Witnessing to non-believers!

[Smilez99]

I am sooo discouraged b/c it seems that I am able to only plant the "seed" w/ the non-believers I know. I do know about the scripture that deals w/ how some will be planters & some will watch it grow, but I'm wanting to watch it grow.

*How do I go about doing this? Any scripture, etc.?

[Jay42]

I use very little scripture, if ever, when witnessing. I think scripture can sometimes be compelling to the unbeliever, and I surely would not forbid the use of scripture, but they also don't have their hearts ready to understand it.

So, I remember how I felt when I was unsaved. I remember many nights, feeling a void in my heart - when I felt like others had love and happiness. So when I witness to someone, I talk about this empty space in people's hearts. Sounds corny but everyone seems to agree it is there.

The scientist/mathematician Blaise Pascal was the first to say it back in the 1600s: "There is a God-shaped vacuum inside every man that only God can fill."

[Jay42]

I just re-read your post and saw you wanted scripture that teaches YOU how to witness; not scripture to share with the unsaved WHILE witnessing. :p

Okay - the one that affected me most was Paul's speech to the Greeks in Acts 17:

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Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.
23
For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.
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"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.
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And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.

Paul basically started the speech only after he was observant and tried to build on something that was familiar to the audience. A modern day version would probably go something like, "I see you listen to Creed a lot. I noticed they're kind of spiritual and talk a lot about feeling love from some higher power. I know for me, that higher power is from when I started really believing in God and I learned how to accept Jesus into my heart. Has anyone ever talked to you about that, or have you ever thought a lot about what you believe?"

Simultaneously, try to send silent prayers up to God and ask Him to give you the words to say!

[Revolution]

Originally posted by Smilez99
I'm wanting to watch it grow.

*How do I go about doing this? Any scripture, etc.?

Be what God wants you to be. Don't feel discouraged because God is using you in a different way to how you want to be used. God has a plan for you, and no matter what it looks like to you right now, believe in Him, follow His will, and you'll experience more joy than you can ever imagine. And that's a fact. :cool:

[Jay42]

Okay, I RE-re-read your first post, and with the help of Revolution's post I finally understand what you were asking!!!

You want to watch the seed grow in friends of yours who have been evangelized to. You want God to pick you to be the one to water these seeds.

Well, like Revolution said - just be true to God. And sometimes that does mean being bold. They will bring up issues of morality and church politics to subtly question what it's all about. You have an option to be real and to be faithful, or you can evade the questions or be fearful.

I think if these people are your friends, then you are already part of the watering process. But trust God to bring others into their lives to help them grow too. Don't take the whole world onto your shoulders there, Atlas. :)

[trhoke]

Originally posted by Smilez99
I am sooo discouraged b/c it seems that I am able to only plant the "seed" w/ the non-believers I know. I do know about the scripture that deals w/ how some will be planters & some will watch it grow, but I'm wanting to watch it grow.

*How do I go about doing this? Any scripture, etc.?

I used to grow discouraged when I would share the gospel and wouldn't get any results. Since then I've come to understand that I can save no one, I am just called to be obedient and share the gospel. The results, be what they may, are in God's hands. Only He can remove their rebellion, and replace it with a love for Himself.

[Chrysostom]

When quoting Scripture, i don't like the way that most people do it. Don't cite the reference and then quickly rush through it. Instead, memorize the Scripture in your heart and just speak the words as if they were your own. For instance:

"Well, Romans 3:23a says that for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God!" would be a not so good example.

"But all have sinned! We cannot match God's greatness and are unworthy of His glory!" is a better example.

*edit* no i'm not saying we shouldn't quote Scripture directly word-for-word. We should if it still makes as much sense in the context.

i believe that the best style of evangelism is love. Just meet the person and love them unconditionally. If you are living your life to God and for God alone, they will ask questions because things you do will not make sense under their current generally hedonistic worldview. Then, share with them the gift of Christ!

[Smilez99]

I haven't taken the opportunity to thank all of you for helping w/ me about witnessing to non-believers. So I am doing it now! If there is anything I can help y'all w/ let me know:) Thanks soo much & have a blessed 2002.

Aim

[Dice]

Isaiah 55
10 "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
11 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

Speak the word in full assurance of faith that it will accomplish what it was sent to do. Also check out this message I wrote on witnessing, it should be very helpful...

http://www.christoverme.com/love.html

[LittleSkittle]

Hello, smilez :D This is something I've struggled with too --

On my mission trip this summer, one of the things we did was visit a hospital. We had a guitar with us, and a couple of us decided to just go around through the women's ward singing to the patients and talking with them. There was this one woman (her name escapes me just now) who we sang to. She was curled up in her bed and did not speak to us at all - she seemed very afraid. But as we sang to her, her face filled with joy and she didn't seem as scared anymore. After awhile, everyone else wanted to go around to sing for the other women. I wanted to stay, but I felt that the wanting was of me, not of God...so we moved on.

Later on, I saw another girl from the mission team over speaking with this woman. I was relieved, thanking God that someone else had gone to her. But it wasn't until we were leaving the hospital that I realized what had happened - this woman had accepted Christ! Think of what might have happened if I had been stubborn and stayed there, instead of letting this other girl take over, as God had called her to do - she might not have accepted Christ! God spoke through another girl, giving her the right words.

That day, we prepared this woman's heart to hear the Word of God, while another was sent to plant the seed and reap the harvest.

God has a plan! He has a special job for each of us, and while you might yearn so greatly to see the seed you've planted grow, you have to trust God. He knows what He's doing ;) Just remember to listen for Him to speak to you, to let you know what His plans are for you!