Probably the single greatest deterrent to personal and informal sharing of the Gospel is fear. Fear is the single biggest factor that stops people sharing the Good News about Jesus with others, especially those they have a close relationship with.
The fears we commonly face are:
The fear of rejection. We can be worried about someone saying NO not only to Jesus, but also to us.
The fear of being inadequate. We maybe worried that we won’t be able to answer a question
adequately.
The fear of being ridiculed. At times we maybe worried about being put down, mocked or told we are weird.
These fears are real and experienced by most Christians. Fears tempt us to give up. However we don’t need to allow our fears to prevent us from moving forward in being witnesses for God. The starting point in dealing with our fears is to rely on God and the help he provides. St Paul writes, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13). So begin by relying on what God has given us through His word and His Christian community.
We can also desensitize ourselves to the fears. This means although our fears maybe uncomfortable and they are present we take less notice of them and more notice of what God is calling us to do and be, and not allow them to stop us from talking about Jesus.
We also should examine our fears rationally. Ask your self some basic questions like;
‘What is the worst thing that some could do to me in reaction to my witness?
Is the discomfort really a problem?
How does God react to me witnessing?
What are the positive things that occur when we share Jesus love with others?’
Turning our fears into an adventure. Praying for someone, sharing what God has done, is doing and will do and the affect he has on your life, developing a relationship with someone and then watching what God does with your efforts, may not turn out as you vision, but it is likely to have a positive affect on yourself and others. Having the attitude of lets see what God does with what we do, often leads to very rewarding results.
Inadequacy is nothing to fear. In Luke 21:12-15, Jesus reminds us that even when faced with hostility we should not have to worry what to say because He himself will give us the words to say. We don’t have to know everything, in fact a simply response when we are stuck for a response is say, lets discover this together. Then go on an adventure together.
Dispel fear with love. Allow your love for God and those you know who are lost to worry more about them than you do yourself. 1 John 4:18-19 we are told There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears punishment has not been perfected in love. We love because he loved us first. Love has the ability to put our fears in their place. Some years ago there was the story of a car that had burst into flames with a number of passengers. All escaped but one elderly woman. Most of the people who saw the crash we petrified to do anything fearing the flames. One young man rushed through the crowd and the flames pulled the woman from the flames risking injury. He was asked, “why did you do this? Weren’t you afraid about being burnt?” His reply was: “Of course I was afraid, but I couldn’t just stand there and watch her die.” As Christians focussing not on our fears but our love for others and God, will help us be active witnesses even when fears exist.
Action time:
Create at least 2 opportunities for witnessing. Think about at least 2 people you can share God’s love with.
Study your fear reactions. Which fears were the most prominent?
Apply the suggestions in dealing with fears. How do these suggestions affect your feelings?
Attempt a simple witness. Note your reaction and the reaction from others.
Adapted from the book, 'How to share Christ confidently' available at
http://word.com.au/details.aspx?ProductID=576528 and
http://www.cph.org/p-596-how-to-share-christ-confidently.aspx?SearchTerm=How%20to%20Share%20Christ%20Confidently
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Evangelism Reflection: Giving a reason for hope
Much of Western Christianity is orientated around the question, “How may I be saved?” but is this the question your friends and family are asking? Some may be, but many are probably asking questions like, why bother being a church member? Why bother spending time and money on this Christian stuff?
Now being saved is important, but in order to build a relationship with people and enter into conversations that talk about faith, we need to look and talk about the questions people are asking and thinking. In the following article Steen Olsen the LCA’s Mission Director in SA and NT, responds to the question why am I a Christian, a question someone may be
thinking if they haven’t asked you.
Sometimes I am asked why I am a Christian who is a part of a Church.
There are many reasons. For example, I know that I was created to be in
relationships with others. I need to know I am loved unconditionally (in
spite of my faults), that I am valued as the person I know I am, and that my
life has direction and impact. When I have tried to get my sense of
security, self-worth and significance from my friends they end up
disappointing me and I feel alienated. More often than not these desires
within me weaken and sometimes destroy my relationships because I
become a user of others trying to get them to meet my needs. It is only in
my relationship with God that I get these deep needs met, because God
loves me unconditionally – no matter what I do he never stops loving me.
