Evangelism Obstacles

Evangelism makes me hide behind trees

I had a good time out witnessing today. I gave out some tracts and had a great conversation with two open minded guys who acknowledged they were sinners but weren't exactly sure how they could be forgiven or if it was even possible. One of them even said to me that he was thinking of going back to church and asked me for my church details. This was encouraging. I pray God does a mighty work in hearts of these bros.

Evangelism is hard going and many (including me) have intense battles with it. Here are some obstacles that can hinder a person engaging in evangelism.

• They don't want to be seen as some kind of religious fanatic (especially with people they know)
• They don't know what to say or how to get into a conversation
• They don't agree with the 'street' approach
• They are apathetic and lazy
• They fear tough questions
• They have a misunderstanding of what evangelism is.

I will look to address these obstacles in future posts and how we as Christians can overcome them. We must overcome them if we truly care about people and where they will spend eternity.

Here comes the sun

I was asked to film a drama at our school which was about sustainability. The focus was on solar
panels and how we can use the sun's rays to generate energy. The drama was organised by an energy company which was visiting our school.

I heard some of the drama students reading the script and something they said got my attention. There was a line in the script that stated that God made the sun. I was totally surprised as I didn't expect to hear this in a secular school.

I later found out that the script they were practicing with was from the previous school which was a religious school. 

As I filmed the performance the "God made the sun" line was omitted, and this I feel is a reflection of the culture we live in. We don't honor God by acknowledging Him as the creator and sustainer of all things. We can easily appreciate the beauty and taste of a well ripened kiwi fruit but for some it's not so easy to see the God who made the kiwi fruit.

Our energy company visitors have been the catalyst for many conversations about solar power and solar energy within our school. Many would agree that the sun is absolutely amazing and vital for life on earth. Many would appreciate the sun and what it does. But many stop there, failing to see the God who made the sun.

"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse."

Romans 1:20

There was a part in the drama where the MC's said "without the sun... we would die!" and all the students on stage would fall down and act dead. The truth is without the sun life on earth would cease to exist.

Aren't you grateful for the sun and what it does? Isn't it time you thanked God for the joys of creation?

A great day at church

Pastor Peter Foster praying for these newcomers.

I enjoyed church this morning. Especially when I saw a guy Zeke and I shared the gospel with the previous day walk into the service with a friend.

This is what it's all about. Going out into the world and seeking people who are lost in their sins and sharing Christ with them, offering them reconciliation with God.

Jesus came into the world to seek and save that which is lost and I couldn't help but feel a sense of this with sharing the gospel with one of these guys and then seeing him rock up to church the next day with a friend.

What a joy it is to be used by God to reach others with the gospel.

May God do a work in these guys' lives. May they be born again.

 "...he who wins souls is wise."

Proverbs 11:30