I read this post from the Gospel Coalition from John Starke on the 7 lessons he has learned recently on evangelism and thought the last two were particularly interesting as they are topics we write about frequently on the blog:
6. I should think more strategically about being around unbelievers, or I’ll never be around them. This is probably more of a problem for pastors and seminary students. It’s difficult to practice evangelism when our schedules are filled with being around other church leaders, seminary students, and those we are discipling. The shepherd impulse to be around sheep is not a bad one, but if we want our congregants to be active in evangelism, we should lead the way. I’d love to hear how readers who are pastors have strategically made time for personal evangelism.
7. I need to pray that I would have the eyes to see opportunities to share the gospel. I probably spend a good 15 hours a week doing work at coffee shops around town. Rarely do I pause what I’m doing, turn around, and talk to the person next to me. Let me guilt myself even more—I ignore those around me while reading a book or listening to a talk on personal evangelism! There are lots of reasons to pray concerning evangelism—this one, I think, is a good one.
Amen.
