Subscribe
Share
Share
Embed
Fellow Heirs is a podcast for Christians.
The spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God and if children, heirs also. Heirs of God and fellow heirs with with Christ.
Speaker 2:Alright.
Speaker 3:Alright. What are you looking at right now, Nick?
Speaker 4:I'm looking at I'm looking at a campsite full of people.
Speaker 3:We are here at the Christ the Word Church family camping trip. We're here with about, what is there, 400, four hundred?
Speaker 5:Four hundred
Speaker 4:I heard 430 people came to this.
Speaker 3:430 people are here, and we want to have a conversation tonight that we'll get more into in a minute. But thank you for listening, and welcome to Fellow Heirs. We're a podcast for Christians. I'm Isaac McClavick, and I, of course, am joined by cohost Nick Spiewike.
Speaker 4:Yes. Another fellow heir. Thank you for having me.
Speaker 3:Fellow Nick. And today on the show, we're gonna be talking about evangelism. So kind of the format of how we want this to work is we're gonna be walking around and having some, you know, five, ten minute interviews, just little blip interviews with some people that we know to be very good and talented in the the in action of sharing God's word. They yeah. And sharing the gospel.
Speaker 4:They have the muscle for it. They've they've they've exercised that muscle, I think.
Speaker 3:Yeah. And so, really, we just wanna kinda get some strategies and thoughts on on it in general. So I know it's a little different, but we wanted to film an episode up here on the, church camping trip. So I'm looking forward to it.
Speaker 4:Yeah. It's gonna be a
Speaker 2:little laid back, but we'll see what happens. We're very excited. Alright. Let's get going. Alright.
Speaker 4:Okay. Check. Check. K. There we go.
Speaker 4:Okay. So we are here with could you I'm sorry. Could you introduce yourself?
Speaker 6:Sure. My name is Greg Moore.
Speaker 2:My name is Tim Spiwike. Mario Dominguez.
Speaker 5:Well, it's actually it's actually my first name is Thomas, but
Speaker 2:What?
Speaker 5:It's a family name, so I go by Jack, Thomas Jackson. But
Speaker 4:yeah. We're here with Craig Twining. Craig was on in the early days of the podcast, and you gave your testimony.
Speaker 7:Yes. That's right. That was Oh,
Speaker 3:I was just gonna say that's the most listened to Fellow Heirs episode of all time. I don't know if
Speaker 4:you know that, but that's our number one episode.
Speaker 7:Wow. Well, praise God. I hope it did help and and, you know, caused others to look at their own lives and be changed.
Speaker 3:Would you be able to share a time when you stepped out to share your faith with someone and kind of what happened in that circumstance?
Speaker 8:Well, this weekend, I I was in the jail and shared the gospel with a couple young guys who wanted to wanted to come to bible study. So it was it was awesome. I opened the bible to Matthew chapter five to do the study, and the kids start saying, you know, he's trying to turn his life around. That's quite a why he's in here. And, you know, God's got a call on him, and he's he's returning from his sin, and he wants to change his life.
Speaker 8:And and so he's asked, well, you since you've been to church before, why don't you pray? And he goes, well, let me quote the one bible verse he knows. It was Matthew chapter five verse 14. And that dude was so blown away, man. It was such an awesome time to share the gospel with these kids, man.
Speaker 8:It is amazing.
Speaker 2:And that was this past weekend?
Speaker 5:Yeah. I remember one time when I was at UT, I used to go to these, like, prayer meetings on, like, Wednesday afternoons with just a bunch of people from random churches in the area. And one thing we do at the end is always go out and go in pairs a guy and a girl and just walk up to random people and start and, really, we would just ask them, like, hey, can we pray for you? But usually we would like kind of like qualify that with like, would you call yourself a Christian or do you know who Jesus is? And one kid, I walked up to him and I started talking to him.
Speaker 5:And I just asked him what I could pray for, and he said, just pray for my exams. And I was like, anything else? Like, is there anything weighing on you besides your exams? Like, I'll pray for your exams. But what's really, like, weighing you down?
Speaker 5:And he said he said that he was really struggling with, like, drinking and substance abuse and just, like, despising himself and not wanting to go home and stuff. And I didn't really know I didn't really know what to say so I kind of just started telling him my testimony and just how in high school I just got swept away by the things that everyone was doing and then how like early in college I really despise myself for that. I think we had a real connection. I got to have his number after that. We texted a few times.
Speaker 5:But I don't know where he was at with Christ. I just know that the first thing I thought of was just to tell him kind of my own testimony, my own experience. I think was a blessing for him. I hope it was. Mhmm.
Speaker 7:Yeah. It's a lot of it is, especially at work, is situation dependent. I was it a couple years ago, there was one of the engineers at work who was getting ready he was actually getting ready to leave. He took a different position in Florida. And over the course of we had been friends and over the course of time, at first, I thought he was and I think he was an atheist.
