Online Evangelism

[Hopefully]

““Listen! I am sending you, and you will be like sheep among wolves. So be smart like snakes. But also be like doves and don’t hurt anyone.

When you are arrested, don’t worry about what to say or how you should say it. At that time you will be given the words to say. It will not really be you speaking; the Spirit of your Father will be speaking through you.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10:16, 19-20‬ ‭

We are to avoid all things which give advantage to our enemies, all appearance of evil or selfishness, and all underhand measures. Christ foretold troubles, not only that the troubles might not be a surprise, but that they might confirm our faith. He tells us what they should suffer, and from whom. 

It is our duty, not only to believe in Christ, but to profess that faith, in suffering for him, when we are called to it, as well as in serving him.

It appears plainly that all who live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution, and we must expect to enter into the kingdom of God through many tribulations.

With the predictions of trouble we also have counsels and comforts for our times of trial. Believing  these counsels of the end of our troubles will be of great use to support us when under them. 

 The disciples of Christ must think more how to do well, than how to speak well. When under great peril, the disciples of Christ may go out of the way of danger, but they must not go out of the way of duty. No sinful, unlawful means may be used to escape; because then it is not a door of God's opening.

The fear of man brings a snare that disturbs our peace; an attempt to drawn us sin; therefore, it must be striven and prayed against. 

When God calls us to speak for him, we may depend on him to teach us what to say.

Christ does not say that we deserve a reward; for we cannot merit any thing from the hand of God; but we will receive a reward from the free gift of God. Let us boldly confess Christ, and show love to him in all things.
 

 

 

 

[Sower]

1 hour ago, Hopefully said:

 The disciples of Christ must think more how to do well, than how to speak well.

Well done
is better than
Well said.......

[Lolly]

1 hour ago, Hopefully said:

““Listen! I am sending you, and you will be like sheep among wolves. So be smart like snakes. But also be like doves and don’t hurt anyone.

When you are arrested, don’t worry about what to say or how you should say it. At that time you will be given the words to say. It will not really be you speaking; the Spirit of your Father will be speaking through you.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10:16, 19-20‬ ‭

We are to avoid all things which give advantage to our enemies, all appearance of evil or selfishness, and all underhand measures. Christ foretold troubles, not only that the troubles might not be a surprise, but that they might confirm our faith. He tells us what they should suffer, and from whom. 

It is our duty, not only to believe in Christ, but to profess that faith, in suffering for him, when we are called to it, as well as in serving him.

It appears plainly that all who live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution, and we must expect to enter into the kingdom of God through many tribulations.

With the predictions of trouble we also have counsels and comforts for our times of trial. Believing  these counsels of the end of our troubles will be of great use to support us when under them. 

 The disciples of Christ must think more how to do well, than how to speak well. When under great peril, the disciples of Christ may go out of the way of danger, but they must not go out of the way of duty. No sinful, unlawful means may be used to escape; because then it is not a door of God's opening.

The fear of man brings a snare that disturbs our peace; an attempt to drawn us sin; therefore, it must be striven and prayed against. 

When God calls us to speak for him, we may depend on him to teach us what to say.

Christ does not say that we deserve a reward; for we cannot merit any thing from the hand of God; but we will receive a reward from the free gift of God. Let us boldly confess Christ, and show love to him in all things.
 

 

 

 

Amen

[Hopefully]

Also I used commentary from Matthew Henry to put this thought together. 

[Arrabon]

5 hours ago, Hopefully said:

It is our duty, not only to believe in Christ, but to profess that faith

What I love about our faith @Hopefully, is that the idea of "DUTY", "RESPONSIBILITY", SHOULD DO'S and "MUST DO'S," to be or do something for, or because of Christ, is just where we begin our faith as baby Christians, and we don't stay there in a "LEGALISTIC" or "RULE KEEPING" mentality forever. PRAISE GOD!!

For me, "GODLY LOVE" becomes the theme of our faith in later years, such as my own, and replaces the idea of "DUTY" and "RESPOSIBILITY", with love for our Savior and Redeemer and others, as we move from the "MILK of the word to the "Meat" of the word, not just in knowledge, but in the way that knowledge changes our lives to move past the "Milk," and into the "MEAT" of  our Christ centered living, living out His word, and words, in "GODLY LOVE" and "GODLY KINDNESS", never again to feel the weight of "DUTY" or "RESPONSIBILITY" again, but rather to feel that FREEDOM IN CHRIST, to live among everyone we know and meet, in Christ's love, in our actions of love and words of loving kindness.

Matthew 11:28-30

28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light.”

Not just a verse for unbelievers, but a loving verse for believers who are still bound by teachings that put the burden of "LEGALISM" and "RULE KEEPING" on them in a culture still not acquainted with the freedom Christs love can bring to us all. 

