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The problems with modern evangelism and witnessing how Jesus did it

Discussion in 'Evangelism, Missions & Witnessing' started by Dallasdid, May 17, 2004.

  1. Dallasdid

    Dallasdid New Member

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    I was not saved till last month but growing up in a Baptist church my whole life I never heard true Bibical evangelism that I can recall. The message I gave in vain but still taught how to present the Gospel was this "come to Jesus because you will have true happiness, joy, and fulfillment. You have a God shaped hole in your heart that only Jesus can fill." The modern Gospel is full of man centered errors. I came upon an Evangelism teaching that is so awesome!!! and it is Bibical to the core. Jesus used this method, Paul did, Peter did, and so many others. www.wayofthemaster.com is the website I discovered. If you read the scriptures Jesus always brought conviction using the 10 commandments. The missing key for evangelism now of days is the law of God or the other name for it the 10 commandments. If you look at the woman at the well and how Jesus witnessed you will see He used the 10 commandments. The modern Gospel is full of errors, and it produces false converts. Jesus started off witnessing with natural conversation using water to talk to the woman. The Bible says the natural man receives not the things of God. Jesus then swung over to spiritual talking about how He has living water. Then He brought conviction using the law alluding to the sin of adultry. Then after she was convicted under the law Jesus revealed Himself when He said "I am He" I challenge all of us if we truly are about following what the Bible says lets study I challenge you to do so. Study how paul, spurgion, Jesus, peter and many other men of God witnessed. This teaching is not man made man centered it comes exactly from JEsus hince the name "The way of the master" Please I beg you check it out and read the articles, and listen to the messages that it has. This is very Bibical I am talking about in an awesome way. Galations 3:24 says "the law is the school master to bring us to Christ" Paul said "i had not known sin but by the law" The 10 commandments is effective in evangelism. If I just go to someone and say "You need Jesus just repent of your sins and say this prayer and you will be saved" Not only is the person offended because I called him a sinner but he is confused he does not understand why he needs Christ.


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  2. Su Wei

    Su Wei Active Member
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    my pastor's been giving a set of lessons concerning this!!!

    I've been learning some important things in church about biblical evangelism. It is that the sinner must know that he has trangressed the Law of God and is thus condemned to hell. only when the sinner is at this point of realization will he ever need a Saviour.

    I am concerned that many modern methods of evangelism fail miserably in this aspect.

    consider the following verses:

    Romans 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

    Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

    1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

    Romans 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

    2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

    And consider some of these quotations from godly men (of old):

    John Wesley: Before I can preach love, mercy and grace, I must preach sin, Law and judgment.

    Ozwald Chambers: Conscience is the internal perception of God's Moral Law.

    Martin Luther: The first duty of the gospel preacher is to declare God's Law and show the nature of sin.

    Charels Spurgeon: They will never accept grace until they tremble before a just and Holy Law.

    Matthew Henry: Of this excellent use is the Law: it converts the soul, opens the eyes, prepares the way of the Lord in the desert, rends the rocks, levels the mountains, make a people prepared for the Lord.
     
  3. alex_tel

    alex_tel New Member

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    In order to value the happiness of the forgiveness you have to taste the bitterness of the conviction
     
  4. Psalm145 3

    Psalm145 3 New Member

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    Click here to listen to or download these two messages by Ray Comfort - Hell's Best Kept Secret - True and False Conversion.

    These are excellent messages explaining how to use God's law to convict sinners and show them their need of the Savior. I have noticed that many Christians get mad when I use this approach because they have been taught the New Evangelical, positive only, make the seeker feel good, God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life method of evangelism...which, in my estimation, has multiplied false conversions accross the country.

    We need to let the Holy Spirit convict sinners and work repentance in their heart. This is not just a problem with the New Evangelicals, but also with many independent baptist churches. They run a person down the Roman's Road, then like a slick salesman, get them to pray a sinner's prayer and tell them they are saved. They redefine repentance to mean only changing from unbelief to belief. Jack Hyles and Curtis Hutson taught that false doctrine. Get saved now by praying this prayer, then maybe sometime later you can decide to live for the Lord if you want. They taught that repentance doesn't mean to turn from sin. That's about as unbiblical as the day is long! That's one of the reasons we have so many "carnal Christians" running around thinking they are saved but not following the Lord.

    Charles Spurgeon once said, "The devil is such a master of deception that he can make men dance upon the brink of Hell as though they were on the verge of Heaven."

    1 Timothy 1:8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully.

    Psalms 19:7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul:
     
  5. alex_tel

    alex_tel New Member

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    If a person did not see himself as real sinner (I mean he has never seen his personal sins) he could not see Jesus as his own Saviour. The Law shows my private life and my private sins and my private death. It is very useful part of Gospel preaching
     
  6. Dallasdid

    Dallasdid New Member

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    I agree with everything said. I challenge you guys go to www.wayofthemaster.com and listen to the audio messages, read the mothly articles by Ray and Kirk and go to www.livingwaters.com and check all the info there these websites are so awesome and so Bibical and it is not made up by kirk, and ray but it is taken from Jesus. There is a lot of good tracts, and powerpoint Gospel messages to send to lost people in e-mail.
     