He values me so much that he sent his Son to die for me. He has given me
gifts and abilities that equip me to make a unique contribution to his plans
for the universe – what we do makes an eternal difference. In this way,
God is setting me free from my self-centredness and giving me the
personal security to enable me to be a true friend to others. When I have
my needs for security, self-worth and significance met by God, I no longer
need to demand them from others. I can be open and vulnerable. I can
be a friend.
So what questions are people asking you? Listen to how they respond to
when you say you are a Christian, why you go to church, then explore
ways to respond.
Those who are not part of a Church often have no idea of what it is like to
be a member of Church. And what they think they know is often negative.
Dan Kimball interviewed many young non-Christians for his book They Like
Jesus but not the Church [Zondervan, 2007]. After she became a Christian,
Molly is quoted as saying, I wish I would have known earlier that not all
Christians are such jerks. I had no idea. Maybe I would have believed in
Jesus earlier.
Now being saved is important, but in order to build a relationship with people and enter into conversations that talk about faith, we need to look and talk about the questions people are asking and thinking. In the following article Steen Olsen the LCA’s Mission Director in SA and NT, responds to the question why am I a Christian, a question someone may be
thinking if they haven’t asked you.
Sometimes I am asked why I am a Christian who is a part of a Church.
There are many reasons. For example, I know that I was created to be in
relationships with others. I need to know I am loved unconditionally (in
spite of my faults), that I am valued as the person I know I am, and that my
life has direction and impact. When I have tried to get my sense of
security, self-worth and significance from my friends they end up
disappointing me and I feel alienated. More often than not these desires
within me weaken and sometimes destroy my relationships because I
become a user of others trying to get them to meet my needs. It is only in
my relationship with God that I get these deep needs met, because God
loves me unconditionally – no matter what I do he never stops loving me.
He values me so much that he sent his Son to die for me. He has given me
gifts and abilities that equip me to make a unique contribution to his plans
for the universe – what we do makes an eternal difference. In this way,
God is setting me free from my self-centredness and giving me the
personal security to enable me to be a true friend to others. When I have
my needs for security, self-worth and significance met by God, I no longer
need to demand them from others. I can be open and vulnerable. I can
be a friend.
So what questions are people asking you? Listen to how they respond to
when you say you are a Christian, why you go to church, then explore
ways to respond.
Those who are not part of a Church often have no idea of what it is like to
be a member of Church. And what they think they know is often negative.
Dan Kimball interviewed many young non-Christians for his book They Like
Jesus but not the Church [Zondervan, 2007]. After she became a Christian,
Molly is quoted as saying, I wish I would have known earlier that not all
Christians are such jerks. I had no idea. Maybe I would have believed in
Jesus earlier.
Evangelism Reflection: Stewardship is about using God's resources for mission
Psalm 24 begins The Lord owns the earth and all it contains, the world and all who live in it. Some people mistakenly seem to think that this means we must not use anything God has given us. Yet other parts of scripture reveal to us that what God has given us, He wants us to use for His purposes of making and growing disciples, which involves being generous in sharing His love.
1 Peter 4:10 says Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as
good stewards of the varied grace of God.
This fortnight I encourage you to assess how you are using your time,
talents and wealth.
Are you approaching work, your family responsibilities and volunteer roles as you being involved in serving others and serving God, so others may know God’s love?
Are you using your resources to touch base with others and help others?
Is giving to our local congregation a priority for you? By contributing a portion or tithe of your income each week to the local congregation, you are contributing to God’s work here in
Portland and Heywood. (Do you realise our local congregation’s involvement in ministry and mission depends on members giving regularly?)
1 Peter 4:10 says Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as
good stewards of the varied grace of God.
This fortnight I encourage you to assess how you are using your time,
talents and wealth.
