bits from bob....

Tell The Story

by Robert J. Young
©, 2001, Robert J. Young
[permission is given to reprint with credit noted]

My friend told me about his barber's resolve to mention God to every customer entering his shop. As he prepared to shave one fellow, he felt compelled to say something to him about his soul. He hesitated, afraid to raise the issue. After such fretting for a few moments as he skillfully wielded the razor, he finally boomed out in his best bass voice, "Are you prepared to die?"
As the blood drained from the customer's face, he jumped from the chair and shouted back, "Not if I can help it!"

The barber defeated himself. He was so fearful that he communicated only fear. His timing was less than the best. He utterly failed to share the Savior.

Inviting others to Bible School or worship often makes us apprehensive. We are afraid to raise the issue. I doubt we ever are completely rid of the fear, but consider these "fear stoppers."

1. The better you know a person, and the better that person knows and understands you, the better the reception of your invitation.
2. Watch for opportunities to show care and compassion; then follow with an invitation. Jesus was compassionate to the woman at the well and the woman taken in adultery, but he also focused the spiritual issue. You must worship God; you must sin no more.
3. Use the "double invitation." Invite to worship and to your home or out to eat afterward. Or invite them to another occasion to extend the invitation to worship.
4. Listen to others. Some who do not attend believe church people do all of the talking and none of the listening.
5. Listen long enough to recognize a felt need and assist your friend in understanding how the church can help meet that need.

The list could be continued but perhaps these ideas will start your own creative juices flowing. Remember the barber. Tell your friends the story--then invite them.

"The fields are ripe unto harvest, but the reapers are few."