Encouragement for those of you who aren't good at speaking to others about Christ

[Genesis22]

This is for anyone who is called to evangelism but doesn't feel like they are good with speaking to people or don't have that gift of knowing how to word things in a way that will make people understand. The apostle Paul had the same problem, and look how God used him!

In 2 Corinthians 10:10, the people at Corinth were saying of Paul that "His letters are heavy and strong, but his personal presence is unimpressive and his speech is not deserving of respect." Paul's ministry is still getting people saved to this day (about 1,900 years after his death!), and he wasn't even good at speaking to people!

Paul goes on to tell them that they are focused on the wrong things, and that they are looking at the outward things instead of the inward things. It doesn't matter how "entertaining" you are, how creatively you word things, or how clear your speech is. It matters only that you are preaching the truth; let God work the rest out. We can't rely on Earthly things like our ability to speak to bring someone to Christ. According to these verses, if Paul would have lived today, he wouldn't have been one of those preachers who got up and preached a message with power in his voice and worded things in fancy ways to keep people's attention. Instead, he would be more like one of those preachers who stands in front of a church and gives a long message that's full of scripture and truth, but appears "boring". And guess what? That must be pleasing to God, because God is still using Paul to this day!

So, remember today to focus on truth in your evangelism rather than the style, wording, clearness, or ability to entertain. The bible says that those things are worthless.

[steve93138]

Thanks for sharing. I've always been bad at trying to get a message across, even with people I know such as family members. ;-)

[Karen]

Thank you.

[KissyLoves]

needed this today

[momoffaith]

Very good reminder! Thank you friend

[Ovicula]

Very good! Thank you!


If you find it difficult to witness because you are sheepish, don’t feel like the you’re the only one. A lot of Christians struggle with the same thing.

Don't forget:

2 Corinthians 12:9
My power is strongest when you are weak.

[Isaiah 53]

Another great man of God who had trouble speaking was Moses. I am not a good speaker either, and when I feel inadequate I always think of where God said to Moses,


"Who made Man's mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, the blind? Have not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say."



God is I am that I am..and He will equip and supply us with whatever we need to serve Him.

And that is so neat about Paul...I never knew that as well..thanks for sharing.

[IMSAVED]

I can witness to people by the way I live my life.What I say and do to my co-workers and my family.People can see God Through me when I live my life for Christ and I set a Christian example.

[Acts5:41]

I should also add, many, many, times you will witness and NEVER know if they got saved. It doesn't mean you should stop, but God may want you working in the dark. I prefer to work that way, actually.

I disagree with the "I witness by the way I live my life" - because we will fail, fail terribly. I will gossip and judge, get impatient and irritable, and ruin my "witness". The only way I can share Jesus, when I fail, is by admitting my faults, and repent to whomever I harmed. I feel the only way to share Him is to do just that - share Him. I have been blessed with an amazing testimony, so I share that. I also share that I am only saved by grace, not by works, and I pray my life is an additional testimony to my actual witness.

If they are open, I also share a Bible, and let Hebrews 4:12 do the heavy lifting. Then the hard part, going home and praying for them all, every day.

[Genesis22]

The bible does say to let our good works be seen before men so they will glorify God because of it, so I understand what people mean when they say to witness through their actions. However, we can't JUST witness through our actions without words. Doing good works for someone is a great example of who God is, but it isn't going to give them the knowledge that they need a Savior. The only way for them to know that is for us to tell them. It's SO important that they know that! When the bible says to witness through works, I personally think it means to don't just preach and not live it too. We need to do both.

I heard a Catholic preist say this once (I'm not Catholic and don't agree with their religion- but this always stuck with me and I applied it to Christianity instead.)- I'm still waiting for the day that I hold the door for someone and they fall to their knees in repentence because of it. It doesn't work that way. Being nice to people and acting Godly around them will not get them saved. It might make them more open to what you have to say about God, but you can't JUST be nice and not preach the gospel.

[BlesdBe'on'd]

I Agree Gen. ..
But, Planting Seed is the First Step in the Salvation of a Lost Individual. .. Anythin cannot Grow unless it's Planted

(Mat 5:16 KJV)
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Mat 10:19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. Mat 10:20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

This is for anyone who is called to evangelism but doesn't feel like they are good with speaking to people or don't have that gift of knowing how to word things in a way that will make people understand. The apostle Paul had the same problem, and look how God used him!

