Want to Share the Gospel? Start with This Question 

... or just turn the music down, so you don't have to complete with it. A little is still nice... but low. Great video otherwise.

Try captions

@@jrozlie2280 hearing a sermon or religious discourse is not the same as reading it, a lot is lost in the process.

This is a respectable point especially for us ADHD folks. I have learned to adapt in a multimedia world but that is not particularly an easy thing to do.

Agreed

I agree. Having both sides being willingly to listen to the other is a great start.

But how to get to a point where such a question becomes relevant? That's the issue for most people.

@@dagwould I agree, many people just aren't interested in discussing religion. I think talking to christians about why they believe things is good start. Common things like the bible's attitude towards homosexuals are a pretty easy talking point. Sadly, a lot of christians only get their info about non-christian views from each other so they can have a narrow view of the world. This is back to that first idea, it is important that both sides ask what the other believes instead of assuming.

@@stormy7709 All very true. Too many Christians see non-Christians as the enemy, not as fellows on the journey of life with whom we have much in common. Christians need to get used to having genuine conversations, not debates. Making a friend is the best way to 1. understand your own beliefs, and 2. maybe truly influencing someone because you show commitment to them in a friendship.

@@AtamMardes who made the first sacrifice? I believe it was God who sacrificed the animals to cover Adam and Eve with their pelts after they sinned. But if that doesn't count, then Able, Adam and Eve's son presented an animal sacrifice to God (Genesis 4:4).

I love this analogy! I have told a couple of fellow Christians that I consider myself a seed planter ☺

J Pr May I ask you why you believe that they made poor assumptions? A follow up question would be what made you come to the conclusion that this life and world we live in does not provide enough evidence of God’s existence?

@@davidalvarado6420 Been a few poor assumptions. The most ridiculous being “You became an atheist because you want to sin”. Think about that one for a moment, hilarious! The world? It’s far more likely that a chain of events going back to the big bang led to the world (and the rest of the universe), being what it is. We will probably never understand every link of that chain perfectly, but they are testable and line up well enough, given the Billions of years it has taken. The alternative is that an intelligence that created it popped into existence out of nowhere, yet everything we see in that universe denies it.

@@ploppysonofploppy6066 I think the assumptions are poor if they are dishonest and no based on truth. If you are willing to share, I would like to know what exactly led you to be an atheist. I once was an atheist but became a Christian 16 years ago and I believe that the world we live in and experience points to and makes most sense with an intelligent creator who is God (Jesus Christ).If the big bang is the source of all that you experience and see it than I would ask who or what caused the Big bang? the God of the Bible said "Let there be light" and it was. That is the "Big Bang" because matter, space, and energy had to instantaneously function at His command to bring into existance what was not in existance before. I am not trying to talk down to you at all but ask that if it was not God who caused all things to be than how do you explain the order and uniformity in the laws that govern the universe?

@@davidalvarado6420 Happy to share - I do have a question for you also. I wanted to be a good man. I was told I must stand with God or Satan, - couldn’t do the latter. Had I been in the Middle East I’d have been Jewish or Muslim. In the UK it had to be Christian. However, what I learned at school was at odds with what I learned from the Bible, but guessed it would all work out. It did, at a school tutorial, after another earthquake in Turkey of all things. The tutor made the point that when the chips are down, humans look after each other. Diverse groups descended on Turkey to help, Jews, Muslims, Christians AND avowed atheist groups. That surprised me. Surely atheists were indolent and self serving. It hadn’t occurred to me that an atheist could do a good thing. Yet there they were, risking their lives to save others, something I should aspire to. I’ve been atheists ever since, and the universe had made more sense. Because despite what it says in Romans, the lord has not revealed himself through his works, not for me anyway. As I say, there is an unbroken chain of events that rings true, and that explains what we see. There is a good animation, if you search “Carl Sagan, the beginning” on RU-vid, only a five minute video. We don’t need a creator to explain the universe. That does not conclude that there isn’t one, but it demands that we must find a reason to include one, and explain where it comes from. So that leads me to a question for you, why do you believe there is a creator in the first place? (Impressed that you understand the big bang is not just stuff appearing in space, but the expansion of space itself. Remember, space and time are one, before there was space there was no time. There was no “before” the big bang, not that we can perceive at least.)

