Day 6 - 40 Days of Focus:Evangelism

Can I Pray for You?

Everybody needs help with something. Many years ago a man came to speak at the Dallas Seminary’s chapel while I was a student there. He was invited to share because God had revealed to him a great truth about evangelism. People in America are often offended by Christians who try to convince them that they are sinners and need Jesus. However, if you simply ask, “Can I pray for you,” most people will feel loved and will welcome the support. This then opens the door to further spiritual conversations. If you will honestly pray for the requests that people give you then you will be inviting God to answer their prayers and draw them to Himself.

Start by choosing one or two people/families who you can offer to pray for. Next, find a good time to ask them. You may want to have them over for dinner at your home or you may find that the lunch table at work is a good place. Then, simply ask them how you can pray for them. Once you have a prayer request, pray for it daily for at least a week and then make sure to follow up with asking how the issue you prayed for is going. This may lead to new prayer requests. It will likely give you an opportunity to talk about how Jesus has changed you and why you believe (sharing the good news). After a while you might also try asking them if they wouldn’t mind praying for you. If they don’t know how, you can take an opportunity to tell them it all begins with a relationship...

Day 5 - 40 Days of Focus:Evanelism

Matthew 13:3-9
“Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

The truth of the gospel is the seed that can sprout and become faith that leads to everlasting life. So, we share what we know with those around us, but some receive it and others don’t. The parable of the soils helps us understand why sometimes faith grows and sometimes it does not.

But is there any way we can prepare the soil better? Can we remove rocks and break up hard ground? Can we pull weeds and clear them? Prayer is our best gardening tool. It is the way we cultivate the soil of those who cannot receive the gospel.

Colossians 4:2-6
2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.