1 00:00:37,970 --> 00:00:41,531 Speaker 1: Hey friends, it's Kelly from Life Audio. We just launched 2 00:00:41,531 --> 00:00:45,171 Speaker 1: something new. It's called The Good Word, our free weekly 3 00:00:45,251 --> 00:00:48,131 Speaker 1: newsletter built for people who want to go a little 4 00:00:48,171 --> 00:00:54,091 Speaker 1: deeper in their faith. Thank devotionals, guided prayers, curated podcast recommendations, 5 00:00:54,131 --> 00:00:57,331 Speaker 1: and a little community all in one place. No ads, 6 00:00:57,731 --> 00:01:00,211 Speaker 1: just good content. This one means a lot to us. 7 00:01:00,451 --> 00:01:03,211 Speaker 1: We built the Good Word based on the audience survey 8 00:01:03,491 --> 00:01:05,811 Speaker 1: so many of you filled out a few months back. 9 00:01:05,971 --> 00:01:08,450 Speaker 1: You told us what you wanted and we listened. So 10 00:01:08,611 --> 00:01:11,530 Speaker 1: thank you truly for helping us shape this. Head to 11 00:01:11,571 --> 00:01:14,211 Speaker 1: the link in the show notes and join our community today. 12 00:01:14,411 --> 00:01:15,450 Speaker 1: We'd love to have you. 13 00:01:18,371 --> 00:01:29,170 Speaker 2: Life Audio. Welcome to the cross Swat devotional. We're glad 14 00:01:29,211 --> 00:01:32,291 Speaker 2: to have you listening with us. Today's topic is about 15 00:01:32,291 --> 00:01:35,331 Speaker 2: a kinder way to witness for Jesus Christ. Will we 16 00:01:35,450 --> 00:01:51,851 Speaker 2: turned with a devotional after our message our responsors. A 17 00:01:51,971 --> 00:01:55,811 Speaker 2: Kinder Way to Witness, written and read by alexis a 18 00:01:56,211 --> 00:02:00,371 Speaker 2: goring a new command. I give you love one another 19 00:02:00,971 --> 00:02:04,251 Speaker 2: as I have loved you, so you must love one another. 20 00:02:04,811 --> 00:02:08,011 Speaker 2: By this, everyone will know that you were my disciples. 21 00:02:08,131 --> 00:02:11,770 Speaker 2: If you love one another, John Chapter thirteen, verses thirty 22 00:02:11,810 --> 00:02:16,131 Speaker 2: four and thirty five NIV. One evening, as I was 23 00:02:16,211 --> 00:02:18,410 Speaker 2: leaving the building where I worked in Washington, d C. 24 00:02:19,091 --> 00:02:21,811 Speaker 2: I saw a man standing in the middle of walking traffic, 25 00:02:21,971 --> 00:02:26,451 Speaker 2: holding a megaphone and shouting at everyone as they passed by. 26 00:02:26,611 --> 00:02:29,531 Speaker 2: He was telling them to stop sinning and was using 27 00:02:29,571 --> 00:02:31,891 Speaker 2: a lot of words that only Christians to know the 28 00:02:31,930 --> 00:02:36,171 Speaker 2: Bible understand. I also noticed that he had an angry demeanor. 29 00:02:36,771 --> 00:02:39,731 Speaker 2: I wrought away, thinking that's not how you get people 30 00:02:39,771 --> 00:02:43,090 Speaker 2: to want to know Jesus Christ. I'm not an expert 31 00:02:43,370 --> 00:02:46,331 Speaker 2: nor an evangelist, but I believe there is a kinder 32 00:02:46,371 --> 00:02:49,171 Speaker 2: way to witness. The Bible says we are to speak 33 00:02:49,171 --> 00:02:51,651 Speaker 2: the truth in love Aphaesian chapter four and verse fifteen. 34 00:02:52,411 --> 00:02:54,530 Speaker 2: God doesn't tell us that hit people over the head 35 00:02:54,571 --> 00:02:57,891 Speaker 2: with the Holy Bible, shout angry words of combination through 36 00:02:57,931 --> 00:03:01,371 Speaker 2: a megaphone or microphone, nor tell people wantly that they 37 00:03:01,371 --> 00:03:03,810 Speaker 2: are going to hell, or make them feel less or 38 00:03:03,851 --> 00:03:07,011 Speaker 2: than for not yet knowing Jesus. I would like to 39 00:03:07,011 --> 00:03:11,171 Speaker 2: suggest a kinder way to witness. Here's what I believe. First, 40 00:03:11,490 --> 00:03:15,731 Speaker 2: we preach with their life. John my author, an American pastor, 41 00:03:16,211 --> 00:03:21,091 Speaker 2: stated you are their only Bible. Some unbelievers will ever read. 42 00:03:21,611 --> 00:03:25,131 Speaker 2: According to Google, this quote highlights the concept that for 43 00:03:25,291 --> 00:03:29,611 Speaker 2: non Christians, a believers, daily actions, character, and life testimony 44 00:03:29,971 --> 00:03:33,291 Speaker 2: serve us their first and sometimes only exposure to the 45 00:03:33,331 --> 00:03:37,371 Speaker 2: teachings of Jesus. The quote challenges believers to live a consistent, 46 00:03:37,411 --> 00:03:41,931 Speaker 2: transparent life that accurately reflects God's word. It emphasizes that 47 00:03:41,971 --> 00:03:45,331 Speaker 2: a Christian's behavior should draw others to ward Christ rather 48 00:03:45,371 --> 00:03:49,651 Speaker 2: than drive them away. Second, Christians should acknowledge we are 49 00:03:49,691 --> 00:03:52,651 Speaker 2: all sinners who need a savior, but then speak the 50 00:03:52,651 --> 00:03:55,611 Speaker 2: truth and love. Start by telling people about a king 51 00:03:55,971 --> 00:03:59,171 Speaker 2: God who loves them so much that he left the 52 00:03:59,171 --> 00:04:01,771 Speaker 2: glory and perfection of heaven to come to earth in 53 00:04:01,851 --> 00:04:04,851 Speaker 2: human form to save our souls. Encourage them to read 54 00:04:04,891 --> 00:04:08,371 Speaker 2: John chapter three, Versus sixteen and seventeen for details. Let 55 00:04:08,411 --> 00:04:12,131 Speaker 2: the people know that this eternal king offers them life 56 00:04:12,211 --> 00:04:16,051 Speaker 2: after death and a place heaven so wonderful that no 57 00:04:16,211 --> 00:04:20,210 Speaker 2: human words in any language can describe. Let the people 58 00:04:20,331 --> 00:04:23,010 Speaker 2: know that the way to have eternal life after death 59 00:04:23,491 --> 00:04:26,491 Speaker 2: is through accepting the free gifts of salvation. Offers the 60 00:04:26,611 --> 00:04:31,210 Speaker 2: relationship with God's son Jesus Christ. Third, be prepared to 61 00:04:31,211 --> 00:04:33,571 Speaker 2: share your testimony about why you believe in God and 62 00:04:33,611 --> 00:04:35,690 Speaker 2: why you have a stuff that Jesus Christ is your savior. 63 00:04:36,331 --> 00:04:38,690 Speaker 2: When I worked as a journalist, he had a conversation 64 00:04:38,770 --> 00:04:41,330 Speaker 2: with a coworker. He wanted to know about my faith 65 00:04:41,331 --> 00:04:43,651 Speaker 2: in God. After I told him why I believe in 66 00:04:43,691 --> 00:04:46,811 Speaker 2: God and why I followed Jesus Christ, the conversation turned 67 00:04:46,811 --> 00:04:49,170 Speaker 2: to the Bible. He told me that the Bible doesn't 68 00:04:49,171 --> 00:04:51,251 Speaker 2: make sense, but you read it from a journalist perspective. 69 00:04:51,851 --> 00:04:53,931 Speaker 2: I didn't know what to say then, but years on 70 00:04:54,011 --> 00:04:57,371 Speaker 2: more life experiences later, I realized I should have responded 71 00:04:57,371 --> 00:04:59,130 Speaker 2: that you have to read the Bible with the relents 72 00:04:59,171 --> 00:05:02,011 Speaker 2: of faith, with help from the Holy Spirit to understand it, 73 00:05:02,411 --> 00:05:06,611 Speaker 2: because spiritual things are spiritually discerned First Corinthians of two, 74 00:05:07,011 --> 00:05:10,811 Speaker 2: verse fourteen. When I told him that God had sheep 75 00:05:10,851 --> 00:05:14,010 Speaker 2: and other pastors jauned up to ten verse sixteen, he 76 00:05:14,051 --> 00:05:17,130 Speaker 2: became offended. He told me that he hates it when 77 00:05:17,211 --> 00:05:20,411 Speaker 2: Christians say that, because he is not dumb like a sheep. 78 00:05:21,371 --> 00:05:23,651 Speaker 2: I realized then that I didn't know how to reach 79 00:05:23,731 --> 00:05:26,330 Speaker 2: him with God's truth. I knew not to be aggressive 80 00:05:26,331 --> 00:05:28,890 Speaker 2: and witnessing about Christ to him, and I did my 81 00:05:28,971 --> 00:05:31,371 Speaker 2: best dispeak the truth of love. But I did not 82 00:05:31,531 --> 00:05:34,411 Speaker 2: have the life experiences and deeper wisdom that I have now. 83 00:05:34,891 --> 00:05:38,211 Speaker 2: I wasn't equipped to effectively win his soul to Jesus. 