Witnessing is Like the Game of Golf...

This week’s blog post was written by Art Temmesfeld, one of our elders.

What is it that keeps some Christians from sharing their faith?

Not knowing how?

A lack of opportunity?

Fear they will turn people off?

These are some reasons believers give for failure to tell others about Jesus, but have we developed a wrong idea about evangelism? Have we set up a “straw man” that blocks our way to more effective witness for Christ?

In other words, do you have to be a “Billy Graham” to share your faith with others?

Honestly, very few of us have the gift of evangelism like Billy, and even if our church were filled with evangelists, would it guarantee healthy growth? What about those who have other gifts like teaching, administration, encouragement, and helping? They’re also vital to the growth of the church, but if you don’t have the “gift of evangelism,” does that get you off the hook?

The First Century church grew not just from the witness of the high-powered preachers and teachers, but also because ordinary people like you and me told others about what Christ was doing in their lives (see Acts 11:19-24). It grew as the early Christians developed relationships with not-yet-Christians, and as these friendships grew, they sought opportunities to share what Christ had done in their lives.

In his book, God Space, Doug Pollock gives a number of practical suggestions on how you can create an atmosphere in your conversations that will leave people open to talk about spiritual things. “God space” is not created by high-pressure techniques or even by memorizing set formulas or canned approaches to share the Gospel, but by asking a few “wondering” questions, then listening to people’s responses.

As we listen carefully to people (sometimes this means we listen more than we talk!), we discern what their needs, thoughts and attitudes are, and we are better prepared to share the right word at the right time. Proverbs 25:11 says, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.”

What if people don’t respond to our conversation by putting their faith in Christ right away? Have we failed somehow?

Not really. Doug notes that it takes an average of 5.7 contacts with Christians before the average non-Christian comes to faith in Christ.

Doug compares witnessing to the game of golf: Some of us are there to make the first contact by “driving off the tee.” Others make fairway shots. Some drive the ball out of the rough or a bunker. Some chip the ball on to the green, but only the final putt gets the ball into the cup! Some of us are fortunate to be the ones to “putt the ball into the cup.” Most of us are just hitting the ball on the fairway, but every shot is important! There are very few “holes in one” in this game!

If you are unsure of how to share your faith but would like to, may I suggest you pick up a copy of God Space by Doug Pollock and give it a try!

(God Space is available on our Discipleship Resource shelf outside the Family Life Center.)

Persevere,
Art Temmesfeld
Elder