Engage: Before You Engage

Summary

Catherine Renfro, Director of Evangelism at the North American Mission Board, discusses strategies for fostering a culture of evangelism in churches. She emphasizes redefining success in gospel conversations, sharing conversation starters, and encouraging prayer for opportunities to share the gospel. Renfro highlights the importance of equipping church members with the courage and confidence to engage in gospel discussions, using practical tips and resources like the 30-day prayer guide from Hoosier1.com.

Takeaways

• 😇 Defining Success: Success in gospel conversations isn't about someone getting saved but sharing the gospel itself, as God is responsible for the results.
• 🌱 Planting and Watering: Paul's words in First Corinthians 3:6 emphasize that believers plant and water, but God gives the growth, reminding us to focus on sharing the gospel rather than the outcome.
• 🗣️ Conversation Starters: Having a few gospel conversation starters can help initiate discussions about Jesus, such as asking to pray for someone or inquiring about their spiritual beliefs.
• 💪 Courage and Confidence: Conversation starters can provide the courage and confidence needed to start gospel conversations, especially when one is unsure of the other person's response.
• 🙏 Praying for Opportunities: Encouraging church members to pray for opportunities to share the gospel is a powerful practice, as it aligns with God's will and can lead to fruitful conversations.
• 📅 Daily Prayer Practice: Psalm 5:2 suggests that praying in the morning for opportunities to share the gospel sets the tone for the day and prepares one for divine appointments.
• 📝 30-Day Prayer Guide: The Hoosier one 30-day prayer guide is a resource that can help church members pray daily for those in their lives who do not know Jesus.
• 📱 Available Resources: The prayer guide can be found on hoosier1.com or the YouVersion app, making it accessible for church members to engage in daily prayer.
• 🌟 Personal Stories: Personal testimonies, like the story of a person praying for their father's salvation for years, illustrate the power of prayer and the joy of answered prayers.
• 🛡️ Preparing for Conversations: Being prepared with a clear definition of success, conversation starters, and a habit of prayer helps church members to be more intentional in their gospel conversations.
• 🚪 Opportunities Abound: The Bible teaches that the harvest is plentiful, indicating that as the church prays and prepares, opportunities to share the gospel will present themselves.

Q & A

Who is Catherine Renfro and what is her role?

Catherine Renfro is the Director of Evangelism at the North American Mission Board.

What is the main topic of the conversation in the script?

The main topic is creating a culture of evangelism in a church, focusing on the third phase called 'engage'.

What is the first thing suggested to do before engaging in gospel conversations?

The first thing suggested is to redefine success in terms of gospel conversations, emphasizing that success is simply sharing the gospel, not necessarily seeing someone saved.

How does the script define success in gospel conversations?

Success in gospel conversations is defined as sharing the gospel itself, not necessarily the conversion of the listener.

What biblical reference is used to illustrate that God is responsible for the outcomes of gospel conversations?

First Corinthians Chapter 3 Verse 6, where Paul says that he planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.

What is the second suggestion for preparing to engage in gospel conversations?

The second suggestion is to start sharing gospel conversation starters with people before they engage in those conversations.

Can you provide some examples of gospel conversation starters mentioned in the script?

Examples include asking 'How can I pray for you?', 'Do you have any spiritual beliefs?', 'Has anyone ever told you about Jesus?', 'Do you have a church you attend?', and 'May I share my story with you?'.

What is the third thing suggested to do before engaging in gospel conversations?

The third suggestion is to help people start praying for opportunities to share the gospel.

What does Psalm chapter 5 verse 2 say about morning prayers?

Psalm chapter 5 verse 2 says, 'In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my request before you and I wait expectantly.'

What is the purpose of praying for opportunities before engaging in gospel conversations?

Praying for opportunities helps believers to identify people in their lives who don't have a relationship with Jesus and to ask God for the chance to share the gospel with them.

What resource is mentioned in the script to help church members pray for people in their lives who don't know Jesus?

A 30-day prayer guide called 'Hoosier One' is mentioned, which can be found at hoosier1.com or on the YouVersion app.