84 00:05:38,491 --> 00:05:40,411 Speaker 2: But I believe I did a plant a sea of 85 00:05:40,451 --> 00:05:43,131 Speaker 2: faith in him during that conversation. And I know that 86 00:05:43,171 --> 00:05:45,571 Speaker 2: God can send more christ followers to him and everyone 87 00:05:45,571 --> 00:05:48,530 Speaker 2: else does know Jesus yet, and those Christians can border 88 00:05:48,531 --> 00:05:51,090 Speaker 2: the seas I and others plant it to the point where, 89 00:05:51,291 --> 00:05:56,731 Speaker 2: if willing, he can have faith in Jesus. That blimes. Finally, 90 00:05:57,130 --> 00:05:59,171 Speaker 2: I like to say that people have to be willing 91 00:05:59,211 --> 00:06:02,731 Speaker 2: to follow Jesus. God will never force anybody to believe 92 00:06:02,731 --> 00:06:05,691 Speaker 2: in Him and follow Christ. He gave us all free will, 93 00:06:06,171 --> 00:06:09,051 Speaker 2: but he does encourage us to choose life. Did around 94 00:06:09,051 --> 00:06:12,131 Speaker 2: reach at the thirty verse nineteen. What I learned from 95 00:06:12,171 --> 00:06:15,411 Speaker 2: my conversations with people over the years is that when witnessing, 96 00:06:15,531 --> 00:06:18,010 Speaker 2: it is more effective if you meet unbelievers on their 97 00:06:18,130 --> 00:06:21,571 Speaker 2: level and speak in terms they can understand. Just like 98 00:06:21,611 --> 00:06:24,051 Speaker 2: an effective teacher learns the learning styles of each of 99 00:06:24,091 --> 00:06:26,851 Speaker 2: their students and tailors each lesson to speak to them 100 00:06:26,891 --> 00:06:30,291 Speaker 2: in a way they will understand. We as Christians need 101 00:06:30,371 --> 00:06:34,611 Speaker 2: to follow a similar suit when witnessing and closing. I 102 00:06:34,731 --> 00:06:37,611 Speaker 2: like for you to listen to and reflect on free songs. 103 00:06:38,651 --> 00:06:42,371 Speaker 2: Song of Reflection number one, The Introduction by Layos and Harmony. 104 00:06:43,171 --> 00:06:47,931 Speaker 2: Song and Reflection number two, Noah'spire Love by Mariah Song 105 00:06:48,091 --> 00:06:53,851 Speaker 2: Reflection number three Forever by Carrie job Carnes Intercepting faith 106 00:06:53,891 --> 00:06:56,530 Speaker 2: in life? Do you know Jesus Christ as your savior? 107 00:06:57,091 --> 00:06:59,331 Speaker 2: How can you who know Jesus tell the world about 108 00:06:59,331 --> 00:07:04,091 Speaker 2: our savior in a kind way? Further reading John chapter fourteen, 109 00:07:04,211 --> 00:07:08,851 Speaker 2: verses one through six, Romans Chapter six, verse twenty three, Verse, 110 00:07:08,931 --> 00:07:13,491 Speaker 2: Peter chapter three, verses fifteen through sixteen, Matthews Chapter five, 111 00:07:13,611 --> 00:07:22,571 Speaker 2: verse sixteen, Second Corinthians Chapter five, verse twenty Thanks for 112 00:07:22,651 --> 00:07:25,971 Speaker 2: listening to today's devotional. If you liked what you heard today, 113 00:07:26,171 --> 00:07:28,771 Speaker 2: we want to make sure you know about our sister podcast, 114 00:07:29,091 --> 00:07:32,571 Speaker 2: Your Daily Prayer. When you follow your daily prayer in 115 00:07:32,651 --> 00:07:35,771 Speaker 2: your favorite podcast app, you'll get a brand new prayer 116 00:07:35,811 --> 00:07:40,011 Speaker 2: and devotional each day. Days begin in conversation with God. 117 00:07:40,691 --> 00:07:43,491 Speaker 2: If you're looking to grow in prayer or start your 118 00:07:43,531 --> 00:07:46,731 Speaker 2: day with your heart focused on the right things, search 119 00:07:47,011 --> 00:07:50,731 Speaker 2: for your daily prayer in your favorite podcast app and 120 00:07:50,811 --> 00:07:53,011 Speaker 2: be sure to follow the show so you get a 121 00:07:53,051 --> 00:07:56,131 Speaker 2: new prayer delivered straight to you each morning.