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Pastor's Weekly Email |
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February 20, 2008 |
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“What has Christ done for us? What in God’s name
are we doing for him?” |
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The word “outreach” and “evangelism” are ideas
we usually think are left up
to a church board or professionals. But what
happens when an opportunity
presents itself when we are called upon to share
our faith? We may want to
change the subject, or see it as an opportunity
for God to work through your
words and actions. It’s not as hard or
frightening as you think… |
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How to Share Your Faith with Someone – from the
“Lutheran Handbook,” page 89-90 |
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1. Look for the opening. Regular daily
conversations offer lots of chances to talk about your faith. Listen for
open-ended comments, such as, “I wonder why life
is like that,” or “Sometimes life seems hard,”
When possible, offer a response from a Christian
perspective… “I may not have the perfect answer,
but I believe…”
2. Be yourself. Expressing your faith
should be natural and the same as other types of
daily conversation. Avoid suddenly switching
your tone of voice or vocabulary. Also, don’t
try to impress others with your knowledge.
Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you.
3. Watch for a chance to take the
conversation deeper. Carefully gauge the other
person’s response. Observe his or her facial
expression, verbal tone, and body language. If
he or she seems to be closing down, set the
topic aside and wait for another time. If he or
she keys in and perks up, be prepared to
continue.
4. Open up. Human beings are attracted to
each other by our strengths, but we bond because
of our weaknesses. Key to sharing your faith is
the willingness to be honest about your own
life’s struggles. This will communicate safety,
which for many people is critical.
5. Follow up. Allowing the person to see
your commitment to your faith alongside your
continuing questions will reassure him or her of
your sincerity.
6. Offer to share your faith community
with the other person. Most people join a church
after being invited by a friend. When the time
is right, invite the person to attend with you.
Tell them what makes your church home special.
7. Try to maintain the relationship
regardless of what the person does. The most
effective way to communicate that you’re a
follower of Jesus Christ is through your
actions; continue to live naturally and
faithfully. Watch for ongoing opportunities to
share and serve. |
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We pray for Eldon Eargle who is in orthopedic
rehab. We also pray for Elmer Jacobs, Jane
Sexton, Betty Summer, Karl Bouknight, Patti
Krell, and Russ Manos, all recovering at home.
We offer our prayers, our needs and our burdens,
spoken and unspoken for our members, family and
friends who are
hospitalized, homebound, those recovering at
home, in nursing homes and rehab facilities, and
our troops serving in harm’s way. |
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The Rev. W. Eric
Friedrichs, Pastor
Mount Hermon Lutheran Church
West Columbia, South Carolina
803.794.6430 Office
803.791.8552 FAX
eric@mthlc.org
mthlc.org |
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