  7. Su Wei

    Su Wei Active Member
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    of course, there is no glamour or mass appeal in telling people they are hell deserving sinners....it takes guts, really.

    It's so much easier to have a rock concert and have someone dance around the stage, later have a mushy little sharing about how God changed someone's life, and then ask who else wants God to change their lives, help them out of their problems.
     
  8. Su Wei

    Su Wei Active Member
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    may I ask, what kind of Baptist church have you been, all your life?

    I came from a new evangelical church (by God's grace i was saved there). When i stepped into the IFB church that i now belong to, i knew the preaching was different because it was so unapologetically BIBLE.
     
  9. alex_tel

    alex_tel New Member

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    This is ok. But How many of us can perform 10 Commandments after our turnig to Jisus?
     
  10. pinoybaptist

    pinoybaptist Active Member
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    Dallasdid:

    If God doesn't want anyone to perish, no one will perish. If He wanted anyone in Heaven, nothing can stand between God's will for that person and Heaven.

    The power of the cross is not a possible salvation of the sinner, it is a sure and finished salvation.
     
  11. semamiyth

    semamiyth New Member

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    I would like to agree with much of what has been said. I liked what Psalm 145 3 had to say. I also found it interesting(to no offense) how Dallasdid inserted Spurgeon's name between Jesus and Paul.

    Testimonies and outlines don't save people. God saves people using his word.

    I've always fought with doubts about my salvation, because I've always thought that you say "that prayer" and your are saved. So I've always had this notion that I need to do something or something more, therefore I've said that alter call prayer many times in my past saying to myself this will be the last time I do it and I won't doubt anymore afterward. Trusting in God in every aspect of my salvation and forgetting man's formula has brought me peace beyond description. We cannot put salvation in a neat little package. The word of God needs to be presented and then God will, through his Spirit, cause his elect to believe in Jesus Christ. Bottom line, give people the word. Testimonies and outlines are fine, but God convicts with his word.

    ....and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?..... Romans 10:14

    So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17

    No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:44
     
  12. Baptistgal

    Baptistgal New Member

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    There's a happy balance between being too simplistic and too complicated when giving the gospel to someone. I've seen some people who needed 20 minutes or more of explanation, going through verses, and such before they really understood what God wanted them to do. Then I've seen others who already knew and only needed a person to help them take that last step of making the decision for Christ.

    When we are out there talking to individuals about Jesus, take each instance as an individual case. Some have heard the gospel already, they are familiar with it but just need to accept it for themselves. Others have no idea what all our "pet" words mean and they need definitions and understanding.

    I've heard some who criticize others for having a simple, direct message. But then those same people will go on and give such a lengthy description of salvation, with such flowery language, that it leaves my head spinning! Don't be afraid to give a simple salvation message, but don't neglect the fact that the person needs to understand as well.
     
  13. MDavidM

    MDavidM New Member

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    I might cause a major uprising by mentioning this, but two books by John MacArthur, "The Gospel According to Jesus" and "The Gospel According to the Apostles" do an excellent job of providing a biblical answer to this issue. Another good one is "Chosen But Free" by Norman Geisler. Again, with the diverse view on this forum, some may choose to argue or take offense, but these books really helped me get a handle on the free will vs. predestination issue, and the role of our works in salvation.

    Let me also say that it is pitiful that someone can grow up in a church without ever hearing the pure gospel of Jesus. The gospel should be presented clearly and without apology every time the doors of the church open.
     
  14. av1611jim

    av1611jim New Member

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    Just to add my 2 cents worth...
    My pastor has always told us Bible Institute students that you first had to get the sinner lost before you could get him saved. The ONLY way to do that is with the law of God.
    Jim [​IMG]
     
  15. Dallasdid

    Dallasdid New Member

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    Let me give you an example of the error of the modern Gospel. First, before I do I want to make sure you understand in no way am I saying that I have encountered some magic teaching that works 100% of the time. With out the working of the Holy Spirit in the words of every girl I asked out "It aint going to happen” So I am sorry if I came out and sounded like this plan was the one saving sinners. This is how Jesus witnessed though and Paul and Peter ect. And I believe we need to follow the example of Christ.

    Ok here are the examples.
    ~~Lets say I go to one of you and well you do not know me from Adam. And I go up and say "Sir" or "Mrs." " I have got some great news for you! You got $25,000 fine for speeding and the law was going to take its course but someone you do not even know stepped in and paid the fine for you." Now honestly would that be good news NO! It would be confusing because you know nothing about speeding and a fine. It would be offensive because I am telling you that you broke the law when you don’t think you have. But if I tell you like this it makes more since. "Today the law clocked you at going 75 mph in an area set aside for a blind kids convention. There were 10 clear warning signs stating that 15 mph was the max. But you ignored the signs and went through over 60 mph over the speed limit. What you did was very serious and dangerous. You were given a $50,000 fine and the law was fixing to take action when out of no where someone you do not even know stepped in and paid the fine."~~~~~

    Do you see by telling you what you did wrong first made more since? And the modern Gospel would have someone go up to a lost person and say "your a sinner Jesus died on the cross for you if you just say this prayer you will be saved"

    And see not only is it confusing to the sinner but offensive because I am sinuating that he is a sinner when he does not think he is that bad.
    Paul said, "I had not known sin but by the law for the law is the knowledge of sin."