Speaker 7:But then there was one time where he just it was at this take the circumstances that surrounded him getting this new job. He goes, well, I think God really has, you know, blessed me in getting this job. And I'm thinking, when have I ever heard you mention that you believe in God? So I decided to pursue it and ask him what he meant. And his what he meant was God generally.
Speaker 7:He there was no real fit. It was like probably a higher power type of thing. So I thought, you know, I let it go at the time. I said, well, I think I said, I think you're right. But I you know, that God isn't just a a force out there.
Speaker 7:It just because of work situations, you know, you can't get into an hour conversation when there's actually work to be done. But I thought to myself, I need to talk to him again before he goes. And but I had prayed that the Lord would open up a situation where we could do that. And sure enough, he did. There was an instance where he was working on some small project he was trying to finish up, and I just said I said to him, I said, Jim, I said, you know, this you know, what you're talking about that God opened the door for you to get this job, I said, is right.
Speaker 7:But it's it's there's more to it than just this kind of ethereal being that's impersonal. I said, you know, Jesus is Jesus Christ is the way to salvation, and you're an eternal soul. And so we and he started talking and I thought he's just going to shrug me off and, you know, just like, oh, yeah, that's I'm glad you believe that. But he didn't. He didn't shut me down.
Speaker 7:And so we talked for a while and he said at the at the end of it, said, you know, I think, you know, maybe we'll look for a church when we get down there into Florida. And I haven't really seen him since, so I don't know what became of it. But I was very I was actually surprised that we I could definitely it was Lord's hand in this because he didn't just shut me off. He actually and that's happened several times at work.
Speaker 2:Well, you know, like you said, I like a guy that's out there witnessing a lot, and I actually don't feel like I am. I was I'm a lot of Christian bubbles. I'm at work. I'm you know, I work with pastors all day long and in an office. I'm in a Christian office.
Speaker 2:And so I feel like like my neighborhood is kind of the high prime spot. And then also when I travel, like you said, with being on planes, giving giving God give me the opportunity to talk to an Uber driver. And so yeah. I mean, recently, it's I felt like I got away from, you know, really being a good witness. And God has just been knocking on my door and my heart to do that and be stronger.
Speaker 2:And actually, you and I have had conversations about that as well. It's just, you know, a lot of it, you know, you start to build up some fear and, you know, it'd be weird or different. And then it just comes down honestly. I put too much pressure on myself that, I just need to have a small conversation and let it lead that way, you know, and ask those questions. So I've kinda made it a point with every Uber driver or plane ride that I don't put headphones on until I try to witness some first, you know.
Speaker 2:And, you know, of course, you got a lot of people that want they have theirs on, and they don't wanna listen to or talk to you. And then every once in while, there's not. And and just, two recently, on a plane, one was a Jewish man I got to talk to, about faith a lot, and, and then a Hindu girl, last week. And, she's living and going to school in Cincinnati Dayton area. And, and then I asked both of those as it comes to top of mind.
Speaker 2:Was like, do you practice your faith? And they were both like, no. You know? So they claim what they are, but they don't you know, like a lot of Christians, they don't really do anything with it. You know?
Speaker 2:They're not and I said, is this something you try to lead other people to? And then and the Hindu girl said that they have multiple gods, a lot of gods for everything. It was just pretty fascinating to me. And then the, the Jewish guy talked to him about, you know, the New Testament, what his thoughts would be there. He's like, yeah.
Speaker 2:We're we're not we're told not to ever look at that. You know? And I'm like, ever curious on your own? Maybe you should take a look at it and make decision for yourself instead of telling a lot of people telling you what. You know?
Speaker 2:So, I mean, it's just great opportunities God gave to me. And then, three years ago, a gentleman I talked to on the whole plane ride, which was a couple hour ride about Christ, and he felt like he had to, you know, dedicate his life to he was like a Catholic and, you know, wasn't a strong man of faith, but felt like he wasn't raising his family. He had, like, four kids and wasn't really raising them in any kind of faith, so I challenged him to do that. And he really said he felt like this was the god thing for sure. And I've stayed in comments constant text with him over the last three or four years.
Speaker 2:And but last year, he's, he's not responded, but so who knows what he's doing now?
Speaker 6:Sure. Yeah. I was just talking about it, yesterday to someone here at the, camping trip. Last week, actually, it had to do with real estate. I have a real estate company called Covenant Real Estate, and I had another agent ask me, why why'd you name your company Covenant Real Estate?
Speaker 6:I said, well, I like the double entendre to it. And they said, what do you mean? I said, well, you know, a covenant is a legal binding contract in real estate or, you know, in any type of legal document or and I said, but I'm also a covenant theologian and, you know, I I like, you know, covenants the new we're under the new covenant. I'm a Christian. Anyway, really?
