Evangelizing Jews

To summarize:

Use the Old Testament, particularly the prophecies. Using Isaiah is probably best, especially the "Suffering Servant" passages in Is. 52-53.

Having a grasp on the Book of Hebrews is very helpful.

Rev. G

 

As a student of Tennessee Temple University, I have the privilege of being under a variety of teaching, one being evangelizing the Jewish people. Fred Bennett of Titus International has been an adjunct professor for the school and often substitutes for missions teacher who are out of town.

First, the Jewish people do not like being called "Jews" or "Hebrews" but "Jewish people." And refer to Jesus as Jesus, and not "Christ," because they think "Christ" is a last name. Use instead "Messiah." Also, delete "Old Testament" from your vocabulary, and refer to it as the "Tenach"; you'll get a lot farther by using their terms, because they may not appreciate or understand our terms.

Second, all Biblical practices are known to them as only tradition. They don't know why they do what they do, and they don't know any Messianic symbolism in the Tenach. Many of the Jewish people do not even know what their own Tenach (Old Testament) says. Only the small percentage of Orthodox Jewish people know the Scriptures. 70% of the Jewish people are agnoistic or atheists.

Being their friend, as God even strongly warns us, is what we do. Sending them a card on a Jewish holy day or festival is a blessing to them, since they do not even receive cards from their Jewish family. Unless you are strong in a friendship, DO NOT send a tract with a card or gift, for it devalues the gift and the motive for sending it. Times for sharing their Messiah with them will come; ask God for the timing.

Anyway... sorry to make a reply so long.

>>Luther
"...that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me." (John 17:31)

[ October 31, 2002, 03:12 PM: Message edited by: StMartinLuther ]

 

Well put. Also, let love be genuine. Love them because Jesus loves them, unconditionally, sacrifically. Love is not a means to an end, you dont love them in order to witness to them (you dont love on the condition they give you their souls), you witness to them because you love them. Joseph's brothers went to Egypt because only there was there food. Your faith in God, your personal relationship with Him, and the love this gives you, this is what you can witness to. You dont need to be a PhD (although it never hurts to supliment faith with knowledge). You bear witness to the New Covenant in your personal relationship with God. It is this that provokes to jealousy.
God bless, Colin

 

Excellent Post, StMartinLuther.

Do Christians realize that the purpose of witnessing to the Jewish People is help them see the Messiah, not convert them to the Christian, Gentile faith? If anything, Christians need to realize they are grafted into the Jewish faith, not that the Jews are grafted into the Gentiles.

 

My wife and I are on deputation serving with the International Board of Jewish Missions///Hixson TN WE are going to metro Boston to reach Jewish people for their Messiah. There is good material available for reaching the Jews for Christ. One is called GO to LEARN and another is How to Win Jews. By the way we can use lots of prayer support. Would you help???????
We are in MAINE at this time. Material can be obtained from missions board headqts
www.IBJM.org Thanks Brother Ray

 

If you want a comprehensive study on Jewish Evangelism, take the Southern Baptist Convention North American Mission Board's interfaith evangelism workshop.