For the previous 25 years I’ve been working alongside native church buildings and particular person Christians who want to be more practical in sharing their religion. Throughout this time, I noticed that whereas many imagine that evangelism is vital, they usually really feel that another person is healthier suited to the duty.
This can be as a result of in lots of church buildings we’re taught particular fashions or strategies of evangelism that we generally understand as the one option to share Jesus. After we attempt to comply with a prescribed sample, it might probably depart us feeling like we’ve failed as Christians, which discourages us from making an attempt once more.
However the fact is that God made every of us distinctive and the New Testomony reveals alternative ways to share our religion. For instance, we see examples of hospitality (Luke 5:27-32), witnessing (John 9:11), invitation (John 4:29) and even cultural dialogue (Acts 17:16-34).
At Share Jesus Worldwide, the charity I work for, we determined to conduct each quantitative and qualitative analysis to discover how training Christians sometimes share their religion. The analysis revealed 4 key tensions:
- Can we anticipate folks to return to religion instantly or will we see it as a journey?
- Is sharing religion a separate endeavor or one thing we do collectively as a Christian group?
- Ought to we give attention to speaking Jesus' message rapidly, or let the dialog unfold naturally as the opposite particular person leads?
- Is evangelism primarily about what we are saying or what we do?
Based mostly on this, we’ve recognized six profiles that replicate the alternative ways Christians share their religion. We now have additionally created a brief quiz to assist believers discover out which profile greatest matches their strategy to evangelism.
We examined this quiz in church buildings throughout the UK and the outcomes have been extremely encouraging. First, profiles assist take the strain off – we don't all should share our religion in the identical approach. Second, they permit us to have fun the pure methods through which we evangelize. A few of us excel at exhibiting God's compassion by our actions, whereas others are nice at strolling alongside folks for the lengthy haul. Third, these profiles provide us alternatives for progress and prompts to change into extra intentional in our efforts to share our religion.
When a neighborhood congregation takes the quiz collectively, it highlights how totally different approaches complement one another and presents new insights and views. We’re all uniquely designed to share the gospel in ways in which resonate with totally different folks.
There’s a noticeable lack of hope in right now's world. However as Christians we cling to the hope present in Jesus. Whereas it may be formidable to share your religion, a lot of that worry stems from the idea that we’ve to do it a sure approach. I firmly imagine that our society wants to listen to the message of Jesus, and I hope that this quiz will assist us have fun the distinctive methods God designed us and provides us extra confidence to share that hope.
Here’s a fast overview of the six religion sharing profiles:
- Intentional disciples: Those that like to journey with others.
- Workforce gamers: Those that share their religion collectively.
- Open the connectors: Those that are at all times prepared for a God-centered dialog.
- Revealers of Compassion: Those that imagine actions communicate louder than phrases.
- Sharing life: These with a narrative to inform.
- Bible revelators: Those that see the gospel as pressing.
You may take the quiz right here: https://www.sharejesusinternational.com/sj-quiz/ When you full the quiz, you’ll achieve insights and concepts that will help you share Jesus extra successfully.
Andy Frost is the director of Share Jesus Worldwide and works with the Take care of the Household on the Kitchen Desk Challenge, serving to mother and father and carers develop religion within the residence. He’s the presenter of the brand new useful resource 'Kids's Religion: a complete church strategy to household ministry' accessible at https://kitchentable.org.uk/church/wholechurchapproach/