Speaker 6:Oh, man. I go to church, but I haven't been in a while. And it opened up this whole conversation with another agent to where just him inquiring about why, you know, that that name is different. And I kinda did that on purpose too because it's not kinda in your face, you know, Christ is king realty. You know what I mean?
Speaker 6:It's like, why? And then they're asking, which I've always found in evangelism if you can pique interest as well too. And go, why is that? Oh, well, now the door's open. And you just have to be true to representing Christ properly.
Speaker 6:And it actually helped. He said, well, if you're if you're Christian, I want my my seller to work with your buyers. And that's how we actually ended up getting the house was just by the name of the company. So it it were you know, it got us so good to where it was like, you know, you you stay true to the gospel and the Lord blesses you as well too. So that just happened a week ago.
Speaker 6:But it's happened many times in my life, you know, in just general conversation. I think that's one of the best ways is I really see everything we talk about and discuss in general always comes back to God, our creator. Right? I can be sitting around a campfire with no the people that don't believe, and you go, how can you not? Let's look up the stars.
Speaker 6:Look at this fire. Look at you know what I mean? And to me, it's like Paul said, you you are without excuse if you look the fool, you know, looks into the sky and says there's no God. But I've always found in evangelism that it's that it's it's in everyday conversations. And I know some I know some really good guys that do like street preaching, that go out, stand on the corner.
Speaker 6:I don't know if I'm necessarily called to that, but I do know that if you get up in the morning, you give glory to God, you say, I wanna go about my day giving honor to you, those conversations are gonna come naturally just throughout your everyday life.
Speaker 3:What would you say is one of the biggest things that holds people back from sharing the gospel?
Speaker 8:You know, in the beginning, I used to think it was all about getting them to know Jesus. And I I remember I was witnessing to to some Muslim guys. I did did it quite a bit. And they became my friends, and and they actually came to our house for a Christmas Eve party. And they said, this is the first time we've ever been to a non Muslim's house.
Speaker 8:They were from Saudi Arabia. And they were just like, Muslims don't do this. Muslims don't adopt. Muslims don't do this. I mean, you guys are so different.
Speaker 8:And it was it was really powerful. Till one day, I went and talked to him and started talking to him about Mohammed. And I started to tell them the things I knew that were bad about Mohammed. I got really upset, and and I was walking away thinking that, oh my goodness. What did I just do?
Speaker 8:And I just felt God telling me that I don't need to tear down somebody else's religion or beliefs in order to make Christ look great. He is great. He's amazing. I don't have to even address their their their beliefs. I just gotta ref just reflect the greatness of Christ.
Speaker 8:And that that is so then we had a young missionary who came to our bible men's bible study about five years ago, and he was leaving for Maui, Maui. And he came back a couple weeks ago for a furlough. And I asked him, and he's he's older now, and I and he's now he's married, and he I'm just so impressed with his ministry. And I said to him, so what did you learn? And he said, you know, it's like a most people say it's a sec it's secular, this phrase is, but it's so true even about Christianity.
Speaker 8:They don't really care what you know until they know you care about them. So I I I got every day, I share the gospel because drywall, employees, lift deliveries, I say, hey, man. How's things going? You love Jesus? It's just part of my conversation, and they know me.
Speaker 8:Everybody knows me for that. They know that I care. I ask them, how's your wife doing? How's your kids? Are they sick?
Speaker 8:What things are going on in your life? It's just getting to know people, and then they talk to you about Jesus, man. It's amazing. Every day. It's awesome.
Speaker 8:That wouldn't change my life at all.
Speaker 5:I mean, I think the obvious answer is like fear of man, but I think maybe a deeper answer could be like just simply not believing in yourself. Like, especially, like, church kids. Like, I grew up in the church. Like, I feel like it goes in one ear out the other a lot, and I take it for granted. And so sometimes I don't realize, like, number one, how much I need the gospel, but then how that would translate to, like, everyone around me.
Speaker 5:Who who else needs it. You know? Like, I feel like to an extent, that's just a facet of me not fully taking it to heart. Like, not fully realizing my own status before God because of Jesus. And I I think because of that, I'm and maybe many others are more hesitant to just actually want to go share the gospel because we don't see the importance of it because we're not actually taking it to our heart.
Speaker 5:You know? At least, I don't know. That would be my personal experience.
Speaker 7:Well, I can tell you what even holds me back at times is just fear and anxiety about what to say or how I'm gonna be received when I do it. And it's it's something I still struggle with today, but I know when the Lord is placing it in my mind and provoking me, you've gotta speak up.
Speaker 2:But having a fear is just looking weird different. You know? I mean, people are gonna think, and I just I had to get over that too and just start with conversation and let them lead it down the road and talk with them. You know? So but, yeah, I think that's a fear for everybody.
