How to start a conversation

[Solo Fide]

Yea, I don't know how you share the good news without telling them the bad news first! It's not really good news then now is it?

Yea, I was talking about "success" in terms of numbers or at least the ease of sharing. But you are right from a godly perspective- success is obeying God- period. But for those who are intimidated by witnessing or have a hard time or need some practice- kids are great, they are easy to talk to and are better responders- they are more open and trusting. What I was really trying to do was open some eyes to the fact that kids are a great group of people to talk to about Christ and not to overlook them- as most adults I think do.:)

But you make some excellent points:hat

[amy_elisabeth]

Yea, I don't know how you share the good news without telling them the bad news first! It's not really good news then now is it?

Yea, I was talking about "success" in terms of numbers or at least the ease of sharing. But you are right from a godly perspective- success is obeying God- period. But for those who are intimidated by witnessing or have a hard time or need some practice- kids are great, they are easy to talk to and are better responders- they are more open and trusting. What I was really trying to do was open some eyes to the fact that kids are a great group of people to talk to about Christ and not to overlook them- as most adults I think do.:)

But you make some excellent points:hat

Okay, just want to be sure 'cuz you said, "80% of all conversions are of children between the ages of 5-15" and we know those are mostly not conversions, but false conversions who become teens / adults who fit into the category of Matthew 7:21-23 and will hear, "depart from Me" because they "asked Jesus into their heart" or said a "sinner's prayer" instead of repenting and trusting the Savior, putting on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Have you heard the 8th sermon here:
http://www.livingwaters.com/listen.shtml

It's worth listening to and so is #1 there too. :)

.

[Racheal59]

www.wayofthemaster.com ....sells DVD's on a great way to share the gospel with the lost...gets them to think. ;)

[Solo Fide]

Not sure that I agree that MOST of child conversions are false. The gospel is simple enough for a child to understand and Jesus did say- Woe to him who causes a little one to stumble. So I do believe that even children can understand and trust Jesus. But I do know what you are saying about trusting in a prayer- that was me!! And not as a child either- I was 19!! It wasn't until I was 21 that someone shared the truth about salvation being a free gift. So I do understand your concerns- but to use your point- we are to obey God- and it isn't us who does the saving anyway- it is the Holy Spirit. And even though I am concerned about those who think they are saved but aren't- there is a nagging inside you when you really aren't- I know, because that was me. There is somethng that says: something isn't right- something is wrong, something is still missing! You just don't have peace because you don't have the Holy Spirit and the peace that passes all understanding. But I do believe that even children can understand and trust- it's by the power of the Holy Spirit whether it be a child or an adult- and children are more open.

I did save that link to my favorites so I won't lose it, but I don't have time right now to listen.

Thanks Rach!

[Solo Fide]

Oh and another point that I kinda made it that last post is that you have false conversions as adults too- like when I was 19.

So are we responsible for making sure it isn't false- and if so how do we do that? Sometimes it is a false gospel- like in my case. So maybe we just have to be sure that we give the message as clear as we can and leave the rest to God whether it be a child or an adult.

[matheteou]

Solo,

Do you preach the Law before giving God's message of love to a lost person first?Which part of the Law do you preach? 3 points, 10 points or all 613? Do you preach "you must be circumcised"?

It's interesting to see all this Law stuff popping up. I wonder how Paul would have dealt with it?

[amy_elisabeth]

Oh and another point that I kinda made it that last post is that you have false conversions as adults too- like when I was 19.

So are we responsible for making sure it isn't false- and if so how do we do that? Sometimes it is a false gospel- like in my case. So maybe we just have to be sure that we give the message as clear as we can and leave the rest to God whether it be a child or an adult.

Well, the best we can do is preach the gospel with the law first so people understand what sin is. We are not responsible for leading someone in a prayer or anything, just to plant the seeds. God is the one who convicts and does the regenerating work. :)

[Solo Fide]

No! Silly!! I think what Amy meant was that without the law we would not know we transgressed! So it's not a matter of "preacing the law" as to keep it, but to show that we cannot keep it! Just to show that we are sinners in need of a Savior.

[Solo Fide]

Well, the best we can do is preach the gospel with the law first so people understand what sin is. We are not responsible for leading someone in a prayer or anything, just to plant the seeds. God is the one who convicts and does the regenerating work. :)


Yes, then we agree.:hug:)

[amy_elisabeth]

Which part of the Law do you preach? 3 points, 10 points or all 613? Do you preach "you must be circumcised"?

It's interesting to see all this Law stuff popping up. I wonder how Paul would have dealt with it?

Yeah, I don't usually hit them with more than 120 laws or so. :aha

I just give them three or four laws to show them what sin is so that the wrath of God and the good news of the cross makes sense. Not telling a lost person the law before the gospel is like telling a guy he now doesn't have to pay the court his $1,000 fine. He would look at you like, "what are you talking about? I don't have a fine." If you tell him he broke the law and show him his guilt, then the fine makes sense.

I don't know what you mean about "all this Law stuff popping up." It's been around for thousands of years:

Romans 7:7 "What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, "YOU SHALL NOT COVET." (this was Paul speaking... imagine the average American not knowing how exceedingly sinful sin is!)

Romans 3:19,20 "Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

Galatians 3:24 "Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith."

There's some verses for you ^ about why the law is important. Do we need to preach the law before grace? Yep. If we don't, then the gospel (good news) doesn't make sense.

You wonder how Paul would have dealt with it? Well, just read Romans... especially what I postes. He said HE wouldn't have known sin but by the law... so I'm sure he preached the law to bring about the knowledge of sin.

Oh, and no, I don't say they must be circumcises... usually the moral law: Ten Commandments does just fine.