@@ploppysonofploppy6066 Your story sounds interesting but I am not sure I understand your how you came to the conclusions you did. I see that you were told a dichotomy in regard to service and worship which is Biblically founded. Let me explain briefly, In the garden of eden Adam and Eve were given the counsel of God to give them purpose, meaning, work, responsibility, blessings (dominion, food from every tree except one, sexual union/family(procreation), fellowship and close intimate relationship with God and creation. Another source of counsel entered in the garden that is the serpent (devil) who questioned the truth of God’s counsel, directly contradicted the truth of God’s counsel, and redefined the truth while questioning God’s goodness. There are only two masters to ultimately serve/stand with/worship which is either God or satan. You might think that it is not true since anyone can serve or worship money, possessions, their job, another person,…etc. But Romans 1 which you disregarded makes it clear that you are either worshipping God or creation (which money, possessions, another person, and satan…etc. falls into this category). Just as a building doesn’t come into existence on its own but requires many builders, and an art piece of work requires an artist, all that we see in the universe (intelligibility, order, laws, uniformity, beauty) did not just pop into existence by unguided processes over time, nor has the universe always existed but God made everything being all wise and powerful to create all we see and don’t see, out of nothing. The statements you made in regard to atheists seem a bit odd because humans have been on both ends of the spectrum, caring about each other and hating one another just look down through history (with killings, persecutions, civil wars, holy wars, tribal wars, racism, genocide, famine, natural disasters, hospitals founded…etc) People are made in the image of God and therefore all people have the capability to do what seems to be good societally/humanly speaking but the real question is which worldview and belief makes most sense in the world we live in and all throughout human history. God and gods have always been a part of human history leading up to today. Atheism also has a belief in a god, self. I have heard atheists who cling to darwinian evolution and they have Darwin as their prophet alongside other teachers who hold to his teachings as well and then you have atheists who have anti-creationist scientists as their prophets and in turn deify scientific theory despite the scientific evidence and proof that affirm the claims and events of Scripture in archaeology, astronomy, math, biology, DNA…, etc. Which form of atheism do you hold too? Carl Sagan in the beginning video deifies the universe and falls into the same category spoken in Romans 1 (worshipping creation rather than the Creator). I believe in God (Father, Son & Holy Spirit) as Creator, Savior and LORD. The reason is complex yet I will try and simply/summarize my answer by saying that there is overwhelming evidence for Him in the world we live in which I named above (the universe being intelligible, governed by laws, having beauty that is mind blowing, and more) is one reason. Second reason is due to the mind’s ability to reason, think critically, to experience emotion and feelings, to process and work in unison with the conscience to decide between right and wrong (free will), all of these capacities point to an all wise God who made us in His image and likeness as no other creature has the ability that people do. Third being language, there is no scientific explanation for the diversity of language and yet a simple reason for it described in Scripture which shows the cause of so many different languages and yet again, no other creature has this ability because God is the One who sovereignly decided to confuse languages (Genesis 11) . Fourth, the distribution of diverse ethnic groups all across the globe not choosing where and when they will live, or die. No one chooses where they are born, who their parents are, what they will look like, if their are going to be born into a rich or poor family, what ethnic group they will belong to, or when they will die…etc Who or what is deciding all these things? God is the only one that makes sense of all these things. Read Genesis 1-11 and look at our world and be honest with yourself and tell me that atheism makes more sense of the world, because I don’t think anything makes more sense than what God has said in His Holy Word about life and godliness. If you have read this far know that I care about your soul and God does even more than I do and sent His Son Jesus to die on a cross for your sins and all the world but salvation from the wrath of God in hell is only by His grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), Please repent (change your mind about God and sin) and realize your need for a Savior or you will stand before Jesus when you die and your righteousness will condemn you. Please call upon the name of the Lord and be saved. There is so much more I can share with you but leave it here for you to think about and consider. I am praying for you

