Results 1 - 5 of 5
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Witnessing: What is your style? | John 1:7 | Makarios | 21619 | ||
Witnessing- what is your style? As I continue my experience as a Christian and observe myself and other Christians, I have found that there are many "styles" that people use that are very effective in witnessing for Christ! There are a few "styles" that I've found: 1) The "Direct" Approach... This style describes my father to a "T".. It is a "in your face" style, where a person doesn't really need any preparation: they just go for it regardless of the outcome! Lets just say for a moment that I wasn't saved and I said something like: "Boy, that nice red corvette looks great!" And a person with a "direct" approach would say, "Yeah, and you'd sure look great as a follower of Jesus Christ!" or something like that. They have a God-given, 'in your face', blessed way of witnessing.. A Scriptural example of this 'direct' approach would be Peter in Acts 2.. Peter was very direct and told the Jews that they killed this man Jesus, and they are not going to heaven unless they repent! And many people were saved through that "direct" approach that day. I would say that a contemporary preacher that would fit this "style" or approach is D. James Kennedy. Praise the Lord for these people! 2) The "Intellectual" Approach.. These are people who are "thinkers" and who are able to reason with people about the existence and death of Christ! These are the kinds of thinkers that "prove" the foundations of the Christian faith through reasoning it out and explaining that there is no other way.. In Acts 17, Paul reasons with the Athenians about the very existence of God! These are people who have "kept" their intellectual minds after salvation.. :) They put their minds to excellent use by making a case for Christ! A few contemporary examples of this style would be C.S. Lewis and his "Mere Christianity" and Josh McDowell and his "More than a Carpenter" books.. Praise the Lord for these "thinkers"! 3) The "Testimonial" Approach... I have met and know many people who have discovered what a powerful impact that their testimony can have, just by sharing it! Just by giving their testimony and sharing what Jesus has done for them, they have a strong witness for Christ. There is just something about a testimony that makes it authentic, that makes it powerful! And a good example of this kind of witness would be the man born blind in John 9 whose testimony was simply, "One thing I do know: I was blind, but now I see!" These people may not be great orators, but they sure have a powerful story to tell! And more often than not I've seen this method of witness produce results, especially if someone unsaved and directly relate to a particular story.. This is also a powerful witness! Praise the Lord for those who share! 4) The "Social" Approach... Some people find a great opportunity to share Christ through social 'get-togethers'.. These are people who can throw a party or have a church softball league or have a social gathering in which they find the opportunity to share Christ. A good example of a person like this is one who likes to invite people to church. And sometimes, the only thing that an unsaved person needs is an invitation! These people are very social and probably have a lot of friends. Matthew was a tax collector, but the moment that Jesus called him, he threw a party, invited his friends over and asked Jesus to come! (Matthew 9:9-13) I know several people have this "gift" in my church, and I'd have to say that this "style" definitely describes me, Nolan Keck, in a lot of ways! It can be very effective and "far reaching" at the same time. Praise the Lord for people who witness through socialization! I'm not saying that a person can't be "multi-dimensional", that is: being able to witness for Christ by using a different way or combining the ways above, but I'm saying that regardless of whichever way comes naturally for you, they are all equally effective and powerful in winning people to Christ! So we must discover which "way" best describes each one of us and use it to the best of our abilities! So how about you? Is there a particular "style" that best describes you? And have you been able to lead others to Christ by your example? Thank you in advance for your comments! |
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2 | Witnessing: What is your style? | John 1:7 | Sir Pent | 21692 | ||
My Evangelism Experience ........................ I agree with my colleagues that this is a great question. As Christians we are called to follow the "Great Commision", but what does that look like? Nolan, has done well at describing several possibilities. I have done some "street witnessing" in college, which was mostly the direct approach. I have also used the social approach at times by inviting people to church activities. However, I relate most closely with options 2 and 3, which are connected for me. My own testimony is of an intellectual nature, as God chose to show me His truth through logic and reason. Therefore, when I am talking to non-Christians about faith, I usually try to lead them through the same approach that I took. I also often am presented with opportunities to share about what God has done in my life. When someone compliments me on something, I often realize that I did not always have that character trait. This makes a great chance to tell that person how I used to be and how that God has changed me for the better. I have found this approach to be effective. |
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3 | Witnessing: What is your style? | John 1:7 | Makarios | 21762 | ||
Hello Sir Pent! Sir Pent, do you remember when I came to visit you for the first time at Asbury College and a group of us went out on the streets of Lexington, KY, and witnessed to complete strangers? I remember that and a certain other time when I was shopping in Wal-Mart with a few college freshmen with me at the time (I was a junior), and I was just "elected" as the Ministry Director for my Dorm, "Bill Hall", at Indiana Wesleyan University and I walked up to a complete stranger and shared Jesus Christ with him (to the astonishment of those freshmen)! One of those freshmen is now a pastor of a church in Michigan and he wrote me recently and said that this experience really challenged him in his spiritual life at that time! Of course, these are excellent examples of using the "Direct" Approach.. I would agree with you! I can definitely picture you as a "reasoner", my friend! One who can be persuasive intellectually for the cause of Christ.. But since you've joined the Forum, I've noticed something in you that I had never quite noticed before, and it is very good! That "different" thing is your powerful testimony! And by sharing it, we are "pierced" in the heart by its truth and sincerity and we are brought to brokenness by sharing in the brokenness that Christ finally brought you (and all of us) to.. And such a testimony helps to spur the fellow believers on and encourage us to keep standing for Jesus! Praise the Lord for intellectuals like you who can witness through reasoning! Your Brother in Christ, Nolan |
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4 | Witnessing: What is your style? | John 1:7 | Sir Pent | 21783 | ||
Personal Note .................................. Dear Nolan, Yes, I remember very well your visits to Kentucky, when we caught up with each other, and saw the paths that God had taken our lives on. I look forward to being able to get together again sometime in the future. I'm glad that our time witnessing to strangers on the streets and your experience at Wal-Mart were both so impacting on yourself and those around you. I recently had another experience with this "direct" approach. Each year there is a Jessamine Jamboree Festival near my town. It is a medium size fair with craft booths, food booths, and a carnaval. This year my wife and I set up a booth and had free helium balloons for kids, free bottled water for adults, and free storytelling for everyone. The story was the "Wordless Book", which a gospel presentation developed by Child Evangelism Fellowhip. Over the course of the weekend, we gave away about 500 baloons or water bottles (telling people that they were free gifts to show God's love for them). Of those people, about 250 people stayed to hear the gospel story. And of those 35 people prayed for forgivness of sin, and to recieve Jesus Christ into their lives. It was a tremendous experience. |
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5 | Witnessing: What is your style? | John 1:7 | Makarios | 21890 | ||
Hello my friend! That experience sounds really interesting! They must have just started the Jessamine Jamboree Festival (I don't remember it..) :) But its an excellent idea! Praise the Lord that 35 people received Christ! Yes, we will have to get together again! I still haven't met your wife! :) Jesus Saves! Your forever friend, Nolan |
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