One more word of encouragement. Why not use some of your extra time during the summer to focus on sharing the good news of God- the gospel? Below is a list of some ideas on how to be intentional with evangelism this summer (taken from Southern Seminary 2013 Summer Challenge).
- Join a community athletic program or summer sports league and interact with non-believers with whom you can share the gospel.
- Invite a non-believing friend/coworker/neighbor out for coffee and share the Gospel through casual conversation.
- Organize a summer book club and read a book that explains the Gospel or contains Gospel themes, such as Reason for God, by Tim Keller. Advertise at bookstores, coffee shops, and local stores.
- Volunteer at a local soup kitchen and share the Gospel with those you meet.
- Put together a community Worship/Bible Study (i.e. Answering hard questions, apologetics etc.)
- Invite someone or a group of people to attend a church service with you. Offer to drive.
- Build relationships with others by going to dinner, movies, etc. and having intentional gospel conversations.
- Strategically schedule your weekly activities in a way that makes you have intentional moments with those non-believers around you. Be willing to get out of your comfort zone.
- Visit your neighbors, asking how they need prayer, and offer to pray with them.
- Challenge yourself to share the Gospel at stores, restaurants, clubs, or even gas stations you visit regularly.
- Display Christ through your daily attitude. Be intentional about the way you answer simple questions such as “How are you?” (i.e. Tell the truth about how God has blessed you recently, or explain, in appropriate measure, how God’s grace is helping you to get through difficult circumstances)
- Use a church/personal vehicle to drive around your area to meet people, take prayer requests, and engage others with the gospel.
- Offer to take a co-worker out to eat one day to hear their story and to get to know them better. Offer to share your personal life-story and use your testimony to clearly articulate the work of the gospel in your life.
- Volunteer in a ministry at the church where you would not normally be active; particularly one in which you feel you can best share the Gospel. Step out of your comfort zone.
- Volunteer at a local nursing home and share the Gospel with residents.
- Serve at a local summer camp some and share the Gospel with campers.
- For those working at a café or restaurant, invite Christian friends/church members to do a regular bible study or fellowship at your place of work, getting to know your coworkers. Follow up with your coworkers and use this as an opportunity to voice your prayers for them and share the Gospel.
- When you tip your waiter, leave a track or note with the Gospel on it and with addresses to local churches and numbers to contact pastors. Tip well.
- When on vacation, leave a Gospel track or note encouraging the housekeeping staff that will be cleaning the room.
- Within your work place, neighborhood, or family, find opportunities to distribute Bibles to those you have had conversations with about the Gospel.
- Invite a lost neighbor to join you as you walk the dog, go on a run, or participate in other outdoor activities. Use the opportunity to strategically share the Gospel.
- Put an ad in the local newspaper with an article about the Gospel. Encourage those who do not know Jesus to follow up using the contact information you have provided in the ad.
- On a weekly basis, ask your pastor how you can help him share the Gospel in the community.
- In your family, lead a daily devotion time for your wife/husband and kids and encourage them to share the Gospel. Take them out to share the gospel in an appropriate context listed above.
- Find someone in your church who is new to faith that you can mentor/disciple for the summer. Bring them along to share the gospel in one of the above contexts.
No comments:
Post a Comment