Speaker 2:And I even tell people because I work with churches, one of the things you help witness is a, invite card, you know, having in your pocket just in to invite somebody to church. If you don't feel like you can really say a lot, at least invite them to a church, you know, if you can. So
Speaker 6:Oh, I think I think when you're a new Christian or maybe new in your sanctification, it can be a couple of things. One, maybe embarrassment. Two, not being able to answer every question that someone might have. You know what I mean? Like, oh, yeah.
Speaker 6:Well, if God is so, you know, good, why did he create evil? And you're like, well, people have been arguing about that for six thousand years. Right? Like, we're not gonna solve that, you know, in the parking lot of Meijer. Right?
Speaker 6:So I would I would say those the you know, you don't have to have the answer to every question, but I also encourage anyone listening. I mean, study. Know know what the Bible says. Not only that, but know what your Muslim, friend believes. Know what your Mormon friend believes.
Speaker 6:Know what the Buddhist believes. Like, you do need to have some type of knowledge to be every Christian is called to be an apologist. Sometimes we think, oh, well, we got those guys over there that do You know, Frank Turek, he he he does that or, you know, whoever you wanna think of. No. Every single Christian is called to account.
Speaker 6:I mean, Paul praised the Bereans. They went back daily and searched the scriptures and went, is Paul what Paul's saying? Does that line up with what we were taught in the old covenant? And they went, oh, yeah. It does.
Speaker 6:It's a fulfillment of scripture. So I'd say don't be afraid and look at you know, cut your teeth on some of those conversations. Right? I think sometimes too, maybe it is embarrassment or like, oh, I'm gonna get ostracized and it's like, guys, we what the Lord did for us. Right?
Speaker 6:Like, who cares if someone thinks you're a little weird or different? I mean, that shouldn't even be in the forefront of our minds.
Speaker 4:When you think about the gospel, why why should we share it? Like, what motivates you to share it?
Speaker 8:Gratitude and empathy. You look at every person and know I told the story in jail. I I, I grew up in poverty with my grandparents. They took us out of an orphanage, and and then so they were we were living on their pot their pension, and so we didn't have much money. So we lived in this middle class neighborhood, so we had a lot of middle class people around us.
Speaker 8:And there was a guy that I looked up to. I don't wanna say his name, but his name was first name was Tim. He was a stud, and he had a great family. I can tell you where he lived, and we played baseball with him. I looked up to him, and I went down to the Gospel Rescue Mission to preach one time.
Speaker 8:And I was up there, and I looked down, and I started to cry because I seen Tim sitting on the front row with no front teeth from crack and at the shelter sleeping. And I changed my whole message. I said, there's no reason God put me here and put you there. It makes no sense to me at all. I should every person who knew me thought I should be there, and Tim should be standing here.
Speaker 8:I you're right. I don't wanna breathe. I wanna die right now if God thinks I'm gonna turn from him. I don't want nothing else. So it's easy.
Speaker 7:I think it's really just knowing that God has placed that person there, you know, at that specific time. And usually, it's the conversation that opens it up. You know, I could be talking about work and then all of a sudden out of the blue comes something dealing with religion. And it's like, at that point, you're like, okay. This didn't just this wasn't just some random thing they brought up.
Speaker 7:This is God putting this opportunity before me, and it's time to speak.
Speaker 2:Well, it is Matthew 28. It's a great commission, man. We are all called to go make disciples to all nations, and I think that is if you're a man of faith, and I think that's got to be part of not just a hearer of the word, but a doer of the word. We all, you know, say, yeah. That sounds great, and we can get studied up and forgiveness and all this, but we're actually not talking to other people.
Speaker 2:Our faith is dead. Right? As in God doesn't want the church to be a country club. He needs it to be a hospital where people are coming in and getting healed. You know?
Speaker 2:So I think that's super important that you get over that. You just have to, you know, you basically you just have to put yourself out there and allow God to give you the strength to do it and just start small like anything.
Speaker 6:Yeah. I mean, for me personally, and I I think this lines up biblically. If not, you guys can correct me, but it's like, I know what I've been forgiven of. And we talked about this a little bit on the podcast a few months ago of just there's such a gratefulness for me because I know I should be dead, and I know I deserve death and hell just because I I mean, I was a wretched person. You know?
Speaker 6:Like, I really relate to, like, John Newton who wrote Amazing Grace, who was a slave owner who would bust people's knees up and go and then he gets saved, and he goes, that saved a wretch like me. Like, I I don't deserve it. It's so much more than if I've been forgiven, how much more do I not go out and share that? You know? If you if your friend who was drowning, he would rescue them.
Speaker 6:Right? I mean, that's really how we have to look at evangelism. I think sometimes, and I've been, you know, guilty of this as well of getting caught in just being comfortable and going, well, I know I'm saved. I have assurance, and life is good, and I get busy, and I got kids, and I got a job, and I got this. And we go, well, I'm good.
