Feel I've been called to reach out to my neighbors in witness

Look up living waters ministry. Ray comfort has a great method for what you are describing. Be careful not to get burned either. Some atheists and Muslims and new agers and Satanists are really crafty about trying to debunk Christian arguments or diffuse them and make an example out of people for not knowing enough about either life or their own religion. I say this because I don't know how into Christian apologetics you are but if you are unfamiliar look up Ravi zacharias and William lane Craig among others.

When St. Francis sent his brothers out into the world he instructed them to spread the gospel but to use words only when absolutely necessary.

JackRT said:

When St. Francis sent his brothers out into the world he instructed them to spread the gospel but to use words only when absolutely necessary.

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How do you back this up scripturally?

Valetic said:

How do you back this up scripturally?

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Good advice has no need to have scriptural back up.

JackRT said:

Good advice has no need to have scriptural back up.

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Good to who's standard?

cyphercat said:

I know I should care about my neighbors, but my sentiment seems to be an irritated urgency. I'm supposed to have compassion on them but I don't feel it. I've lived in my parents neighborhood for 16+ years and never talk to my neighbors and just wave at them as some of then go walking. And all of a sudden I care about them

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May I suggest just talk to them, get to know them and their situations.
Some will be buisy going to work etc preoccupied with their lives, Those you can button hole and challenge with 'What would you say if God asked, 'Why should I let you into heaven?' etc'
Others be a friend and talk about life, the news, weather and what happened at church. If there are events, meetings that would interest them invite them.

Many people are lonely so be more than just a caller, become a friend.

Those who are interested you could do a bible study with them in their home.

All this assumes that you can defend your faith against the challenges of unbelief.

One thing I can say for certain is to not be pushy or forceful. It only turns people away. Having been atheist most of my life before coming to Christ, I can personally testify. I was turned off Christianity for years because of how supposed Christians treated me. If people show interest then sure, share the Gospel with them. If not, then just leave them alone. Just trust me on this one. Force creates anti-theism.

cyphercat said:

Mainly my neighbors in my apartment complex, and the people who live in the houses in my parents neighborhood.
It feels a lot different and makes me more nervous because I'm around them everyday and they're more familiar with me. All I know to do is visit them and try and ask "Do you know you would go to heaven if you die" and try and share the gospel.
Does anyone have any encouraging stories about evangelizing and witnessing in their immediate neighborhood or apartment complex? Was your method of evangelism more "cold call" or did you just introduce yourself and wait for the Lord to open doors day to day?
I know I should care about my neighbors, but my sentiment seems to be an irritated urgency. I'm supposed to have compassion on them but I don't feel it. I've lived in my parents neighborhood for 16+ years and never talk to my neighbors and just wave at them as some of then go walking. And all of a sudden I care about them? It doesn't seem authentic. Anyway, I just wanted to get that out.

Note, I'm on disability and have a lot of free time. I know there's a lot I could be doing but this seems the most logical and makes the most sense.

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Standing in front of a stranger's door and knocking on it in order to talk about Jesus is one of the most intimidating things to do as a Christian, especially by yourself and having not much experience. Here's the honest truth, friend: you will get rejected... a lot. You will get the door slammed in your face... a lot. You may even get ridiculed and made fun of. All of this comes with the territory, and frankly, there's nothing you can do to avoid any of this if you're going to be an evangelist/witness for Jesus. The Lord Jesus was perfect and infinitely wise, yet he was laughed at, scorned, mocked, and rejected many, many times. If you're scared of rejection, don't be, otherwise you'll never knock on the door even one time to get rejected. If you're scared of failure, don't be, otherwise you'll never knock on the door and fail. If none of these things happen, you will never find that one person who will listen and believe the gospel to be saved, you will never reach that person that God desires for you to reach.

The fact of the matter is that you cannot control what other people do, you can only control yourself. To love your neighbors is a choice, which is why God commands us to do it; we love through truth and deed, and not in word only according to the Bible, and the greatest love we can have for our neighbors is the willingness to be embarrassed for Jesus Christ and try to preach them the gospel. Easier said than done, but all it takes is your faith being bigger than your fears.

There is no way that any evangelist goes out soul-winning and witnessing and is not scared; and if they say they're not nervous or fearful, they're lying. However, witnessing is the greatest opportunity Christ gives us to serve him and to gather for the kingdom, and we have to be courageous. Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather it's the choice of action despite having fear. If you plan on going out to witness and fail to do it that day, plan on doing it the next day. If you fail to do it then, plan on the next day. The point is not to give up, not to get discouraged, because when you walk in the gospel and preach it, you are walking with Christ. And if God be for us, who can be against us?

And don't be scared to fail, because God is much bigger than our failures and our mistakes, our fears, or our inabilities. Moses stammered, but God used him. Abraham was old, but God used him. Elijah was depressed and feared for his life, but God used him. God doesn't call the qualified, he qualifies those who are called, and if you feel called to preach the gospel to your neighbors, you have to be willing to fail so that God can qualify you.

If you need help coming up with a plan of approach for a person's door, message me privately: I would love to help you. If you need anything regarding this, message me privately.

