Connecting or confronting?
If challenged about your lifestyle, why you choose to go to bible study, how you live your life, spend your time the way that you do, how might you answer? Could you make a connection that might “pave the way” for an honest dialog leading to sharing the gospel of forgiveness and reconciliation?
If challenged about your lifestyle, why you choose to go to bible study, how you live your life, spend your time the way that you do, how might you answer? Could you make a connection that might “pave the way” for an honest dialog leading to sharing the gospel of forgiveness and reconciliation? Too often my conversations about the gospel feel more like confrontation than connection, more like a sales pitch rather than a personal endorsement
In Acts 26 Paul makes his defense before Agrippa rolling out his background in a way designed to establish credibility for the message of the gospel. He addresses Agrippa with respect and clearly identifies himself with his Jewish accusers, including a description of the passion with which he formerly persecuted followers of Jesus.
Paul’s resume powerfully contrasts to his present situation. His explanation to Agrippa and assembled crowd focuses on his encounter with Jesus on the Damascus Road. His description is personal and powerful and explains in historical context that Christ was to suffer and rise again. His defense basically asserts that Jesus fulfills the long awaited promise of the fathers. He defends himself by boldly asserting that he was “not disobedient to the heavenly vision.” His personal story is persuasive.
Paul’s testimony builds from the point of common understanding between himself and Agrippa, stating that Agrippa was well acquainted with the teaching of the Jews. He identifies with his accusers by acknowledging his own persecution of believers. Obviously something dramatic happened to change his mind.
In sharing Jesus with someone else, can I describe my own relationship with Jesus in an engaging way that explains my present lifestyle? Have I identified points of natural commonality I share with others that might “connect” my life to theirs, a point of contact that connects rather than confronts? How has Jesus affected my insecurities, my fears? How does knowing Him give me hope and purpose? Where was I seeking to find life when He found me? Throughout Acts Paul connects with a variety of audiences in sharing the gospel, shaping his approach to gain the greatest hearing. How might I better prepare myself to tell my story in similar ways? Can I commit to connect rather than confront?
Gwynne Johnson
Gwynne Johnson currently serves on the Board of Entrust, Inc., an international education and training mission where she authored the Entrust curriculum, Developing a Discerning Heart. She recently served as Co-Chair of the training project, Christian Women in Partnership, Russia and as Senior Director of Women's Ministry at Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas. Gwynne has a M.A. in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary. She currently lives in Huntsville, Texas with her husband of 58 years, Don. She works part-time in her daughter and granddaughter's bakery "The Best Box Ever," where she gets paid in cookies.
2 Comments
kennith burkett
how to witness jesus by trust in him
we are all want to save the world, don't take on god's job. seems like that the maj. of the christan people want to take on the world by storm at first. then reality set in.
the truth of it, most of us are doing it all wrong. according to the bible that we read and use as instruction to live by.
the way to share jesus is how paul and the rest of the apostals did. the church or where a group of people meet and praise & worship the lord. this is where we share and teach the things of the lord also in a forum like this. the way we witness to people about jesus is the way we live. as paul wrote, "that all of you to live quitely peaceable lives not to get in other peoples bus. to mind our own. in other words i need to keep my own back yard clean. once this is done may be i can help some one else. i have a hard time with my own yard it a full time job. so what do i do? paul told us to always be ready to to tell some one the hope that is with in us when ask..
people are watching you and see the things that goes on, most are put off by christan when we go from door to door, knocking on stranger doors to witness jesus, these people don't know nothing about us. at best we might cause some to fear or catch them in a bad way and thay pray to recive jesus. is this what god wants. i don't think so.
the way that i have found that is god. is to let god put you in the right place at the right time. learn to trust in god, when we account god in all our ways,do all we can do with him in mind, god will bring the ones to you that you can present jesus the right way.
keep in mind that we can't save any one. god does, we can only do what god wants, if we do this god will bring the ones that should be saved. ( this is a constance in god's word). have you heard someone say? i found god, the word tell us that he found us.
we have always been gods people. he knew you before the beginning. we didn't start to live on our first birthday. some don't belive this way but it's the bible way. god know how to run his show. so we need to let him do, and trust him to to put us where we need to be. after all he is the GOD, we are his, and he is ours, he don't wants to push the good news. let him prove his self, he loves to. we don't to prove him. we all say to trust in god. but we don't trust him. because jesus said that he be lifted up he would all men to himself.
the sum of it: live for god & trust him, he will do the rest. i know, try. and let god prove himself. and see he bring more than u can talk to. so don't worried about could have,should have, done this or that trust god to direct your steps to his will. and you will be in the right place at the right time, with the right word.
Gwynne Johnson
I like your summary
Your summary says it like the old hymn, Trust and obey, for there’s no other way. Connecting personally when God opens the door for conversation follows the leading of the Spirit and allows us to relax.