Are you approaching work, your family responsibilities and volunteer roles as you being involved in serving others and serving God, so others may know God’s love?
Are you using your resources to touch base with others and help others?
Is giving to our local congregation a priority for you? By contributing a portion or tithe of your income each week to the local congregation, you are contributing to God’s work here in
Portland and Heywood. (Do you realise our local congregation’s involvement in ministry and mission depends on members giving regularly?)
Evangelism Reflection: We are connecting and relating to people differently
One of the truths about God is that His love for us never changes…(check out Jeremiah 31:3. However the way He interacts with people and how He demonstrates this love does change.
This is important for us to keep in mind, because in the past Lutheran congregations generally relied on the families to sustain and grow the church. The equation generally worked as follows; people had children, children remained in the area, they became members and the church grew. But this is not the reality now. Think about how many adult children of our members are involved in our congregation. The reality is a lot less than there used to be, some people have rejected God’s vehicle the church, others have moved away geographically, some have moved to other congregations. Think about the consequences of this. I realise this situation hurts many people and we should never give up on highlighting God’s love to those who have strayed. However this situation also helps us see that as part of God’s community we exist for the entire Portland-Heywood community not just one section of our community. The challenge for you and me is to consider; what do we need to do as individuals and as a congregation to help people connect to God and His church community that appears in our congregation? Then do it!!!
And remember this is likely to be different then some years ago.
This is important for us to keep in mind, because in the past Lutheran congregations generally relied on the families to sustain and grow the church. The equation generally worked as follows; people had children, children remained in the area, they became members and the church grew. But this is not the reality now. Think about how many adult children of our members are involved in our congregation. The reality is a lot less than there used to be, some people have rejected God’s vehicle the church, others have moved away geographically, some have moved to other congregations. Think about the consequences of this. I realise this situation hurts many people and we should never give up on highlighting God’s love to those who have strayed. However this situation also helps us see that as part of God’s community we exist for the entire Portland-Heywood community not just one section of our community. The challenge for you and me is to consider; what do we need to do as individuals and as a congregation to help people connect to God and His church community that appears in our congregation? Then do it!!!
And remember this is likely to be different then some years ago.
Evangelism Reflection: Evangelism is about being deeply immersed in prayer
Evangelism is about being deeply immersed in prayer. An ancient preacher Chrysostom once said prayer "is the root, the fountain, the mother of a thousand blessings." The reality is it is through prayer we submit our thanks, thoughts and ideas to God. Then as we go about our lives, God reveals His answers and He also provides us with strength to be His witnesses in the various situations we encounter.
This fortnight we have an opportunity to join with other Christians in praying
prayers that are focused on being God’s witness;
• Witnessing through celebrating life
• Witnessing through sharing stories
• Witnessing through being aware
• Witnessing through celebrating the faith we have received
• Witnessing through suffering
• Witnessing through faithfulness
• Witnessing through hope and trust
• Witnessing through hospitality
(For further resources relating to the above visit http://www.ncca.org.au/departments/faith-unity/wopcu)
In your prayers this week, commit some time praying to God about the various areas and situations in which we are called to witness. Also think about the situations you are facing and place these before God asking Him to reveal to you how you can be His witness.
For one week, Christians around the world are being called to focus their prayers into the areas of witnessing.
This fortnight we have an opportunity to join with other Christians in praying
prayers that are focused on being God’s witness;
• Witnessing through celebrating life
• Witnessing through sharing stories
• Witnessing through being aware
• Witnessing through celebrating the faith we have received
• Witnessing through suffering
• Witnessing through faithfulness
• Witnessing through hope and trust
• Witnessing through hospitality
(For further resources relating to the above visit http://www.ncca.org.au/departments/faith-unity/wopcu)
In your prayers this week, commit some time praying to God about the various areas and situations in which we are called to witness. Also think about the situations you are facing and place these before God asking Him to reveal to you how you can be His witness.
For one week, Christians around the world are being called to focus their prayers into the areas of witnessing.
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