Personal Evangelism - Sunday Leftovers

Our lesson this past Sunday centered on the matter of sharing our faith with others. I concluded the sermon by offering you, what I believe are two vital characteristics of the person who is effective at this process. The first trait perhaps is the most indispensable and that is that we must care for people. The deeper that care, the more effective we will be in engaging people in spiritual conversation. The second came more in the form of a tip and that was to wake up every day and pray that God will help you cross paths with someone who is in need of His Good News. More appropriately said, pray that God will heighten your awareness so that you will be ready when you do cross paths with that person. It is highly likely that we are intersecting the lives of these people on a daily basis already.

I had five more of these traits/tips to share Sunday but, as it typically goes, I had more sermon than time. Let me list those five additional insights for you now.

1) Earn the right to speak of spiritual things.

Matters like faith, God and spirituality are intimate in nature. To get to them effectively it is only reasonable that you would have to gain the respect of the other through investments of time and concern. Why should someone be convinced that I care about their eternal life if I don't show concern for their temporal one?

2) Respect their journey thus far.

Listen to them. See and validate their spiritual process up to this point. Surely God has been interacting with them before you came into their life.

3) Tell them your story.

Jesus/God is not a doctrine; He is a living experience. There is nothing more compelling than a true story.

4) Be open for God's guidance.

Obviously, this is true in every area of our lives but no where more so than in this, potentially, sensitive area. Surely if God loves people and we are willing to be used by God, He will impress us in ways to be effective in these interactions.

5) Trust God.

Be confident that God is involved in this holy process. He loves even more than you do. The Apostle Paul taught that one plants the seed, another waters it but it is God who gives the increase. We aren't called to do anything more than come alongside people in their journey by hearing their story and sharing ours. God does the rest.

I know these are very basic and I'm sure you already knew them but that's a good thing. It reminds us that this process does not demand a degree or professional status. The truth is, with these simple elements in tow, willingness is the greatest part.

I hope you’re willing today.