Skip to main content

Listen and Love

Have you ever felt like you just don't have "it"? That gift to "win people for Christ"? We think some people do, but not me. "I can't make them believe." "I don't have a persuasive enough message." "I don't know a strong enough creation argument." It seems so humanly impossible to simply have a 5-10 minute conversation with someone about the good news of the Gospel, totally transform their thinking, and *poof* after our eloquent account of the Biblical narrative, they're a Christian. well, you're right....it is HUMANLY impossible, but very much possible through the trans-formative work of the Holy Spirit. There is something that we do all have control over and hold responsibility for; a person's HEARING of the Gospel.
"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ."

- Romans 10:17 (ESV)

 Okay... but people still fine evangelism unbelievable. May I suggest it is because we forget about Paul's words in Colossians?

"5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."
- Colossians 4:5,6

People are not projects. They aren't simply a number to add to the list of souls you've won. THEY ARE NOT YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS! Have you ever been on the other end of an evangelistic project? Jehovah's Witness of Mormon at your door. You don't often feel loved; you proabably feel used, like a pressure, commission based, sale. Paul says, "know how to answer everyone." The Gospel is a singular message with a non-singular delivery. This means that the Gospel itself is unchanging, but the way we approach sharing it will be different person to person and requires wisdom, and wisdon expresses knowledge through understanding. In order to understand someone, we must HEAR them. We need to LISTEN. We need to listen and love. 

We live in a culture that runs at the speed of light. It's always how fast can I get this done so that I can achieve maximum productivity for the day. "Time is money!"... well, love is efficient. It slows down long enough to understand people and their objections to the Gospel. It's not about memorizing or rehearsing facts. We need to see evangelism as a long-term endeavour. While sharing hope and the good news of the Gospel, be sure to be doing so in love and grace for each person. When we start living a lifestyle of loving others, we will see opportunities to share with others.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Orientation Week!

What a week so far! Arrived here in Burnaby, B.C. early afternoon last Tuesday and my word, it is gorgeous out here! I don't think I would be so excited to see mountains. On Sept. 18-20, the team for this year and I went camping in Hope, an hour and half East of Vancouver and it was even more gorgeous than the city. Evergreens and maple tress at least 3-4 stories high. We were so high up in altitude, I swear, if you used a ladder, you could pull a cloud out of the sky. And to think, God just spoke all of this into existence! For the first few days, I wanted to come home. Back to my surroundings, back to my comfort zone. I felt like I wasn't being accepted into the group because I'm quieter than most. I felt alone. But I realized, it was a lie from the devil to get me to give up on the beginning of God's plan for me. When I got on the plane in Toronto, saying good-bye to my mom, my home, I wasn't nervous. When I had a layover in Calgary, still wasn't nerv...
1 comment
Read more

More Than A Conqueror

Hey Friends!, This post is long overdue! I was struggling to find the words to express the adventure of Thailand and then there was a turn of events that has made it even harder to write this post. I'll just get straight to the point...I was sent home. 3 weeks before outreach is suppose to be over.  Back in December, when the team and I first arrived in Pattaya, I was having a hard time spiritually (may have mentioned that in previous post, "Hope Is..."). In a moment of frustration, weakness, and selfishness, I had chose to leave the premises of where we were, go to a restaurant, and get a beer. Though, non-alcoholic, but it was the appearance of drinking. I also had a butt of dirty cigarette. "Don't drink, smoke, or go out alone or you will be sent home. No negotiation." .................................... The training leader for YWAM Vancouver and the co-leader for this DTS came to visit us on our last location, Mae Sot (may-sought). I had a one-o...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Good Work Has Been Started

Hello family in Christ, My DTS is almost over and the team and I will soon be going to Thailand for the next 3 months (just 8 more days!) I've made a video update of what I have learned since I lasted posted and there is also a link to the team's outreach video at the bottom of that. If you've noticed on the right-hand side, I have linked a PayPal subscribe button! (More details on that in the video). Thank you to everyone that have been praying and donating. I am truly appreciative, humbled, and blessed to have such amazing supporters that are not only investing in me but you are investing in the Kingdom. Here is the team video. You can also support us as a whole (Details at the end of the video) 6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1:6
Post a Comment
Read more