Comments on: You Stink at Evangelism

By: I Stink, I Cry « To the saints at Concord…

I Stink, I Cry « To the saints at Concord… — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:12:32 +0000

[...] posted some insightful thoughts about evangelism. Today I follow in his wake by agreeing that I stink at evangelism and that this father’s conversion brought tears to my eyes. Oh, how I long for God to use [...]

By: christian cowboy

christian cowboy — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 18:46:31 +0000

Chad, put the word out it will not return empty

By: Allan

Allan — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:59:42 +0000

I ended up here via a link on the Phoenix Preacher. This article was interesting for me. I imagine there are some who would be quick to be all over the evangelist who is spoken of who don’t do much at all to reach the lost.

What you shared about Jesus being the perfect evangelist and the rest of us fall short of Him told me that an honest effort to share the Gospel is our part and the rest we leave to God.

I was thinking a bit about what kind of person would deliver such a message. Maybe it was a believer who is battling mental illness. Maybe schizophrenia. And the note in question was the best that person could do and their heart was in the right place.

Such a person would have overcome a lot to do that and I’d like to think God would have been well pleased with the bad evangelism. God bless!

By: brad

brad — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 22:31:34 +0000

Joe, you are dead on. It’s clear that the “evangelist” was cowardly, but it’s just as possible that this poor soul is haunted by all those verses which call on us to prove our faith by preaching and living the Word. I’m struck by the lack of compassion Christians often have for a guy like this because so often it’s people like this who are in the deepest bondage – who are transfixed on God’s wrath and are constantly tormented by slavish fears and uncontrollable anger. Luther, Wesley, Spurgeon, Edwards…pick your favorite Christian hero..all wrestled with these things before finding Jesus.

By: Joe Thorn

Joe Thorn — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 02:45:39 +0000

I agree Chad. And I don’t even think he get’s a high five for trying – it’s our duty and privilege to tell others about Jesus. Like Chris Rock would say, you don’t get credit for the stuff you’re supposed to do. But I like that he’s trying, and I hope that he’ll do better.

My main point, and thought in all of this, is simply 1. I’m glad God is sovereign and can use bad presentations (this doesn’t excuse the bad presentation, but gives me hope) and 2. Let’s all actually take the initiative to actually tell others the truth about Jesus.

By: Chad

Chad — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 02:15:45 +0000

That is amazing. Sure, he gets a high five for trying. The problem with trying in a completely wrong way, is that it quite possibly does a greater offense to the gospel.

I can imagine an unsaved person in their car, receiving the Evengeletter™ and thinking how creepy and out of touch with society Christians must be.

Not the way to evangelize in any way shape or form. Huge party foul.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 00:32:21 +0000

Joe – I know it is your blog – I didn’t mean to disrespect you or anything.

By: Rita Martinez

Rita Martinez — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 23:34:07 +0000

hahaha awesome! It sounds like one of my attempts at evangelism once which actually made an impact on the person…I was in a cab and felt the urge to witness to this person but I was too shy to say anything I had an empty foam cup in my hand and a pen in my pocket, I took out my pen and wrote a similar message on the sides of the cup as I walked out of the car I said: “could you do me the biggest favor ever!” he said “sure” I handed him the cup and said “read this!” and left…months later, I got that same cab again cause I usually call the same cab company…and he remembered me! and said he had joined a youth group and was trying to go to church and do good things…that gave me the opportunity to speak to him about salvation by grace alone, apart from works. I’ve never seen him since. Hope the Lord finally saved him.

By: Marcelo

Marcelo — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 21:13:44 +0000

I stink at personal evangelism!
If it weren’t for the realities of God’s sovereignty expressed on this post, I don’t know that I could bear the burden of not being ISO clever, so attractive, so smart, so articulate, so funny, so …. I praise God He let’s me know that I’m preaching to corpses and unless Eph.2:4 happens, they will not hear it. I go in knowing it’s crazy and only a miracle will make it happen. That takes the burden of performance off my shoulders and I end up evangelizing out of my pursuit of joy in Him.

By: jessica

jessica — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:14:36 +0000

amen.

[haha @ danny!]

the format of this site is delightful and happiness-inducing. as well as the photos.