Speaker 6:So who cares? And I'm not actively saying who cares about anyone else, but you, you know, you act that way. You're not evangelizing. I was just at Costco, like, I don't know, a month ago, and there was a gentleman there named Isaiah, and he looked probably like somewhere, I would say, like, Syria, Iraq, something like that. And he was checking me out, checking the, not checking
Speaker 7:me out.
Speaker 6:Sorry. Cut that. Cut that. No. Like, you know, scanning
Speaker 4:my Scanning your groceries.
Speaker 3:Good clarification.
Speaker 6:And it was as simple and it was as simple as, I like your name. And he goes, oh, thank you. Good. Do know what that means? You know?
Speaker 6:God saves. What an awesome name. Are you a believer? And he's like, no. And I said, oh, it's such a beautiful biblical name.
Speaker 6:You should you should look that up. Google it and look at the Hebrew roots of Isaiah. It's such a cool, you know, salvation of God and all the stuff. And he said, okay. And he kinda laughed nervously.
Speaker 6:I went back like two weeks ago and it the same guy. And I go, hey. I like your name. And he goes, you're that guy. Right?
Speaker 6:And we had a whole another conversation. Two times the Lord allowed me to just kinda plant a seed. But it's also very cool because because of my what I believe the Bible says, and that's the reason my theology is, I don't have to convince anyone. I just plant the seed. The Lord does the rest.
Speaker 6:The truth is what saves. God draws people. Right? I'm just supposed to preach the gospel wherever I'm at. I'm not supposed to have a light shown, song and dance, and know all the answers and convince them and go, no.
Speaker 6:You gotta believe. You just go, oh, no. This is who God is, and this is what he's done for me, this is what the Bible says, and the Lord does the rest. So kinda going back to your second question, let's let's get over that fear of, like, I don't have all the answers or I'm gonna feel weird. It's like, no.
Speaker 6:The Lord does all the work. The Lord draws. We we we just the Lord partners with us. Why He partners with us? I don't know why.
Speaker 6:He doesn't need us, but it's a because it blesses us. It honestly does.
Speaker 3:Yeah. Do you have any, like, verses that come to mind that have shaped how you think about evangelism or maybe that you turn to when you just when you're thinking about the topic in general?
Speaker 5:It's in, I believe, first Corinthians, the verse that's like, for love Christ compels us because we've we've concluded this that one one has died for all or yeah. Since one has died for many, essentially a quick layout of the gospel. I remember I had memorize that when I worked at a summer camp, and I just was like like the love of Christ compelling us was honestly in it like a compelling idea or I think another version might say controls us.
Speaker 4:This is second Corinthians five. So it's verses 14. It's okay, Jack. 14 through 15, Caleb. Could you read that real quick?
Speaker 9:For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore, all died. And he died for all so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for him who died and rose again on their behalf.
Speaker 4:So what what comes to mind when you think of that verse?
Speaker 5:Yeah. I mean, the it's all it's all obviously true and it's all the gospel, but the beginning part where it just says the love of Christ controls us or compels us. Like, when you're compelled by something, you don't just sit there. Like like, there's no compulsion if you're just sitting there or if you're silent. And especially if you use the word control, like, if we're controlled by being in the love of Christ, it's almost gonna be like a magnet to those who don't have the love of Christ.
Speaker 5:You know what I'm saying? Like, you're gonna be actually controlled by that. You're actually gonna recognize that these people are void of love in their lives simply because they don't have what I have. And learning that verse, it was in, like, a somewhat controlled Christian environment, like, when I memorized it. But I do remember going to school after that summer and, like, thinking, like, am I really controlled by the love of Christ?
Speaker 5:And then now coming to UT and I feel like actually, like, genuinely learning what it is what the love of Christ is and that, like, I really was void of love before before being saved, I should be controlled by it. I and it should cause me to go tell people that. And I have concluded that Christ died for me, that he died for all. That is the is the elect, but, like, he he died for me, and so I I better be controlled by that. You know?
Speaker 5:I better be moving like that's true.
Speaker 8:Well, I don't know if it's for sharing the gospel and evangelism, but I cry out to God. You know? I like Psalm one zero three and Psalm 93, especially Psalm 93 at the end, because he loves me, says the Lord. He would call on me and I will answer him. Or my probably my most favorite inspiration to share the gospel is Malachi three sixteen through 18.
Speaker 8:It says, because those who love the Lord spoke of the Lord, and the Lord listened and called for a book of remembrance he written in his presence concerning those who honored and feared his name. The Lord says, because they love or no. I'm sorry. He says, the Lord says, I when I act, I will treat them like a prized possession. I will treat them like a son who obeys their father.
