evangelism

Show Them the Way

/ Mark Brady / 4 Comments
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There are many ways to share God with people. I have either heard or watched as others tried their way. One person told two young women they were going to split hell wide open. He judged them after learning they were lesbians. That wasn’t a very effective method at all. I told the individual, “Those ladies needed to hear of God’s love, not your judgment.”

I watched one Saturday night as an individual argued “religion” with another person, thinking they were going to convince them to accept their views and accept Jesus. It didn’t work.

People come to God in many ways. One way of sharing God that I have found to be effective is what I like to call “Lifestyle Evangelism.”  If you come across an individual that you know you are going to be seeing from time to time, you can start sharing God and his love little by little. Whether it is going out of your way to help them, or remembering them in a time of need, or if they are celebrating a life event.

Eventually, they begin to realize that you are not “weird” but that you really do love God and want to love on people. People will begin to see that you and your way of life are so different from anyone they have ever known. It happened to Jesus. This can lead them to ask or to be open to hearing how to accept Jesus Christ into their life.

People don’t like to be controlled; they prefer to be led.

You could put it this way: people don’t want to be told what to do. But they are sometimes open to being led in the way they should go. Jesus is the way. Show people the way. Show people, Jesus!

Jesus replied, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 (NET)

Be imitators of me (Paul), just as I also am of Christ. 1 Cor. 11:1 (NET)
(The insert of the name “Paul” is mine.)

Copyright © 2025 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

Preach To Them

/ Mark Brady / Leave a comment
Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay

3 1-2 Next, God spoke to Jonah a second time: “Up on your feet and on your way to the big city of Nineveh! Preach to them. They’re in a bad way and I can’t ignore it any longer.”
3 This time Jonah started off straight for Nineveh, obeying God’s orders to the letter.
Nineveh was a big city, very big—it took three days to walk across it.
4 Jonah entered the city, went one day’s walk and preached, “In forty days Nineveh will be smashed.”
5 The people of Nineveh listened, and trusted God. They proclaimed a citywide fast and dressed in burlap to show their repentance. Everyone did it—rich and poor, famous and obscure, leaders and followers.

A lot of believers get shy when it comes to sharing their faith. When I was growing up, most people thought it was only their preacher’s job to share the gospel and reach people. In reality, the minister’s job is to “equip the saints for ministry.” (Eph. 4:12)

Anyone can talk about God, and there are different ways to make a statement. Like mowing your elderly neighbor’s lawn, and when they ask why, you can say, “Because God wanted to love on you today, and He wanted to do that through me.” That will get their attention and, over time, give you an opening to share your testimony or faith in God. I call that kind of witnessing “Lifestyle Evangelism.” You show them “God’s love” and that you are NOT some weird fanatic! Your life makes an impact and gets their attention.

But what if you don’t like someone? Perhaps you are like Jonah above, and you have little concern if someone faces destruction. What I didn’t post was the first two chapters of the book of Jonah. God asked him to preach to the people of Nineveh to give them one last chance to accept Him and amend how they are living their lives. Otherwise, God was going to destroy them. Jonah didn’t obey at first.

People far from God, whether rich and famous, poor and obscure, leaders or followers, all need to hear about God. Regardless if you like them or not. What if you were the one that someone would listen to and you don’t share God with them? The words God gives you to share could make the difference between them having eternal life or being destroyed. Our duty is to speak the truth about God. If you ask him, He will be faithful to you to lead you in what to say to someone. Preach to them, and then leave the results up to God. For, after all, He is the Lord of the harvest!

Copyright © 2024 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.

Seeing Them

/ Mark Brady / 2 Comments

What is that a shadow of? I asked myself.  I turned slowly to see it was being made by a man.  A young, tall, thin man sporting a “man bun”.  He just stood there and starred while I completed my task.  I felt weirded out, to say the least.  I saw him at other times and made a decision that I didn’t like him.  Why?  Because of how he looked?  Because he didn’t say anything?  Perhaps.

About a month later he was in front of me with a young man.  He asked if his son could mow the lawn.  At first I was tempted to flee the scene as fast as possible by responding with a kind, “No thank you.”  But inside, I knew that wouldn’t do.  I introduced myself and learned their names. I told the father I noticed he was new to the neighborhood, and asked why if he didn’t mind sharing.  He said, “I’ve been away for a while.”  Instantly I had the gift of knowledge as I heard in my spirit, “prison”.  I didn’t mention it to him.

After the lawn was mowed, trimmed, and cleaned up I went outside to pay the young man.  After handing the money to him I turned to the father and felt as if I was to honor him.  I said, “I respect the fact that you are teaching your son the value of hard work and of earning money.”  He smiled.  I wondered if anyone had ever honored him before.  Judging by the surprise look on his face I am guessing not.  I think it made him feel warm and fuzzy inside.  I know listening to the Holy Spirit lead me in the situation and conversation made me feel that way.  Later on I saw him outside and asked, “Would you like some tomatoes?  We have more than we can use from our harvest.”  When I gave them to him and some chili peppers he smiled again.  He told me he loves spicy food.

Later that night I was reflecting on the events, and the conversation with him of the day.  I realized this was the beginning of what I call, “Life style evangelism.”  You come across normal when they first encounter you.  You help them, bless them, or simply give them your time.  Then, after a while, they will notice there is something different about you than in others, and they ask, “What makes you different?”  They always ask.  It is in that moment you can tell them about the love of Jesus Christ that dwells within you, and that He is the Hope of the world.

“the mere sound of his name will signal hope, even
        among far-off unbelievers.”  Mat. 12:21 (MSG)

Because they have first seen “love in action” they will listen.  And hopefully they will respond to the Holy Spirit working within them and accept that love, accept Jesus.  But all of this has to start with an action. That action is seeing them!

Copyright © 2021 Mark Brady.  All rights reserved.