Authentic Evangelism-Part 2
The short excerpt is continued from last week by former Greystone counselor Heather Brown Holleman, and the Scripture is Colossians 4:5-6 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Does it bother you that I talk so much about Jesus? I asked one neighbor one day. No! Keep talking about Jesus, she said. I love hearing about Him.
Within a few months, we started asking families to join us at out church. One family comes regularly, and the wife has become a Christian. Her Atheist husband joins her at our church and loves it. He has started to read his Bible daily to learn more about Christianity. Another family comes to our church once a month because on Sunday they normally maintain a meditation schedule as part of their Yoga commitment. But just recently, that family asked me to pray in the name of Jesus for the wife to figure out what was making her feel so sick everyday. I prayed for that neighbor on the phone and in my living room, and that night, I was in my kitchen and I remembered something I had read in a book about thyroid imbalances. Sure enough, that neighbor was suffering from a hormone imbalance that she could correct. When I showed her the book, she called all her friends to tell them that Jesus supernaturally revealed the sickness to her so she could get well.
There are so many more stories of natural, authentic evangelism happening with our neighbors. Everyday, the Lord is teaching us more and more about His plan to draw people to Himself. When our goal is to love our neighbors, God enters into that space naturally. The initial goal was not to preach the gospel. The goal was a fitness group to love and serve the neighbors. And in that place, God has allowed us to preach the gospel. We have learned to listen to others stories, ask good questions, remain silent until God prompts us to speak, and to openly share with others-as if they already were believers-the great things that Jesus offers.
Champions, have a great week!-David Vining
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