Speaker 8:That way, you know the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not. So us talking about the Lord, he's listening, and he's writing it down So then the day of act, he's got he's gonna treat us like it's Christ's choice. So it's inspiration. But I I another verse that I I repeat constantly that's is Romans eight twenty eight. I say to God all the time, Lord, if you don't turn this for good, I'm doomed.
Speaker 8:If Romans eight twenty eight is not true, I'm doomed. You have got to turn everything for good.
Speaker 7:I mean, outside of the I mean, the simple the great commission, you know, I mean, it's is that's always one that somebody can go to. But when it comes to witnessing itself, you know, we just have to remember first that it's not our words. It's God's word that transforms lives. So even just telling people that Jesus Christ came to save sinners is and or telling people that, you know, that you're an eternal being and there will life goes on after death and there will be a judgment, are very powerful things. And but I said, the the gospel message is simple.
Speaker 7:We I sometimes think we complicate it too much in our own minds.
Speaker 2:Yeah. Well, I think, obviously, I think it's written throughout the whole the Bible. So now I don't have a top verse that would come to me outside of that, but we all know as Christians that we are to go to all nations and do that. Know? And so all nations literally can be next door neighbor.
Speaker 2:Right? You know, the person you work with and that. I one thing in my faith is when you are like, I had an assistant that was a lesbian, my first hand assistant. It's like I had to learn not to have a hatred towards her, but to love her because she's not a Christian, you know? Yet I have this hatred towards homosexuality and and yet had to learn just to love.
Speaker 2:And so that was a strong witness right there, you know. It's just like, just love somebody that you really don't want to, you know, that's really out there, you know, maybe, you know, some kind of wacky religion, whatever. So, you know, it's just like you have to just just God's call us to love them, and that's witnessing there. You know?
Speaker 6:I mean I mean, the old Ray Comfort. Right? The very first one, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. That's the baseline that we have to get people to when you're evangelizing because, generally, people go, I'm a pretty good I mean, I think I'm gonna be in heaven. I'm a pretty good guy.
Speaker 6:I take care of my kids, and, you know, I make it you know, I go to work, and I'm, like, out there murdering people or beating people up or you know? And you have to realize, oh, no. You've broken the law of God. God is such so holy and righteous and just so so that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. And then I really like the, you know, your righteousness is like dirty rags because people do, even unbelievers, have some sense of, like, well, if I do good, then good should come back to me.
Speaker 6:Right? Like, this kind of Eastern mysticism, what goes around comes around. And they don't really understand, you what you reap, what you sow. And those two things are totally separate. Right?
Speaker 6:Like, Christians will sometimes go, oh, what goes around comes around. You reap what you sow. Two totally different things. Stop saying that, Christians. I'm just that's a side note.
Speaker 6:It has nothing to do with the episode. Stop saying that. What goes around comes around is like some it's like a mystical kind of, like, statistical well, maybe it'll come back around. Reaping what you sow, the lord put labor in it. Whatever you put into the ground.
Speaker 6:If you plant an apple tree, you're gonna get apples. If you plant right? If you plant a fig tree, you're gonna get figs. Like, whatever you plant in life, whatever you labor after, that's what you get. And, I think even unbelievers think some understand that concept.
Speaker 6:So we have to go, yeah, but even your good works to adjust God to a righteous holy God is like filthy rags. So I'd say those are the two where I start. And if you can get someone in that mindset of just think of really looking going, well, what if there was a creator that was so righteous and so just and so perfect, what would I look like compared to that? Well, now I've now I've got you thinking in the right right direction. Right?
Speaker 6:I don't wanna take the Pentecostal, the charismatic approach of, like, god will meet you right where you are. He loves you no matter what. He just wants to give you blessings. People go, what are you talking about? I got a boat, a cabin, a nice way.
Speaker 6:I don't need god. I feel great. Well, that's not why we get saved for things and blessings. Right? It is a blessing to be saved, and God does bless us, and he loves to bless his children.
Speaker 6:But, we gotta get people in the mindset of, no. You absolutely do need God, and and here's why. So those would probably be the first two, and those are kinda harsh verses, really. Yeah. But there's some there's some nice flower ones we can follow-up with after we get them in on track with that.
Speaker 6:You need God first and foremost.
Speaker 3:I guess lastly, we would ask just, is there is there one practical thing that you or practical advice that you could give, the listeners of this podcast that want to get better at, sharing the gospel with others?
Speaker 4:Even something they could do, like, just this week, you know, with talking about Jesus or the gospel.
Speaker 2:Yeah. I heard it once said that, give yourself a forty eight hour rule, meaning you have to get this task done in forty eight hours. I mean, just put that time limit on yourself, or you never do things like that. So you just challenge yourself to make the small step, to say something to the clerk. Yeah.
Speaker 2:This grocery store you're going to. Hey. How are you doing? How's today? That's all you have to do.