In 2 Corinthians 10:10, the people at Corinth were saying of Paul that "His letters are heavy and strong, but his personal presence is unimpressive and his speech is not deserving of respect." Paul's ministry is still getting people saved to this day (about 1,900 years after his death!), and he wasn't even good at speaking to people!

Paul goes on to tell them that they are focused on the wrong things, and that they are looking at the outward things instead of the inward things. It doesn't matter how "entertaining" you are, how creatively you word things, or how clear your speech is. It matters only that you are preaching the truth; let God work the rest out. We can't rely on Earthly things like our ability to speak to bring someone to Christ. According to these verses, if Paul would have lived today, he wouldn't have been one of those preachers who got up and preached a message with power in his voice and worded things in fancy ways to keep people's attention. Instead, he would be more like one of those preachers who stands in front of a church and gives a long message that's full of scripture and truth, but appears "boring". And guess what? That must be pleasing to God, because God is still using Paul to this day!

So, remember today to focus on truth in your evangelism rather than the style, wording, clearness, or ability to entertain. The bible says that those things are worthless.

[IMSAVED]

I should also add, many, many, times you will witness and NEVER know if they got saved. It doesn't mean you should stop, but God may want you working in the dark. I prefer to work that way, actually.

I disagree with the "I witness by the way I live my life" - because we will fail, fail terribly. I will gossip and judge, get impatient and irritable, and ruin my "witness". The only way I can share Jesus, when I fail, is by admitting my faults, and repent to whomever I harmed. I feel the only way to share Him is to do just that - share Him. I have been blessed with an amazing testimony, so I share that. I also share that I am only saved by grace, not by works, and I pray my life is an additional testimony to my actual witness.

If they are open, I also share a Bible, and let Hebrews 4:12 do the heavy lifting. Then the hard part, going home and praying for them all, every day.

Their are many people who can say that they are Christians but are not a Godly example to those around them.Unbelievers then see this and say that Christians are hypocrites.I can see why they would think that.Their are other ways to witness to someone besides going up to them and asking them if they know Jesus.They might just say"You are a fool".Then what?A person has to witness with kindness and respect.

[Acts5:41]

Well, my recipients are always happy to see me again, so I'm guessing I please God - and that's really job #1.

Today, one of our longer term drivers was asking me "what" exactly, I pray for the kid who mugged me a couple years ago. I told him, "Open heart for the gospel, Godly friends, good educational opportunities," etc. He was impressed, but I told him "Anything good you see in me is God. Anything bad you see in me is me".

He has a Bible, one I gave him, in his cab. He's had it for quite a while.

I don't think "just" being "nice" can cut it, because I know a lot of very nice unreached people who are going to hell. I wasn't always this way. God had to hit me with this one about 12 years ago. I was asked point blank, by a boss, if I believed Jesus was the only way to heaven, and I waffled.

Mark 8:38
For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

In fact, I think we can have an even better witness when we are weak, human, and repentant. Ron and I get impatient and frustrated sometimes - it goes with riding paratransit; but when we repent and apologize to the driver, they are far more open to the Gospel. Not an excuse to be ugly, but God can use anything for good.

The paratransit service (part of our mission field) is full of hypocritical, ugly, bigoted, impatient, ugly, "Christians". Sunday is the most hated day of the week, as a result. When a "real" Christian comes along, they tend to sit up and take notice.

God calls all of us to witness in different ways - I never walk up to people and ask if they know Jesus. God has me working in a couple of ways:
Street corner Bible handout (see photo), recipients come to me for a Bible.
"Randomly" (guided by God) handing out Bibles to complete strangers.
Witnessing and Bible Distribution to paratransit drivers and other passengers.

God's called us mainly to share OUR testimony and offer Bibles. Most people take them. I also do a lot of distribution on Halloween - I hand out New Testaments, in bags of candy, to the adults accompanying children to our door, and scripture booklets in with the candy for the children.

It's been my experience, as we witness (my husband is very fond of his "Don't take the Mark of the Beast" speech) - the born-agains will chuckle and tell us "No worry on that, I'm saved", or something along those lines. They seem to enjoy the evangelism. Or they start quoting scripture at us. Always fun.

[Hootmon]

I told him "Anything good you see in me is God. Anything bad you see in me is me".

Perfect.

[Acts5:41]

I ask God to keep me useful.

Useful = humble
Pride = worthless

Sometimes I think my many trials all work towards killing the pride.