    The law brings a person before a Holy God and shows them how terrible their sin is in God's sight. It shows them why they need Christ. Because if a person is unrepentant and just says some prayer in an experimental fashion he will not be truly saved.

    I will give more illustrations later again you can find all of this at www.wayofthemaster.com, www.livingwaters.com, and www.needGod.com. God bless email me with questions at [email protected]. I challenge you to listen to the messages on these websites. Read the articles study and examine it as many times as possible. It is an awesome teaching God bless
     
  16. Dallasdid

    Dallasdid New Member

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    Here is another example of the error with modern evangelism verses the Bibical Gospel.

    ~~~~ Imagine this passenger on the plane. I go to him and say "sir put this parachute on it will give bring you love, joy, peace, and happiness" or in other words it will improve his flight. The guy having tried sex, drugs, and alcohol in an expermental fashion says "ok I will give this a try and see how it works out." Well, as he puts it on he notices the weight of it and how uncomfortable the parachute is on his back against the seat. But he is going to give it a try. Well, this passenger notices people all over the plane are laughing at him I mean pointing and laughing because he has this parachute on in the middle of the plane. What does he do? Well, he was promised love, joy, peace, and happiness but what does he get the promised tribulation, temptation, and persecution. So he gets up and throws the parachute off and has bitterness toward the person who gave him the parachute.

    Well, now we have this second passenger he is told to put on the parachute because any moment he will be taking a 25,000 foot drop and this parachute will be the only thing to save his life. Well, this guy puts it on and he does not notice the weight of it on his shoulders or how it is uncomfortable on his back against the seat because he knows he will need this to save him from the jump to come.

    Now on this plane there is a new stewardress. She wants to make a good impression and she does. She is carrying a cup of boiling hot coffie and trips over someones foot and spills hot coffie all over the second passenger. Well what is his reaction? "OOOOOOUHHHHHHHH HOT!!!" but does he rip off his parachute and say "This stupid parachute" NO! because he did not put the parachute on to improve his flight but to save him from the jump that is to come.

    The modern Gospel has gone from come to Christ because you have sinned and broken God's holy law and if you die in your sins you will be seperated frrom God forever to...

    Come to Jesus and you will have love, joy, peace, and happiness. And it produces false converts. As soon as they hit trouble times the false converts leave the faith forsake God.

    But if we preach the Gospel Bibically how Jesus did it we will have a genuine believer.

    Thanks again for reading this if you ever have any questions email me [email protected] and please visit www.wayofthemaster.com or livingwaters.com , and needGod.com have a great day
     
  17. pinoybaptist

    pinoybaptist Active Member
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    Dallasdid:

    My question is : Do you think people in this board are still unsaved ?

    I mean, you plug in those sites, and they are witnessing sites.

    I do not think an easy-believist will survive in this board. I believe the big, big majority of those posting in this board reject the prosperity or good times gospel as much as you do.

    No disrespect. Just an observation.
     
  18. Dallasdid

    Dallasdid New Member

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    I am not trying to say that I think there is all these lost people using this board and so i post this evangelism stuff. I put it all here to give people a good resource to go to. To learn and study it is such an awesome ministry so i wanted to share it with you all. remember

    www.wayofthemaster.com, www.livingwaters.com, and needGod.com
     
  19. PackerBacker

    PackerBacker New Member

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    Reading the posts about Ray Comfort and "The Way of the Master" stirred up my curiosity. I ordered the book and have been pretty much pleased with what I have read. Being a missionary myself, I perk up when I see others who are also concerned with modern evangelistic methods. I'd agree much with most of what is in the book and with their approach.

    My only concern is that the WDJD plan could turn into the next Romans Road. I believe the Romans Road was started as a way to systematically present the gospel message and it incorporated many of the same points of the WDJD Plan. Over time the systematic outline has unfortunately been turned into the only known way of salvation, in some circles. Even worse, the first points of that systematic plan are often sped through in order to get to that sinners prayer at the end. I hope those who use the WDJD Plan will keep in mind that it is just a plan and tool. Only God's plans are 100% fail proof.
     
  20. superdave

    superdave New Member

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    You mean there is a way to witness other than the Romans Road? I am not sure, that sounds very un-Baptist to me :D

    PackerBacker, it sounds like you are familiar with the Personal Evangelism class I took at a Baptist College

    It took the fishers of men analogy to an almost ridiculous level.
     
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