Speaker 2:And and and then let the conversation roll from there. So we all just like when you go in a workout and, you know, build your muscles, if you haven't done it in a lot of years, you got you're not throwing on heavy weights. You're throwing on a really, really lightweight and doing some reps, getting the motions down. So it's the same thing with witnessing. We just have to start small, and it's literally, hi.
Speaker 2:How are you? You know, how are you doing today? Just asking a question. So, I mean, that's one of the, I think, the best tool that we can have. We can all be challenged to do something like that and let God direct the conversation.
Speaker 2:Because today's world, we are all in our own silos, our own bubbles, we're on AirPods, inner ears, you know. We are we are set we live separate from each other. Nobody wants to talk to each other anymore. It's amazing if you get out there, that people will talk and if you get out there. So
Speaker 8:Fall in love with Jesus. Realize who you could be if it wasn't for him. That he has called you the number one call of your life. What we know it is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. And so we're here to glorify him.
Speaker 8:And why in the world would you reserve that just for yourself? I mean, I met a young kid. He was a Christian. And I'm talking to this kid, and he tells me his parents are wealthy. And and he says that, he's newly saved.
Speaker 8:They're Catholics, and he got newly saved. And I really think it was he's in love with this girl. And she said, I'm not marrying you unless you you change. And so he's now going to church. And so I'm challenging him because I know the girl.
Speaker 8:She's grew up and I know her. And so I'm challenging him and say, so have you shared the gospel with your parents yet? And he said, well, no. No. It's kind of it's kind of I said, man, do you love Jesus?
Speaker 8:He said, yeah. I said, do do you believe that without him, you go to the pit of hell? He said, yes. I do. And I said, do you love your parents?
Speaker 8:You have the cure to death in your pocket, and you're thinking that I I it might be too embarrassing to reveal this to them. I mean, seriously, save
Speaker 4:the
Speaker 8:world if you believe it. I've heard unbelievers say it. This atheist said, you know, one of the things that kept me from believing I I became an agnostic because there's too much evidence, but the thing that kept me from believing Christians is if they really believe what they taught, they do not practice it. They don't act like it. Because if you believe that you're gonna get God's wrath, then you would look at the world and you'd have Christ's heart.
Speaker 5:Definitely was a game changer to start regularly, like, walking around campus and just I mean, you had, like, the library when it was nice weather, there's just random people walking around. That was nice to just have that platform to go do that. And so I obviously had the infrastructure of someone saying, like, we're gonna go do this and, like, let's go out and get this, like going. But I I will say I probably would have been less prone to do it if it wasn't in pairs. And so I guess I would say if you're like feeling feeling like not on your a game about evangelism in that, like, in that aspect of your walk.
Speaker 5:If you feel like you're lacking in evangelism, which I feel like we all are, but a good way to start is, like, you know, find a brother or sister that kind of feels the same way, but feels like they they also wanna get get out there and go. And just set aside some time. Like, it really, like, doesn't take that long to talk to a few people, like three or four people. And if you have two people, you like, maybe if anything, you're gonna be more intimidating to the person you're approaching, then then they're gonna intimidate you. You know?
Speaker 5:If you have another person and it also I mean, it depends where you're going, like, to do that. But I think walking around in public with another person who has your same goal, who kinda has your back, that takes away a little bit of fear of man. And then, guess, just when you do meet someone that you feel, like, called to go talk to and and you do talk to them, then keep them in your prayers. Like, continue to pray for them and that you'll see them again or that you'll get to see god's work in their life or that just at the very least that god will move through that conversation. And, like, I remember I did that one time.
Speaker 5:I was with one of my friends, and we prayed for the guy, and then we prayed together after. We're, like, like, bring him back to us or, like, allows us to see him again and ask him. And, like, the next week at prayer group, we went out again, and he was in the library, like, again, you know, and we got to see him. So I think both of those things, like, going out with a partner, get over if you're a man, but then keeping praying so that, like, it's still focused on, like, not what are my words, but, like, what's the work of the Lord gonna be through this? It'll just make make you depend on God more through the process.
Speaker 7:Don't be afraid to to put to mention God, to mention Jesus in any of your conversation. You know, if something good happens, say praise God. You know, you you don't have to just be overtly out there, I guess. You know? But there are little things you can do that, you know, there's a actually, that my coworker, the actually, guy I share an office with, his dad had a heart attack the other week.
Speaker 7:And I said, well, I will pray for him and actually prayed a short prayer right there, which I think kinda shocked him. But, you know, it it's it's stuff like that. It's and I think even that opens up the door, you know, that people at work, you know, they know that I'm a Christian. Their their even their conversation and their their sentences will change. Yeah.
Speaker 7:You know, it's like, oh, I didn't mean to say that kind of a thing. But it's it's really just being a light.
