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Authentic Evangelism

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes…”¹

If you are on social media, you have probably seen someone recommending a product or place they had a good experience with, or you will see someone asking for recommendations for certain services. The other day I had a friend recommend a restaurant they had recently visited. They said the food was amazing and although I have not personally gone yet, I am much more likely to go because I know my friend enjoyed it. People are more likely to try something if they know a friend has had a good experience with it. It is our personal story or experience that motivates or encourages others to try it for themselves.

This led me to think… If we are so good at sharing our experiences with others, why then do some folks feel embarrassed when it comes to sharing the gospel with others? Why do we struggle so much to share what God has done in our lives and believe that God can do something great in someone else’s life as well? When posting about a restaurant, we don’t withhold from posting just because someone may not like that style of food, but when it comes to Christianity, suddenly it seems like we become cautious of what others will think or say, so we decide not to share. This shouldn’t be so, my friends.

Paul was not ashamed of the gospel. He not only wrote about it, but he lived it boldly. The Jews and Romans wanted him silenced, he was under constant oppression, and was eventually killed. None of this ever diminished his passion for sharing the gospel. He knew his time on this earth was temporary, and he felt the sense of urgency to share Jesus with others by building relationships with them and sharing the amazing transformation God had done in his personal life.

As Christians, this is the boldness and passion we need to have as well. Evangelism styles vary from person to person, but the goal should always be to share the Good News of Jesus. We have seen how important recommendations or referrals are in our society, which means that people are looking to hear personal experiences. They want to hear your story! Pray for God to give you opportunities to share, do so boldly and authentically, and watch the power of God work in the lives of others.

Suggested prayer: Dear God, please give me the passion and boldness to share your gospel with others. I have seen you at work in my life in so many ways, so I ask that you help me be genuine and open to letting those stories be used by you in reaching someone for your glory today. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

1. Romans 1:16 (NIV).

Today's Encounter was written by: Crystal B.