Today I am thrilled to be beginning a new series! Friend Friday! Every Friday, there will be a guest post here at Simply Helping Him. To start things off Mindy from New Equus – A New Creation is with us! Thank you Mindy for kicking this off!
If you’re interested in being a part of my Friend Friday series, please send me an email @ simplyhelpinghim (at) gmail (dot) com
Authentic Evangelism 101
Did you know that you are an evangelist? Did you know that once you become a Christian you are called to be an evangelist? Does that sound a little scary or intimidating to you?
It’s really not.
An evangelist is someone who tells people about Christ and shares the good news of accepting Him as their savior.
That’s it.
No, you don’t have to have big hair and a television show to be an evangelist, you just have to love Christ and be willing to share Him with the people around you. If you’ve ever spoken to someone about Jesus and/or lead him or her to Christ, then you can call yourself an evangelist. Pretty simple, huh?
Here’s something else to consider:
You can evangelize with your actions as well if not better than with your words. Really? Evangelize with my actions? Sure thing!
As Christians, we’ve been set apart. We are to be in the world but not of it. We are to be Jesus in the skin.
1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 says “For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.”
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary says this about 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12: “Mildness and tenderness greatly recommend religion, and are most conformable to God’s gracious dealing with sinners, in and by the gospel. This is the way to win people. We should not only be faithful to our calling as Christians, but in our particular callings and relations. Our great gospel privilege is, that God has called us to his kingdom and glory. The great gospel duty is, that we walk worthy of God. We should live as becomes those called with such a high and holy calling. Our great business is to honor, serve, and please God, and to seek to be worthy of him.”
What type of testimony are you going to be if you “talk the talk” but don’t “walk the walk”? Are your words going to have any weight with Christians and non-Christians alike if you profess to have Jesus in your heart but act like you’ve never even heard of Him?
How authentic are you going to be?
I am in no way saying you need to be perfect. I am not perfect and about the only thing I am perfect at is being a perfect mess…and I even mess that up at times! And I am most certainly pointing this mirror back at myself, too. I am flesh and I don’t always demonstrate Christian love grace or mercy.
Actions DO speak louder than words. I am a work in progress. I know that I have to call on His help every minute of every day to keep me in this world but not of it.
I want to be the authentic evangelist that He has called me to be. I want people to hear AND see His words of love, grace and mercy spilling out of my mouth AND my actions. I want to have a “walk worthy of God”.
What does being an authentic evangelist look like to you? Is there anything else on your heart? Comment below so we can all share in the blessings!
Mindy Bowman is a Daughter of the King, a wife and mother. She and her hubby, Todd, wrangle seven kids, three dogs and a horse. Along with helping her hubby who is the Youth Pastor, she is in charge of the Social Media/Marketing Ministry for her church. Mindy blogs about God, life and family Monday through Friday at: New Equus – A New Creation. She can also be found occasionally killing time on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
18 comments
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A Little R & R
August 10, 2012 at 3:25 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Excellent article!!! Great points about evangelism. I particularly like how you point out that it is not a position to hold, but an action to be completed. Thanks for linking up at Mommy Teaches. I hope you come back and link up again. Blessings from Croatia: A Little R & R: http://www.littlerandr.org
simplyhelpinghim
August 11, 2012 at 8:45 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
So very true, it is an action! 🙂
Diane
August 8, 2012 at 4:17 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Wonderful guest blog! And SO true! I remember seeing a woman I attended church with on a non-church day. She was dressed and acting completely at odds with hers and my purported beliefs. What a shock! It was at that moment that I realized that one must, as you put it, ‘walk the walk’. Be an example of the Saviour all of the time. Even when you are not around those with similar beliefs. ESPECIALLY when you are around those who don’t share your beliefs. Thank you for sharing this marvellous message on NOBH!
simplyhelpinghim
August 8, 2012 at 8:37 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Yes, who we are outside the home/church is often different. So many masks, so little time. I’m not sure how we keep up/keep them straight. Thank you for stoppin by! Blessings!
Melissa G
August 8, 2012 at 8:01 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Tanks for sharing. I agree, we as Christians all have “the call” to share Christ with others.
I’m visiting from the blog hop on A Little R & R.
simplyhelpinghim
August 8, 2012 at 8:43 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Yes we do! Thank you for stoppin by! Blessings!
Michelle
August 3, 2012 at 10:33 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Mindy and Misty thank you for sharing this. It is too easy to focus on ourselves but we need to remember that we can change someone’s opinion of Christ by our actions. I even have to remember this in my home as well. Am I showing grace and obedience or am I showing hypocracy and judgment. Thanks for linking up to the prairies you two.
simplyhelpinghim
August 4, 2012 at 7:08 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Focus shouldn’t be on ourselves, yet a lot of times it is, and we forget that who we are and what we do is the picture of Christ to those watching us. 🙂 Thanks for stoppin by! 🙂
Christina
August 3, 2012 at 9:15 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thanks for this encouragement to be evangelists. I love the Henry quote, his words always bring a richness to any Biblical topic. Enjoyed reading this!
simplyhelpinghim
August 4, 2012 at 7:09 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
You’re very welcome! Thank you for stopping by! Blessings!
Michele-Lyn
August 3, 2012 at 12:49 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I often look at strangers in the grocery store, or at a theme park and wonder how many of them are going to meet Jesus when the die. I wonder how I could share the truth with them without making them run the other direction. I do want more boldness to witness, as well as live as a witness, authentically. Good words of truth in your post.
simplyhelpinghim
August 3, 2012 at 1:40 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Boldness! Yes! That is something we all need an extra dose of at times! Thanks for stoppin by! 🙂 Blessings!
Mindy @ New Equus - A New Creation
August 3, 2012 at 8:48 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
It’s amazing how we can forget that people “see” more of us than they actually “hear” from us. And you are right…Jesus is the best example! 🙂
simplyhelpinghim
August 3, 2012 at 8:57 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Yes, seeing is believing! 🙂
Jenni Mullinix
August 3, 2012 at 8:47 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Being authentic while sharing the Truth is so important. I find that building intentional friendships to be the best way to evangelize.
simplyhelpinghim
August 3, 2012 at 8:56 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
So true! 🙂 Friendships are key to evangelizing. If we can not be friends with someone how they we expect them to listen to us? Thank you for stoppin by! Blessings!
Mary Beth
August 3, 2012 at 8:29 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
“I want people to hear AND see” So true! It takes both sides. Just look to Jesus.
simplyhelpinghim
August 3, 2012 at 8:56 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Amen! 🙂 Jesus is the greatest example! 🙂