Evangelism is as simple as one beggar helping another beggar know where to find the Bread of life, Jesus Christ. It most often occurs in the midst of building a relationship, a friendship. LifeWay Research has found that most Americans are open to hearing about faith from a friend or neighbor (56%), or from a family member (63%).
Ed Stetzer, President of LifeWay Research, reminds us that the problem with the harvest is not the harvest. Too often we make it sound like the harvest is the problem. But Jesus says in Luke 10:2: And He was saying to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (NASB)
Stetzer continues: “The typical churchgoer tells less than one person how to become a Christian in a given year. Of the people who don’t go to church, 78% agree (somewhat or strongly) that, ‘If someone wanted to tell me what she or he believed about Christianity, I would be willing to listen.’ The harvest seems at least willing to listen while the workers don’t seem willing to talk.”
I pray that all of us will take this to heart and be prayerful, watchful, ready, willing, and ready to share our faith regularly.
Your brother in Christ,
Ray
Pr. 3:5-6
Quotable Quote:
“It used to be that people believed and then they belonged. Now they belong first, experience Christian community, and then believe.” John Teter, Pastor, Fountain of Life Church, Long Beach, CA
Stetzer continues: “The typical churchgoer tells less than one person how to become a Christian in a given year. Of the people who don’t go to church, 78% agree (somewhat or strongly) that, ‘If someone wanted to tell me what she or he believed about Christianity, I would be willing to listen.’ The harvest seems at least willing to listen while the workers don’t seem willing to talk.”
I pray that all of us will take this to heart and be prayerful, watchful, ready, willing, and ready to share our faith regularly.
Your brother in Christ,
Ray
Pr. 3:5-6
Quotable Quote:
“It used to be that people believed and then they belonged. Now they belong first, experience Christian community, and then believe.” John Teter, Pastor, Fountain of Life Church, Long Beach, CA
Ray's Top Five this week
1. Lead Your Church To Be Evangelistic, Thom Rainer
2. What I’ve Learned About Evangelism Over Five Decades of Ministry, Bill Easum
3. Personal Evangelism and Pastors: 14 Findings (Part 1), Chuck Lawless
4. Personal Evangelism and Pastors: 14 Findings (Part 2), Chuck Lawless
5. Are We Making It Hard(er) For People To Meet Jesus? Arron Chambers
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