Speaker 6:Well, the one example I said before was names. Everyone has a name, and it's so fun to comment on what the meaning of a name is. Names are really big in the Bible too. Like, God changes names, and it's always weird. I always like, if I look up Nick or I look up Isaac, it probably has something to do with your personality a little bit.
Speaker 6:And I know that sounds weird, but I truly believe in a sovereign God, he goes, you're named Isaac. You're named Nicholas. There's something in you know, my name's Greg, which is watch which means a guardian of truth, a watcher over truth. And I'm like, oh, yeah. I'm very justice oriented and I just wanna know the truth.
Speaker 6:So there's something to be
Speaker 3:What's your name
Speaker 4:mean, Nick? Well, my name means victory for the people.
Speaker 2:Oh. I do know. Yeah.
Speaker 4:What is yours? Laughter. Yeah.
Speaker 6:But you're a very joyful person, and and you are a very, like like, group oriented, like, let's get the people to the next level. I like it. See? So but my point is is, like, everyone has a name. And if you have, like, say, have a coworker or someone you see a lot, go find out the meaning of their name and just start a conversation that way.
Speaker 6:Almost every name is rooted back to either Latin or Greek. There's gonna be a lot of Hebrew, and you can get get away in there, I found. But I've also found too is, like, just living like Christ will draw attention to people. Well, why didn't you partake in those jokes we were telling at lunchtime? Or why did you know what I mean?
Speaker 6:Or why did you steer the conversation back to something else when we were talking about, you know, the office girl or whatever? I've noticed just by being set apart a little bit, that's all that holy means. Right? It's set apart, different, unique. People will come to you and go, what's that what's that all about?
Speaker 6:I've never even heard you drop an f bomb. Why is that? Oh, I, you know, I believe my language belongs to God, and I wanna be holy when I talk. So I don't, you know, I don't say that. I can express it in other ways.
Speaker 6:They go, He go, have you ever tried to not cuss? It's kinda crazy. Give yourself a channel. And you're right in. And now we're talking you know what I mean?
Speaker 6:So I would say practically, it's it's reflect Christ in your acts of speech and words, and they'll naturally come to you. But find something personal about the person that you do wanna evangelize to. And we always we all see the same people over and over. I don't even care. Even if you work for yourself, own your own business, you have clients or customers you're gonna see regularly, get to know them personally too.
Speaker 6:That's why I've never really been I love the brothers that do street preaching, but it's so hard to connect when someone's walking by. You know, you got a billboard or something. I really like the personal within my little community, my little part of the kingdom that the Lord has given me. Right? Whether that's friends, family, clients, customers.
Speaker 6:Like, the Lord says, take dominion over that and reflect me in that area. That's how Jesus did it. I mean, he had one little community and right? The kingdom that turned the world upside down by one little part of Nazareth. So I'd say just be consistent in that.
Speaker 4:Thank you for your time, Mario.
Speaker 8:God bless you, man.
Speaker 4:Thank you for your time, Craig. Love you.
Speaker 7:Love you, guys.
Speaker 4:Jack, thank you for your time. Love you.
Speaker 5:Yeah. Of course. Love you, guys.
Speaker 4:That's very helpful. Thank you, dad. Love you. Thank you for your time.
Speaker 2:Hey, man. Be blessed, guys.
Speaker 4:Love you, Greg.
Speaker 5:Thank you.
Speaker 6:Love you too, man.
Speaker 4:I think we can end there.
Speaker 3:Yeah. Think we can end there. Much apologies for not having a riddle this week. We don't have service out here. Actually, could probably figure it out, but at this point, it's too late.
Speaker 3:But Nick, let me
Speaker 4:You have the outro? I I could I think
Speaker 2:I could do it off cuff.
Speaker 4:Thank you guys for listening to this episode of Fellow Heirs. We hope this episode was helpful and encouraging and pointed you towards Christ. If you enjoyed it, please share it with a friend or a relative or coworker, and you should probably be talking about Jesus with that friend or relative or coworker. So do that as well. And if you listen to
Speaker 3:this with with the AirPods in, I hope you heard that that call out from Tim. So take those AirPods out and connect with someone in real life.
Speaker 4:Yeah. Yeah. Actually, that was a I forgot about that too, but that's so true. Pete, we love to live in our own worlds and headphones, man. Yeah.
Speaker 4:They keep people from talking to each other, but it's so true what he said. There are so many people willing to talk. We're all so scared and we think, oh, this guy doesn't wanna talk to me. No. Not true.
Speaker 4:People are so eager to talk.
Speaker 3:But hopefully, you didn't hear that last part that Nick said because you took your AirPods out right away.
Speaker 4:Right. Right. Yeah. So we hope you enjoyed this episode, and I think that'll wait. Alright.
Speaker 4:Did I miss anything?
Speaker 3:No. I mean, I love you, Nick. Love you too, Isaac.