God bless you all,

Arrabon

Edited May 15, 2021 by Arrabon

[Sower]

3 hours ago, Arrabon said:

What I love about our faith @Hopefully, is that the idea of "DUTY", "RESPONSIBILITY", SHOULD DO'S and "MUST DO'S," to be or do something for, or because of Christ, is just where we begin our faith as baby Christians, and we don't stay there in a "LEGALISTIC" or "RULE KEEPING" mentality forever. PRAISE GOD!!

For me, "GODLY LOVE" becomes the theme of our faith in later years, such as my own, and replaces the idea of "DUTY" and "RESPOSIBILITY", with love for our Savior and Redeemer and others, as we move from the "MILK of the word to the "Meat" of the word, not just in knowledge, but in the way that knowledge changes our lives to move past the "Milk," and into the "MEAT" of  our Christ centered living, living out His word, and words, in "GODLY LOVE" and "GODLY KINDNESS", never again to feel the weight of "DUTY" or "RESPONSIBILITY" again, but rather to feel that FREEDOM IN CHRIST, to live among everyone we know and meet, in Christ's love, in our actions of love and words of loving kindness.

Matthew 11:28-30

28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light.”

Not just a verse for unbelievers, but a loving verse for believers who are still bound by teachings that put the burden of "LEGALISM" and "RULE KEEPING" on them in a culture still not acquainted with the freedom Christs love can bring to us all. 

God bless you all,

Arrabon

Hello Arrabon

Concerning the OP, "Online Evangelism', how does what you posted help you to evangelize the lost.
Do you believe resting in Jesus is our total calling, or do you purpose, to seek someway,  to share the gospel.
Some believe a Godly walk is their testimony, and enough of a witness.
I ask trying to learn from others like yourself  on this forum what they do to spread the gospel.
Do you have a special way that has worked for you. Something specific we/others can learn by.
Thank you for your post, and sharing your thoughts, brother.
 

[Arrabon]

1 hour ago, Sower said:

Hello Arrabon

Concerning the OP, "Online Evangelism', how does what you posted help you to evangelize the lost.
Do you believe resting in Jesus is our total calling, or do you purpose, to seek someway,  to share the gospel.
Some believe a Godly walk is their testimony, and enough of a witness.
I ask trying to learn from others like yourself  on this forum what they do to spread the gospel.
Do you have a special way that has worked for you. Something specific we/others can learn by.
Thank you for your post, and sharing your thoughts, brother.
 

@Sower

These questions of yours are some of the best questions I have ever been asked. THANK YOU!! I AM IMPRESSED .

I have no magical answers or formula.

After God called me and I answered, I first began serving in the church. You know, simple things like greeting those arriving for service, then the pastor added seating people, and serving communion and so on, and the first thing I knew I was being ordained as a deacon. What's funny is I didn't even know what a deacon was at the time.

After that I got into God using me starting ministries and leading them one by one over the years as God called me. Never my idea. Ministries always came by someone asking me. When a ministry ended, I just waited on God and eventually someone would ask.

I worked with the homeless for over 12 years after God called me to that, and then lead men's bible studies, and preached part time at several churches, and did several online ministries for years.

I think that what worked for me, and made all the difference, was that God knew my heart, and that I was willing to do whatever he called me to.

I was extremely grateful for Him calling me to Himself, as He saved my life from sin and hell, so what would I turn down from someone who broke the bondage of sin and gave me a new life and have the freedom that goes with it?

Now, nearly 80 years old, and after a 7 year hiatus for a desert teaching experience with the Lord, led by the Holy Spirit, I started feeling edgy after COVID-19 came on us and I couldn't go to the gym and be active, so I started walking the neighborhood several times a day to stay slim and healthy, to go along with my healthy eating habits, and one day while walking I started meeting neighbors I had never met before, very nice people as it turned out, and as I got to know them and developed some trust, they started opening up about the other side of their life, the painful side, so one day I said to this one lady whose husband just had heart surgery and she was very worried, I said to her, would you mind if I pray for him and for you to?

Surprisingly, she said she would really appreciate it, and then I heard this familiar voice in my head, some people call it a strong impression, that said to me, you have a new ministry now, that I had been praying for, for some time, but waiting on the Lord patiently.

Nearly 20 years, I prayed to God about wanting to love Him more and learn how to kindly love others more as God says we need to practice, with His help.

None of this has ever been a burden, but instead a joy, because God was/is always there making sure my life was just as He had planned, long before my birth.

I never had to find a way to serve Him, he just knew my heart and that I was willing to care about people and try to make their life better by being kind and loving.

I was never perfect at it, but have gotten better as I have come to understand over time what a hurting world we live in, and how much people just need caring people in their lives who they can trust, and sometimes depend on. 

