(For more about the meme check out this post)
On social media someone asked:
What are some of the ways you are sharing the gospel locally with presuppositional apologetics?
While the context was about actively applying Presuppositional apologetics to sharpen one’s skill I think the question could also be applicable concerning biblical evangelism method in general too.
Here’s my quick thoughts expanding on my original comment:
One evangelistic venue that afford the opportunity to apply apologetics and to sharpen one’s apologetics’ skill set is evangelism in a college campus.
- Every week I’m at my local college campus evangelizing. There’s many students to evangelize to; not to mention the occasional professors, campus workers, small business vendors, etc. Given there are many students and that college campuses are place of learning one should expect that apologetics’ conversation would be plenty if one evangelize there.
- Even if you have work or other responsibilities campus evangelism can be flexible. If you have an extended lunch break (which I know many do not have) consider going then once a week. Sometimes in four years universities you can also be there in the afternoon or early evening and there will still be people you can talk to.
- If you are shy or have a hard time breaking the ice with new people I think having a table with a whiteboard with questions helps those who have a hard time striking up conversations as people will go up to our table. We typically begin with the question “Are you a Good Person?” borrowing the method of The Way of the Master in our evangelism. But sometimes we also ask thought provoking questions to make people think and when it is really slow stronger statements such as “Atheism and the Problem of Evil,” or questions such as “Is Atheism rational?” are helpful. But these days I don’t use those as much as I see God answering our prayers to bring people we can share the Gospel to without seeming unnecessarily provocative.
- The individuals who stop by your table will either be hostile (where the opportunity to use Presuppositional apologetics would be helpful) or they are curious; but one thing is for sure, they weren’t apathetic enough to just pass you by. What an opportunity!
- Sometimes with the bigger universities there’s people walking around campus all year round, even when there’s no summer school.
- When I was younger and fresh out of the Marines I use to treat college campuses like its Ramadi Iraq where I look forward to Wild West shoot-outs types of apologetics’ encounter; these days I’m more about sharing the Gospel than arguing. But sooner or later a Christian evangelizing will have to defend his or her faith. For those that want to have more apologetics’ encounter realize Gospel driven evangelism isn’t a “waste” if you are trying to learn apologetics in evangelism; sometimes the thing we need to also learn is when to employ and not to employ apologetics. If I may use the analogy you don’t always have to treat every evangelistic opportunity as if its a SWAT incident when you can be the friendly neighborhood street cop using tact and straight forward clear communication concerning the problem at hand (sin) and the solution (the Gospel).
- Sometimes when things are slower during the summer it is also a good time to follow up with people I’ve gotten contacts from throughout the year and during the summer when it is slower is great to have better quality and quanitity follow-up with some individuals by grabbing a meal to talk (I would pay for their meal as an act of kindness). I imagine if it is hard for an individual to strike up conversations with strangers out of the blue this might sound like an especially good idea since often people who have harder time striking up conversations have a better time following up and building upon what was previously shared; perhaps God wired you that way.
- Go with another believer; take that time to disciple and mentor another Christian to evangelize. The good thing about evangelizing with another believer is that no two Christians are exactly alike; there will be things that are strengths they have that you don’t have and vice versa; be a “team-player” evangelist, or better yet a “team-builder” evangelist. Be humble and realize you are learning too, just as they are learning. Feedback is also a two way street and be willing to learn from the person you are teaching and hear what they have to say in terms of positive encouragement but also their constructive criticism. In all things be biblical. Also follow up with the brother or sister with further discipleship by reading through a book on evangelism, the Gospel and apologetics together. I encourage by the way that you pick someone of your own gender if its just one other person evangelizing with you so that things don’t look inappropriate but when there are several individuals in your evangelism team I do think it is alright to have brothers and sisters sharing the Gospel together and being trained as a group. One thing I appreciate about having an evangelism team with both brothers and sisters in the Lord is that when you have that creepy guy or girl someone of the same sex can talk to them. Or when there are sensitive sins being confessed or complicated issues in their lives are brought up you have more resources from each other.
- Starting out is difficult; but remember you will never regret any opportunities you had to evangelize that you did take when you go to heaven. Pray when you are starting out your steps towards evangelizing and applying your apologetics. Pray before each outing. Pray when everyone evangelizing with you gets to the campus. Pray during evangelism. Pray after evangelism. Pray when you share with the rest of the church about your evangelism and implore others to pray for your evangelism too.
- To learn more about Presuppositional apologetics and worldview apologetics itself check out our post: Ultimate Collection of Free Presuppositional Apologetics Lectures.
Our big focus at the moment is the parents of the kids who have been coming on Wednesday nights. We sometimes have close to 50 kids, so that means a LOT of parents we can talk to.
Also, after almost 10 years visiting together, my longtime mentor and I have split apart. He has taken on a new partner, and so have I. Hopefully someday they will be ready to take somebody under their wings and our visiting power will increase yet again.
Praise the Lord; I just prayed for those kids and their parents. Pray for me as I desire to have brothers who will partner with me for evangelism. This year I’m down to one guy who wants to evangelize weekly and he’s special need and doesn’t want to share but want it where I can still be able to evangelize. I am praying God would bring brothers and sister who want to share the Gospel to do the work of reaching the masses here.
Just did, brother.
Thanks for the information and the challenge to be more intentional about giving out the Gospel.
You’re welcome! I pray God would encourage other Christians to be intentional about sharing the Gospel and redeem the time. Good night for now…well Good Morning technically!
Wow! You were up late!
Thank you for this post . Our group (of five women) is involved in street evangelism. We go out once a week. Can be very challenging at times!
I will be praying the Lord sends you brothers who will partner with you .
Blessings
Wow thank you Crissy for your prayer! I am immensely encouraged to know that you go to do street evangelism along with a group of other women! How long have you been doing this for? Such an encouragement!
Thank you for your encouragement! We have been going out over a year now. A pastor and his wife was also part of the team until the church split and they left . We miss him! Sometimes men want to get involved in theological discussions and was good to have him there to contend with such situations.
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
Thanks for all the time you reblog our links, Mr. Vince! That include this time, just wanted to make this into a fun rhyme!
😄😎 You’re very welcome Brother, been busy still with family projects 🙄
Love this, Slim. Well done.
I actually have “faith, hope and love” on the side of my car, I wear a cross, I play worship music, and I just try to convey the idea that it is okay to love Jesus. Where I live political correctness has taken over and the vast majority of young people don’t know that it is okay to be a believer. We have to show them that we are not ashamed, that we are actually fairly normal and pretty nice people.
There are a couple of local girls doing college ministry that I really support.They understand the area and the challenges that young people face when they go off to college. Christians need support and those who have never heard the message,need to hear it.
How wonderful it must be to be able to go out to the campuses and witness in person. Health issues prevent me from getting out anymore but your articles make me feel like I’m there again.
I realize not everyone will necessarily evangelize the same venue; we are all called to witness in our capacity whatever that looks like. By the way brother if you ever have prayer requests for your health, please feel free to come over at our blog and let us know with a comment, yes?
Thanks Jim! Actually, when I was diagnosed with MS (back in 2000), I was almost completely bedridden. The little bit of getting around now, I do by the Grace of God and The Victory He Provides. Sure, it has left me with a thorn, but that keeps me realizing that I depend on Him. I had a problem with pride back then, and needed breaking before I could continue my spiritual walk. Funny… I’ve learned more about The Scriptures, God, Christ, art, comics, computers, web design, image manipulation, story development, html code, and myself than all the time I was in university and all the time I was so physically fit. I don’t want to go back, only forward. 😉
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Excellent idea