Mistake

Don’t Quit Sharing Your Faith When You Make This Mistake When Evangelizing

Peter Guirguis Evangelism 6 Comments

Sometimes when you’re sharing your faith with others, you’ll find yourself getting discouraged.

That’s because your expectations have probably not been set correctly by some of the evangelism teachings of today, or because very few people are talking about this subject that you’re going to read about.

Having the right expectations and seeing the big picture is one of the most important things that will help you share your faith for the rest of your life.

You can read any of the social media and evangelism tips on this blog, share your faith a couple of times, and then feel like you have fulfilled your quota for witnessing to people.

But that is far from where God wants you to be.

The enemy is constantly trying to get you to shut up about your faith but you have to speak out to as many people as possible.

So how do you overcome this problem when it comes to making sure your expectations are set straight?  Here’s the solution.

Are Your Evangelism Expectations The Same as Mine Used to Be [story]?

I remember sitting in the main sanctuary of our church hearing a street evangelist preach a message on how we need to go out and share the gospel.

He was a gifted evangelist that had an infectious enthusiasm to his passion.

I got all fired up by his message that night and decided that I was sick and tired of just sitting in the pew and doing nothing about sharing my faith.

So afterwards, I began to study more about how to share Christ with people.  

I began to fight against my fear and step out in faith.

I began to pass out gospel tracts on the streets and I began to strike conversations about the subject of eternity with strangers.

I was surprised to find that my conversations with people didn’t lead them to get on their knees in the middle of the street and to repent.

How come no one was coming to Christ through my newly begun evangelism ministry?

Surely, I must be a failure.  Surely I should just give up.

The Right and Wrong Expectations When Evangelizing

Peter repenting

Me, on my knees, repenting

 

You see, so many of us believe that when we share the gospel, tens of people are going to get on their knees, repent on the spot and put their faith in Christ.

But that’s not the case and the Bible specifically addresses this issue in John 4:34-38.  Check out what Jesus has to say:

“My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’?

Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!

And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.

For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”

Based on this passage we learn five lessons:

1)  Evangelism is just like farming, the seed has to be planted and then watered in order for the seed to bear fruit.

2)  Effective evangelism involves both people who plant seeds and people who reap the harvest.

3)  You may be called to plant seeds in people which means you will not see immediate fruit until later when you go to heaven.

4)  You may be called to reap the harvest which means you will see immediate fruit and be greatly encouraged.

5)  Both the sower and the reaper get a reward from God for their labor.

The Bottom Line

The bottom line is don’t get discouraged if people don’t come to faith every time you share the gospel.

You are sowing a gospel seed in someone’s life and you’ll know the final result of your labor when you get to heaven.

Be faithful

 

[Image credits to Kelly Sikkema]

 

Comments 6

  1. Hello Peter. This is truly inspirational. We are focused on evangelism in our Church. Can I share this blog on our bulletin with credit to you?

  2. Pingback: Heaven: Do Good People of Other Faiths Go There?

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