in any aspect). You can see how this would be at odds with my "seeker friendly" church.

Well in my seven years as a Christian I had yet to progress beyond the infancy stage of Christianity (as a member of a seeker sensative church), so I started to examine myself against the scriptures and found I was laking the fruit (so to speak). Now I know I am ultimately responsible for my spiritual growth (or at least responsible to pray for it), but one of the aspects in my life (besides sin) that I felt was preventing my growth was the watered down seeker sensative teaching I was getting at my old church. So instead of leaving my church I starting listening to on-line preachers with bolder teaching and actually reading my bible. That is where I came across Ray Comfort and "The Way of the Master". His ministry is dedicated to reaching the lost with the message of the gospel, and they are not going to wait for people to come to their church and hear it. They are dedicated to going out in the streets and reaching the lost where they are at. How can you be opposed to that? So I had to "re-think" my view of Ray Comfort and "Way of the Master".

Maybe it helps when I attack the neighbors on this way to tell them about God.
It's not the way God likes us to tell other about Him.

I don't think "attacking" anyone with the Gospel would be very fruitful, but some people sure try to do it that way.

Just like the evangelism line-backer.



It's true we can possibly turn people off with a super agressive approach.
But I think it helps to remember that it is not up to us whether or not the person will accept the gift of salvation, that is completely up to the Holy Spirit.
So even if we botch it, at least we might be a reminder to that unsaved person to give God and their eternal life some serious thought. Don't let fear of "making a mistake" prevent you from sharing the best news anyone will ever hear.

Ray Comfort is a great guy!

Fundy