Poll Question for This Sunday - August 25

[Pastor Eric]

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We have a new Question for this Sunday:  Concerning the non-believers in your life, what do you believe is your biggest struggle in sharing Christ with them?

Please take just a moment to answer the question above.  You can select up to 2 answers.

[karen]

Just an explanation. Usually there is very little time to talk to someone, for instance my neighbors. In a short conversation I can mention The Lord or praying, but to get to a serious, more deep conversation would take much more time. If I have 10 minutes or less with someone, I feel uncomfortable swinging the conversation so quickly to the gospel.

[Mel]

My answer would be a combination of the selections...bottom line, not enough training and practice to be confident in presenting. It would seem like the solution would be to have the materials and training for confidence in the knowledge, and then supervised practice -- just like anything else in business, sports, etc.

[megan]

I wouldn't exactly say its dangerous to start tensions, but senseless. With one particular neighbor, we know what she believes and she knows what we believe. She's made it clear that she respects us for being "people of faith" but has no interest in religious debate. I'm sure to talk with her about answers to prayer and she'll let me pray for her, but beyond that she knows the facts of Christianity and still thinks it is just one of many ways to a higher good. No point in really discussing it with her until I see signs of the Holy Spirit working in her heart.

[lucasmama1]

I would say that the biggest struggle with sharing the gospel with the non believers in my life, is that it gets to the point where the non believer says "I think its a great thing because it works for you, but it is not for me". And then sometimes talking about it with them can lead into a debate, so I just try to show them Christ and the Gospel through my actions. How I talk, what I watch, what I do all can be a way to share the love of Christ. Sorry that really wasn't one of the above answers, but I guess it might fall under "They are already hostile to the Gospel".

[lucasmama1]

Oh and this is Sandy Fortner lol

[david]

Everyone fears rejection.  A close friend just up and walked away as I carefully turned a conversation about life after death towards  the expected eternal reward. 

I have taken and taught classes on how to share your faith and constantly have a "Steps to Peace with God" in my L/R pants pocket, yet feel intimidated by bringing up Jesus to my neighbours or family.  It is easier to talk to strangers and customers about the Lord.  The closer we are to people the harder it is to risk that they may no longer want that relationship.  Nothing new here... Jesus couldn't be effective in His own home town.

If you have a solution, I would love to hear it.

[benj]

I would say that all of these answers apply depending on the current situation but in the end I had to say that my biggest reason for not telling people is my own bravery becauseIi could overcome the other obstacles if I was brave enough to try.

[ken]

Honestly, I don't have a good reason. There is no good reason why I am not sharing the Gospel regularly, but I am not. Jesus is my life, but I am more passionate talking about food than talking about Jesus with non-believers. I think for me there may be a lack of trust and dependence on the Holy Spirit.

[papawegert]

I guess I could put bravery, but I would say fear is the biggest reason. Fear to be rejected, fear to not have the right words or answers, fear of awkwardness next time we meet (i.e. co-workers, neighbors, etc..), possibly even fear of getting in trouble at work for sharing Jesus. So, that tells me I am prideful and selfish and like Ken said I have a lack of trust of the Holy Spirit. I might make myself look bad. The apostle Paul certainly overcame any of these excuses.

[Me]

I try to build a relationship between a non-believe first, and I pray for them, and when the holy spirt lead me i start to talk about Jesus. It's about building relationship with a person, so they trust you, and they trust you on what you have to say about Jesus.

[patience]

I'd like to say that my number one reason for not sharing the gospel is that people are already hostile to it and it takes a lot of work to change their view before they will even listen, but honestly I think that I get too caught up in what non-believers think of the church and what I think of the church to just focus on and present Jesus.

[patience]

I'd like to say that my number one reason for not sharing the gospel is that people are already hostile to it and it takes a lot of work to change their view before they will even listen, but honestly I think that I get too caught up in what non-believers think of the church and what I think of the church to just focus on and present Jesus.