Yep! Accept Jesus now or else! Thats how it goes! Greg loves to tiptoe around the dark side of Christianity and teach others to do so. But I call them out every time and try to show them that? according to scripture, they are actually denying their lord in doing so! And what does scripture say about denying the Lord before men(people)? Yep! They will cast ‘themselves’ headlong into hell as the Lord tells them to depart. But let’s tiptoe around the issue so we don’t effect the book sales!

As an emerging evangelist, I am working to get as many Christ-followers on board with sharing their faith in the way they can. We have to challenge them without beating them over the head or placing legalistic burdens on them. Jesus said my yoke is easy, my burden is light. We just need to put ourselves into the mix, the H.S. does the hard work. If we preach the whole Gospel, we are creating consciousness of sin and the need for repentance. I love the leading by example aspect - which i practice - but we are still leading sheep.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Turning from sin to the crucified, risen, living Lord Jesus Christ. Trusting in His merit, the merit of His suffering on the cross, His shed blood, to save us from sin's penalty, rather than in our own perceived merits. Faith without genuine repentance isn't really a biblical faith. Repentance without genuine faith in Christ leaves out the Saviour we need. Other helpful scriptures include the early verses of Luke 13 and I Peter 3 v 18.

@@vontoobner5979 ,.....That is not the gospel. That is the false gospel of the apostate church. You have been deceived.

@@paularrowsmith9980 ,.....So, I can save myself by me turning from my sin? So, salvation is of me and my works? It is dependent on what I do or dont do?

@@shadowbannedforspeakingtru1436 another person quotes John 3:16 and you reply "That is the false gospel" Please explain what is the "true gospel"

Quite a clever reply. But isn't that all it's intended to look like? Just throwing back as many questions as possible? BYW, doing that isn't what Greg is proposing, as you must be aware. He's not suggesting that we "ask questions for the sake of asking questions" (nor to be difficult or deflective). It's about getting started in a conversation in which the Christian wants to share his or her faith, and overcoming possible difficulties in doing so.

where did he state that he doesnt know the answer? Its literally for information gathering so there isnt a misunderstanding later. It doesnt teach dodging questions. Its just a polite way of talking and avoiding future as i already said misunderstandings because of lack of knowledge about another person. You also easily detect people who actually do not know what they are talking about with this question. And I dont see how that is bad either.

You just spewed a wall of arrogant demands and assumptions, and then asked the intended reader to be more humble.

I've worked as a B2B salesmen and the best way to develop a genuine relationship that is productive for both parties is to fine tune your information about them. It's respectful.

BD,.....Correct, and all this phony and all the churches phony preachers are, are car salesmen, conn artists. The church and all its fraudulent pastors are nothing but salesmen selling a product. A 100% counterfeit christianity. There is a real Christianity, but it is not found in the church or with any of the 100% apostate churches fake preachers.

Agreed, but also there are the conversations that can take place with people who you only just met. Yes if course, we must "walk the walk", as well as "talk the talk". Both are essential if the Christian is to be faithful to their calling. Sadly though, some Christians seem to think we're called to "simply witness by how we live". But that in itself isn't witnessing. It doesn't convey the gospel message of salvation in Christ. So again, yes to your point, but also yes to what Greg is trying to convey. Hopefully, we're all on the same page, "singing from the same hymnsheet".

Hi Eugene - Thanks for sharing your thoughts! While Greg is Reformed (although not a determinist), STR does not take a firm stance on the Calvinist versus Arminian debate. Our staff includes believers from both sides. If you'd like to discuss this with Greg, we invite you to call in to our weekly broadcast. He'd love to hear from you. Visit www.str.org/broadcast for details.