FRIENDSHIP EVANGELISM
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This is the idea that we should befriend someone and build a relationship with that person before we witness to them.
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But how long should we develop the relationship with them before we talk about God? What if they die before we get a chance?
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Isn’t it true that often friends are the most difficult to witness to, and the longer we leave it the harder it gets!
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Isn’t it also true if you’re really concerned about someone's eternal salvation you can relate to them in just a few minutes!
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Point to Ponder
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Building relationships as a form of evangelism rests on guarantees of tomorrow. 150,000 people die every day. Tomorrow is not guaranteed! “Now is the day of salvation” 2Corinthians 6:2.
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LIFESTYLE EVANGELISM
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The idea that if a Christian lives openly, allowing Christ in them, out, non-Christians will be attracted to the Christian faith and want to know about Jesus. This false philosophy teaches that we witness with our life rather than our lips.
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If anyone was ever able to lead a soul to salvation by His lifestyle, it would have certainly been the Lord Jesus Christ. He was perfection in a human body. He never sinned. Though Jesus was perfect, there is no account in the Scripture where anyone was ever saved by observing His lifestyle.
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Jesus prayed for the salvation of others in John 17:20, "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word." Jesus knew that all who would believe on Christ, would do so because of a verbal message. That is why He prayed for those who would believe on Him THROUGH THE WORD of other Christians, not through the lifestyle of other Christians. “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17.
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The New Testament is filled with soul winning examples. But every soul was won through confrontational evangelism. We should not be trying to get people to look at us, but rather to the word and promises of Jesus.
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Point To Ponder
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If we are truly living the Christian lifestyle we can't help but tell people about it. Romans 10:11 "For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed." Acts 4:20, "For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." These verses tell us that if we believe, we will not be ashamed, and that we cannot help but speak what God has done for us. And remember we have eternity to worship God but only a lifetime to evangelise the lost!
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Shirley Worden
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CORNWALL MISSION
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