Long studies or just preach the plan of salvation or both?
Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 6:22 pm
Since it has been slow, I thought I would pose a question about evangelism to you who are check to see if anything is going on.
This question could take us in many avenues depending on who answers.
When talking with a person about Christ, specifically teaching about obedience to the gospel, there is some confrontation in the church about how one is to go about doing this. Some teach that one must asks certain questions about things in order to obtain a study as to teach one about the scripture. Certainly we understand this because of all the different views out there. But what if someone asks "How is one saved" should there be an attempt to ask open questions to try to motivate this person to want to study or should we just tell them what they need to hear, that is how to obey the gospel?
I reflect back to scripture and I see examples of this question being asked, it seems that those who asked had the right heart and mind because most of the occassions show that the indeed obeyed.
The point I guess is this: should we spend time doing long studies slowly trying to help someone understand, helping them cultivate their hearts to the point of true soil so that the seed will be firmly planted or do we just preach the message of Christ and if they are ready they will obey. Maybe it is a little of both, I don't know. I understand that God wants people that are willing to take the time to get to know Him, I do not believe that the bible teaches street corner conversion. Only because repentance sometimes takes a long time to understand and to obey. A love for God has to be developed in the persons mind and heart and we know that the word does this. I spend hours upon hours teaching lost people about the bible using a good system only to realize that most do not obey. I understand the idea of a narrow gate, I also understand its not about check marks for me, but planting seeds for the future, scattering them abroad, letting them fall were they lay.
The point a guess is when do you move on to new people, what is the most effective way to help people in this manner, we want to motivate people to be obedient Christians rooted deep with in scripture.
Any thought out there?
This question could take us in many avenues depending on who answers.
When talking with a person about Christ, specifically teaching about obedience to the gospel, there is some confrontation in the church about how one is to go about doing this. Some teach that one must asks certain questions about things in order to obtain a study as to teach one about the scripture. Certainly we understand this because of all the different views out there. But what if someone asks "How is one saved" should there be an attempt to ask open questions to try to motivate this person to want to study or should we just tell them what they need to hear, that is how to obey the gospel?
I reflect back to scripture and I see examples of this question being asked, it seems that those who asked had the right heart and mind because most of the occassions show that the indeed obeyed.
The point I guess is this: should we spend time doing long studies slowly trying to help someone understand, helping them cultivate their hearts to the point of true soil so that the seed will be firmly planted or do we just preach the message of Christ and if they are ready they will obey. Maybe it is a little of both, I don't know. I understand that God wants people that are willing to take the time to get to know Him, I do not believe that the bible teaches street corner conversion. Only because repentance sometimes takes a long time to understand and to obey. A love for God has to be developed in the persons mind and heart and we know that the word does this. I spend hours upon hours teaching lost people about the bible using a good system only to realize that most do not obey. I understand the idea of a narrow gate, I also understand its not about check marks for me, but planting seeds for the future, scattering them abroad, letting them fall were they lay.
The point a guess is when do you move on to new people, what is the most effective way to help people in this manner, we want to motivate people to be obedient Christians rooted deep with in scripture.
Any thought out there?