Dear Cyphercat, thank you for sharing your thoughts and concerns with us. These forums are great for sharing our concerns, and venting. I’m glad to know that you want to evangelize and reach out to your neighbors. . Have you considered to take a course in the church how to explain the Bible to others? I would like to share with you the story of St Francis of Assisi. He and his brothers in fellowship went to a town to evangelize. He is well known for this quotation: ”Go and preach the Gospel and use your words if it is necessary” That does mean that our lives has to transmit the Gospel to others, in other words we are calling to put in practice the teachings of Jesus in our lives. He and his fellowship brothers used to visit towns, serve the needy with a big smile to the people. Have you thought of finding out a Ministry share fellowship with? In regards your concern about that you do not feel compassion, please do not worry and just ask God and pray for it. I hope this helps. I will keep you in my prayers my sister in Christ.

cyphercat said:

Mainly my neighbors in my apartment complex, and the people who live in the houses in my parents neighborhood.
It feels a lot different and makes me more nervous because I'm around them everyday and they're more familiar with me. All I know to do is visit them and try and ask "Do you know you would go to heaven if you die" and try and share the gospel.
Does anyone have any encouraging stories about evangelizing and witnessing in their immediate neighborhood or apartment complex? Was your method of evangelism more "cold call" or did you just introduce yourself and wait for the Lord to open doors day to day?
I know I should care about my neighbors, but my sentiment seems to be an irritated urgency. I'm supposed to have compassion on them but I don't feel it. I've lived in my parents neighborhood for 16+ years and never talk to my neighbors and just wave at them as some of then go walking. And all of a sudden I care about them? It doesn't seem authentic. Anyway, I just wanted to get that out.

Note, I'm on disability and have a lot of free time. I know there's a lot I could be doing but this seems the most logical and makes the most sense.

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I evangelize in my smoke shop. I smoke cigars and occasionally pipes. I drink bourbon or scotch and will offer people a glass. I also play a card game called bid euchre. I offer to teach them. Often within a few weeks of coming to the shop eventually the topic of beleif comes up. I don't press it, I share "I am a recovering fundamentalist...I smoke, drink and play cards every darn (might use a stronger word here) day." It is intriguing enough at description that most ask what that description means.

This is known broadly as friendship evangelism and has allowed me to lead half-a-dozen men to Christ and a dozen back into a discipleship group, that also meets, you guessed it, at the smoke shop.

I would highly advise against Ray Comfort's approach. Jesus wasn't amused-car salesman. Comfort is manipulative and uses rhetorical tricks and fast-talking to con people into accepting Christ. These tricks may work temporarily on young college or High School kids but adults see that approach for what it is.

Friendships where you demonstrate care will afford an opportunity to be invited to explain why you care.

Expect it to take months, not weeks or days, before they invite you to share. Secondly, be prepared to share your own investigation into the claims of the gospel. Also a short one-minute description of how Jesus has changed your life or experiences you have had that confirm your trust in him will help.

True friends want to know what makes their friends tick. Develop true friendships, live the gospel, don't ever peddle the gospel as Ray Comfort does.

cyphercat said:

Does anyone have any encouraging stories about evangelizing and witnessing in their immediate neighborhood or apartment complex

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I got rebuked for giving gospel tracks on sunday , poor people think they did God favor for rebuking me because I was "working" on sunday .

cyphercat said:

And all of a sudden I care about them? It doesn't seem authentic. Anyway, I just wanted to get that out.

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It is good , look woman at well , she was fornicating and nobody from her local community liked her because of that so she had to draw the water when they all were done so she does not hear the gossip , but after she met Christ she suddenly went and told everybody even tho she would never speak to them prior to that .

Chinchilla said:

nobody from her local community liked her because of that so she had to draw the water when they all were done so she does not hear the gossip

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That is an interpretation not in evidence.

JackRT said:

That is an interpretation not in evidence.

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So is every Scripture you read

Chinchilla said:

So is every Scripture you read

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Agreed! All scripture is an interpretation to begin with. And then we believers compound that with more interpretation.

cyphercat said:

Mainly my neighbors in my apartment complex, and the people who live in the houses in my parents neighborhood.
It feels a lot different and makes me more nervous because I'm around them everyday and they're more familiar with me. All I know to do is visit them and try and ask "Do you know you would go to heaven if you die" and try and share the gospel.
Does anyone have any encouraging stories about evangelizing and witnessing in their immediate neighborhood or apartment complex? Was your method of evangelism more "cold call" or did you just introduce yourself and wait for the Lord to open doors day to day?
I know I should care about my neighbors, but my sentiment seems to be an irritated urgency. I'm supposed to have compassion on them but I don't feel it. I've lived in my parents neighborhood for 16+ years and never talk to my neighbors and just wave at them as some of then go walking. And all of a sudden I care about them? It doesn't seem authentic. Anyway, I just wanted to get that out.

Note, I'm on disability and have a lot of free time. I know there's a lot I could be doing but this seems the most logical and makes the most sense.

Click to expand...

get your own house in order before you tell your neighbors how to run theirs. (Get a Job)