Convictions….
lately God has been dealing with me on a word – the word is CONVICTION – so i decided to look it up and this is what i found via thefreedictionary.com A fixed or strong belief. See Synonyms at opinion. so this is saying that a conviction is synonymous with opinion hmm …. so now my definition of a conviction – an opinion one has based upon a strong belief to break it down to a “christian” standpoint – an opinion one has due to God speaking to THAT person about a belief for THAT person, not necessarily applying to everyone. Not to be confused with fact – i.e. Jesus Christ came to this earth and died for our sins so that we can get to heaven… Convictions are person specific and may not apply to the person next to you – so i would be careful trying to FORCE your convictions onto others – this could cause some adverse reaction…Servant Evangelism
Many years ago i was introduced to a really cool way to let people know about the love of God without having to spend time talking and “witnessing” to them. Let me make myself clear – witnessing whether it is house to house or at the grocery store is important – but it is not for everyone. Some people just are not comfortable sharing their testimony or the Roman road with people. This simple activity allows ANYONE to fulfill the great commission.
I am a firm believer that we as the church (Christ followers) need to exhibit a love that is as close to God as possible. As i said sunday – it seems that we have really started to blend in and it is hard for people to tell that there is any difference in us and the world. So some super smart person came up with an idea that will allow the church to show God’s love to them. This wonderful invention is called servant evangelism.
The following was taken from http://www.channelsidechurch.com
“Servant evangelism is a simple, straightforward approach to sharing God’s love in simple, practical ways. Every person is at a unique place in their gradual awakening to the love of Christ. Servant Evangelism draws everyone it touches closer to accepting Christ regardless of their own personal situation. Deeds of kindness tenderize hearts, so they can later receive the message of God’s love. As we serve people, God will provide opportunities to explain the Gospel message and eventually to pray with people to start a new life in relationship with Jesus Christ.
With servant evangelism, people begin to open their hearts to God’s love and Christians are built up in their courage to share their faith with others. Whether it is giving away cold water bottles to thirsty people, setting up fun games for kids in the park or giving away candy and popcorn to young families, servant evangelism is simply sharing God’s love in a practical way.”
There are several ways “to do” servant evangelism – and they all work. as the article said from handing out bottles of water to going door to door giving away candy, popcorn, light bulbs or bread to neighbors – it all works!
If you are interested in participating be sure to stop by the church and find out more information.