fear of witnessing?

[KatyAD]

Do any of you have problems ministering the gospel or talking about Jesus?

I have a hard time bringing up Jesus to people. Anyone else have this problem?

Anyone have any suggestions?

God Bless,
Katy

 

[suzybeezy]

I honestly wait for God to present the opportunities to me. Its pretty cool how He sets up circumstances so the folks that need to be witness to get the right person to witness to them.

 

[Bryanfromiowa]

2 ideas that shifted my thinking in this area. 1st is that witnessing does not mean giving impromptu sermons or quoting dozens of bible verses, the simplest way is to simply share how god has worked in our lives or even just listen and love on someone. 2nd conversions rarely happen instantly the first time someone hears the gospel so we don't have to close the deal every time (god converts people we simply share his message) , build friendships then share christ message in genuine love.

also here is an excellent book on the subject. Amazon.com: The Coffeehouse Gospel: Sharing Your Faith In Everyday Conversation: Matthew Paul Turner: Books

 

[Allen1901]

It's normal to have a little "stage fright" when witnessing. It get's easier the more You do it. Start by telling the person Your personal story, and what Jesus has done for You. Ask them to pray with You too, even if they are not ready to recieve Christ.

God Bless!

 

[trentlogain2]

First I think you have to find out why you have a fear of witnessing. Pray and ask God to help you overcome your fear and open up witnessing opportunities.

 

[trentlogain2]

I just read your "denomination". Answer me this..Do you believe Jesus is God or just a great man/prophet?

 

[holyrokker]

"Witnessing" is not an activity that we must "do".

We ARE witnesses.

 

[KatyAD]

Jesus is God

 

[Bryan Cotton]

Sometimes I witness to people without opening a bible or quoting scripture. Sometimes when I witness to people its simple how I act (letting the light of Christ shine through me.) Sometimes it could just be giving solid sound advice that is based on scripture.

But sometimes when the opportunity comes up, I do a quick prayer asking for the right words and guidance on what to say and just share what I know.

 

[iamjcs]

Do any of you have problems ministering the gospel or talking about Jesus?

I have a hard time bringing up Jesus to people. Anyone else have this problem?

Anyone have any suggestions?

God Bless,
Katy

Hi Katy.

You have 2 options then that I know of.

1> Let your life so shine before men that they might see those good works and glorify God. Matthew 5:16 (unsure version)
Let your life so reflect God, that they are drawn without you talking.
Example: Had my busdriver track Mom down, wanting to know what I had that made me so joyful inspite of what I was going through.

2> Let the Holy Spirit speak through you, so that it's His words not yours.

 

[HolyWarrior77]

Well I find it hard sometimes to keep it to myself, whether it be talking to my fiancee or friends at a dinner table or at work in the customer service areas. But most importantly, if you just keep yourself honest when asked questions, you're a witness to Christ without thinking about it. Example is, someone asks you how you're doing or how your weekend was, you can reply something like, "The good Lord is treating me very well, thanks"

 

[trentlogain2]

Jesus is God

Okay. I did a search for the name of your denominational "tag", and apparently they don't. [believe Jesus is The Son of God]

 

[mikev]

Sometimes I witness to people without opening a bible or quoting scripture. Sometimes when I witness to people its simple how I act (letting the light of Christ shine through me.) Sometimes it could just be giving solid sound advice that is based on scripture.

But sometimes when the opportunity comes up, I do a quick prayer asking for the right words and guidance on what to say and just share what I know.

Bryan,

That is such good, simple, and clear advice! We really ought to keep it simple - the Bible says that we are living epistles - people read us before they will read the Book. We need to live the Word, and let our lights so shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father which is in heaven.

One more point - people are either hungry for the Truth or they are not - and if not, it doesn't matter who speaks what to them. Our prayer is to find those who are hungering and thirsting - for open doors to speak to them.

Mike

 

[Blade]

Just be you.. Talk about how he changed your life.. what hes doing maybe in your life or that really kool story you just read or heard about. You will plant the seed.. he WILL see someone comes along and helps it grow.. your using you to help that already planted seed!


Ask HIM to help you .. he WILL!

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Perhaps, your 'tag' someone referred to, others don't believe the truth. Perhaps.
Yet, if you do, and don't give in to peer pressure,
if you are willing to obey Truth no matter what the cost,
then Abba Elohim Himself (It Is Written) will teach you Himself.

 

[MethoDiKaL]

im with katyad.
i get kind of nervous to bring up Jesus with people or friends.

i try to let my life reflect that of Christ but i always fall short. and it is from there i feel i fall short in the areas.

 

[Razz Man]

Don't be afraid to witness. Jesus will help you.

 

[Blamilton]

...Jesus will help you.

That's always sound advice. And I personally think that the mentality of "We ARE witnesses," as someone mentioned earlier, sums it up: we are always shining the light when we walk with God, and sometimes that will present itself as using words. I do agree it's scary, but letting God reach somebody in any way is certainly worth it.

Pray; I suppose that's my advice.

 

[WuAgent]

most people who've posted here have the right idea.

if you want to witness, go out and make friends with non believers and live a genuine christian life before them. pray for opportunities to share the gospel and when they present themselves, take them. be like christ in word and deed.

2 corinthians 3:2-3

2You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. 3You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

2 corinthians 5:18-20

18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.

witnessing is simply living like jesus in front of people.

 

[Shribs]

I think that we as Christians need to be equipped to do the work of evangelism. We have a duty to always be ready to give an answer for the reason for the hope that you have (1 peter 3:15) We need to prepare ourselves to handle any question that may be asked of us. The sad thing to me is that the Mormans, and Jehovah's Witnesses are better at this than Evangelicals, and they are willing to do more for a lie than we are for the truth...