God knows who needs to hear what you have to share about Christ, and will bring those people to us. We just need to be prepared with the right answers;

1 Peter 3:15

"but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready with an answer for everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, but with gentleness and respect;" and

2 Timothy 4:2 

"preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and exhort, with great patience and instruction."

I'm not sure if that has helped you much, but it's how I have lived the last 40 some years of my life. The one thing I have found is people need authentic love and caring and kindness, and giving them those things genuinly and honestly may give you a chance to share Christ and maybe allow Christ to save their life as he did you and me.

God bless you @Sower

Arrabon.

 

Edited May 15, 2021 by Arrabon

[Sower]

1 hour ago, Arrabon said:

I have no magical answers or formula.

Nor do I have any.
Thank you much, as you have answered my questions well.
The simple walking through your neighborhood due to loss of the gym, turned into a neat blessing to share compassion
and prayers, and possibly the gospel to strangers. A neighborhood mission field, almost right at your own door.
I live in the rural countryside where neighbors are not real close, but close enough for a really good walk. I hadn't considered the
possibility of encountering someone in conversation on the road, but I could just leave that up to God to work out.
I do have many postal workers, Fed Ex and UPS, Amazon and lumber truck drivers come daily to our business's.
We put a small fridge in the shop for bottled cold water for them when delivering, and that gives them pause enough to
 get acquainted and possible future seed planting. The thing I have noticed is how so many are anxious about the covid sickness and the potential loss of work/job. Many are ready to hear testimony of how after my wife and I became  a Christians, God has given us peace and has always supplied all our needs. They seem ready to hear about hope, and our testifying of God's provisions for His children. My daughter was blessed to lead one young postal worker to scriptural understanding for belief in the gospel last year.
My wife and I have sown many seeds, and continue to seek ways to better get the word out. Like this forum.
When appropriate, I give them a small 'bible promises' book, with scriptures organized in sections about different subjects, like 
worry, comfort courage forgiveness and the holy spirit, hope joy love, sin and eternity, repentance, salvation plan, etc.
They seem to like those as they can look up just what they are concerned about. Over a thousand scriptures.
Pocket book size, cheap on Ebay, new or used, always have at least a dozen on hand to give away,with a small new testament bible.
I personally never push for a profession, and tell them that has got to be between them and God, and must be sincere.
I leave the results to God, who is the only one who saves anyway.
I appreciate your response, Arrabon, and methods of planting seed. Perhaps others will also share what ways they have shared the word with others.
I continue to consider the faithful loyal believer who told me, a total stranger, the good news.
So simple to do with the holy spirit leading, yet actually a pearl of such great price.

 

[Arrabon]

@Sower

ABSOLUTELY the best post of "ACTIVE FAITH" I have read on any forum. Even I needed to hear your post. Thank you.

Many years ago I found the need during my own busy life, to have a balanced life between providing for ourselves and our families,  studying God's word, and finding a way to be an active part of my community that can bring honor to God and bring loving kindness to all those in my life, and at times be blessed as you are to share some things about Gods loving goodness that may lead a person eventually to believe and be saved by God.

That balance that I speak of was always changing and challenging to stay focused on. Probably like that for you.

What your doing at your business is exactly what God would call a person to do, or in your case, a whole family to do, and it takes so little effort to do, and brings comfort, and a bit of time for rest in their crazy, busy days, to those delivery drivers coming to your business.

A perfect example of caring, and loving comfort that we all need so badly in these crazy, uneasy days of never knowing what tomorrow holds, without any hope for the future for their jobs, their families and their lives.

Plus, you give many here who read your post a great example of being a great GODLY husband and great GODLY father with the entire family involved in serving, that will gain great rewards in the kingdom, and in your own heart, watching your family serve our dear God, and His children he loves, coming to your house each day.

You have a beautiful loving heart my friend, and I'm honored to have been able to speak with you, and hear your story of Gods love and kindness, being alive and well in your family - PRAISE GOD !!

My name is Arrabon

[Hopefully]

In today’s world, the use of technology is rampant, and now more than ever, people are using it to communicate. So why not use this technology for the glory of God. If you are thinking of online evangelism here are some tips I found online: 

Be direct and to the point. People usually don’t spend a lot of time reading long articles, but they might take the time to read a short comment or post.

Be natural. Sometimes we are so eager to share the gospel that we write too abruptly and without good connecting words or thoughts. When the gospel is presented abruptly, it can look like we were just waiting to pounce on someone. 

Many see Church as a place, but online we have the opportunity to show them its so much more. Look for simple ways to alter their previous perspective about God. And welcome any questions, or misinterpretations they have. People need to know they can be met where they are, not forced to something they don’t really believe yet. 
 

Pray for opportunities to witness. Prayer will also help us grow in evangelistic fervor. 

1. And remember, practice makes perfect! The more you do, it the easier it will become.

Last but not least!

Don’t give up when your online experience with evangelism didn’t go as planned.