I believe we stress out too much over that question / concern ... the Lord tells us “When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say.” (Matthew 19:18) That does not mean that we should not prepare ... but we cannot let our fear of not being prepared get in the way. Pray! and then get out of your own way.
My evangelization revolves around my own testimony of how I came into a relationship with God because I know of no other way of connecting with God. Others speak for themselves.
Testimony is always a great way to evangelize. How God has touched your life may be how others desire Him to touch theirs as well. Even the beauty of His encounter with you will be sufficient to make them realize the opportunity for more in their own lives. However, there are other things that point to God and the story He wrote into creation as well. The more used the merrier. Draw them in with you, this is the goal. Testimony certainly accomplishes this well. God Bless.
There are other things that point to God; but how to relate to the God that they point to is found in Divine Revelation. The Bible is the best place to find instruction on how relate to the Biblical God. Verses that I found relevant include: 1Peter 5:5-7; James 4: 6-10; Philippians 4:6-7; Romans 6:13; Proverbs 3:5-6; Matthew 6:25-34, 11:28-30; 26.41; Psalms 37:7, 55:22; Isaiah 26:3-4, 30:15, 55:6-9; Galatians 5:16-26; John 6:63. You’re not going to find this type of instruction in too many other places.
Indeed, but the fact remains God is already moving in the hearts of those He draws to himself. This is why Deacon Mueller say we overthink this too much. Further, this is why it is possible to come to God without knowledge or credence of scripture or even by someone sharing with us how God drew them. From the beginning, God made all things good as we see in Genesis and further that we are made in His image and likeness as all sons and daughters are to their parents. All of creation points back to God, our sin can blind us to it, but whenever we give Him opportunity to move in our hearts with His grace, He will reveal the way to Him. Our concept of Evangelization takes this as a foundational principle, that God sometimes gives us a role in His mission, but the mission was His to begin with. I also appreciate the spectrum of the Bible verses you presented; I will have to spend some time praying about them. They do in fact describe a lot of the key parts of the Kerygma (the irresistible expression of God's loving call and intentions). This is some great conversation. God's peace be upon you, brother.
Faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17). This is how God reveals the way. We are ambassadors for Christ when we evangelize His Divine Revelation (2Corinthians 5:20).
I believe we stress out too much over that question / concern ... the Lord tells us “When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say.” (Matthew 19:18) That does not mean that we should not prepare ... but we cannot let our fear of not being prepared get in the way. Pray! and then get out of your own way.
Amen :)
My evangelization revolves around my own testimony of how I came into a relationship with God because I know of no other way of connecting with God. Others speak for themselves.
Testimony is always a great way to evangelize. How God has touched your life may be how others desire Him to touch theirs as well. Even the beauty of His encounter with you will be sufficient to make them realize the opportunity for more in their own lives. However, there are other things that point to God and the story He wrote into creation as well. The more used the merrier. Draw them in with you, this is the goal. Testimony certainly accomplishes this well. God Bless.
There are other things that point to God; but how to relate to the God that they point to is found in Divine Revelation. The Bible is the best place to find instruction on how relate to the Biblical God. Verses that I found relevant include: 1Peter 5:5-7; James 4: 6-10; Philippians 4:6-7; Romans 6:13; Proverbs 3:5-6; Matthew 6:25-34, 11:28-30; 26.41; Psalms 37:7, 55:22; Isaiah 26:3-4, 30:15, 55:6-9; Galatians 5:16-26; John 6:63. You’re not going to find this type of instruction in too many other places.
Indeed, but the fact remains God is already moving in the hearts of those He draws to himself. This is why Deacon Mueller say we overthink this too much. Further, this is why it is possible to come to God without knowledge or credence of scripture or even by someone sharing with us how God drew them. From the beginning, God made all things good as we see in Genesis and further that we are made in His image and likeness as all sons and daughters are to their parents. All of creation points back to God, our sin can blind us to it, but whenever we give Him opportunity to move in our hearts with His grace, He will reveal the way to Him. Our concept of Evangelization takes this as a foundational principle, that God sometimes gives us a role in His mission, but the mission was His to begin with. I also appreciate the spectrum of the Bible verses you presented; I will have to spend some time praying about them. They do in fact describe a lot of the key parts of the Kerygma (the irresistible expression of God's loving call and intentions). This is some great conversation. God's peace be upon you, brother.
Faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17). This is how God reveals the way. We are ambassadors for Christ when we evangelize His Divine Revelation (2Corinthians 5:20).