Comments on: Opportunities | Which Ones Should We Be Looking For? http://www.johnwoolsey.net/2007/11/04/opportunities-have-you-asked-this-question/ Tue, 15 Jun 2010 23:32:07 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: John http://www.johnwoolsey.net/2007/11/04/opportunities-have-you-asked-this-question/comment-page-1/#comment-50 John Tue, 06 Nov 2007 06:00:44 +0000 http://www.johnwoolsey.net/?p=44#comment-50 Jeff - I definitely wouldn't deny the need to tell people about the Gospel of Christ. As you pointed out, Paul did ask, 'how will they know unless they hear?' I have found that until I have earned the right to enter a persons life and gain his/her trust I can't tell them about my faith with any credibility. I know it isn't a complete formula, but I truly believe its where a Christian starts. In response to 'creating disciples before they get 'saved'', I would say that is a beautiful process and it happens often when Christians follow the command to love their neighbor. I have a friend that has just gotten back from a missional ministry in North Africa. He and his wife are back state-side and are heading for Fort Wayne, Indiana to do inner city ministry from a 'disciples through love first, create a church second' approach. I can't wait to see how it goes there. Jeff – I definitely wouldn’t deny the need to tell people about the Gospel of Christ. As you pointed out, Paul did ask, ‘how will they know unless they hear?’ I have found that until I have earned the right to enter a persons life and gain his/her trust I can’t tell them about my faith with any credibility. I know it isn’t a complete formula, but I truly believe its where a Christian starts.

In response to ‘creating disciples before they get ‘saved”, I would say that is a beautiful process and it happens often when Christians follow the command to love their neighbor. I have a friend that has just gotten back from a missional ministry in North Africa. He and his wife are back state-side and are heading for Fort Wayne, Indiana to do inner city ministry from a ‘disciples through love first, create a church second’ approach. I can’t wait to see how it goes there.

]]> By: Jeff Gill http://www.johnwoolsey.net/2007/11/04/opportunities-have-you-asked-this-question/comment-page-1/#comment-49 Jeff Gill Mon, 05 Nov 2007 21:54:48 +0000 http://www.johnwoolsey.net/?p=44#comment-49 My mind is going all over the place with the implications of this. What about the great commission? Is it possible to start making disciples before of people before they 'get saved'? How much did Jesus's disciples know about what they were getting into when they started following him? Preaching is important; Jesus and the apostles did lots of it. Where and when does it come in when with our friends, neighbors and co-workers? How will they know unless they hear? (Paul's question) How much do I actually trust the Holy Spirit to work in other people's lives? Amid all these questions is one thing I am certain about: 'turning every person we meet into a commodity' is a bad thing that happens too much. I once heard Johnathon Benz (http://jonathanbenz.typepad.com/jonathans_weblog/) challenge a small group with this: Would you make friends with someone and continue to be their friend, even if they never become a Christian? Thanks so much for this brain food. It has come at a good time for me. My mind is going all over the place with the implications of this.
What about the great commission?
Is it possible to start making disciples before of people before they ‘get saved’?
How much did Jesus’s disciples know about what they were getting into when they started following him?
Preaching is important; Jesus and the apostles did lots of it. Where and when does it come in when with our friends, neighbors and co-workers?
How will they know unless they hear? (Paul’s question)
How much do I actually trust the Holy Spirit to work in other people’s lives?

Amid all these questions is one thing I am certain about: ‘turning every person we meet into a commodity’ is a bad thing that happens too much. I once heard Johnathon Benz (http://jonathanbenz.typepad.com/jonathans_weblog/) challenge a small group with this: Would you make friends with someone and continue to be their friend, even if they never become a Christian?

Thanks so much for this brain food. It has come at a good time for me.

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