"Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I've warned you of them many times; sadly, I'm having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ's Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street." ~Paul, Philippians 3:17-19, msg.
Do You Minister By Your Good Example, Earning Their Trust? What's up with that? Christian, you know how there is a time to witness and to minister using clean language, but to neglect the example-factor with that would mean that we quickly short-circuit even the most eloquent of verbal or written messages. Both are way important!
There is a time to witness without words ..and then later when the time is right to follow up on that with tactful words. Earning the right to be heard can not be overemphasized!
Today there seems to be a witnessing-leader-vacuum. Yes, there seems to be a lack of good example-leaders like never before. And those in the world around us really want to be influenced by someone that they can trust, even if they tell you that they do not want to be witnessed to by even the most trustworthy "Jesus Freak."
When you get the time, I challenge you to do a thorough study on the lives of those who were both good and bad examples in the Bible. Pray about what you discover. This is very fascinating and will edify your inner person.
The Apostle Paul spoke of exampling it when he said, "We showed you how to pull your weight when we were with you, so get on with it. We didn't sit around on our hands expecting others to take care of us. In fact, we worked our fingers to the bone, up half the night moonlighting so you wouldn't be burdened with taking care of us. And it wasn't because we didn't have a right to your support; we did. We simply wanted to provide an example of diligence, hoping it would prove contagious" (See 2 Thess. 3:6-9, mess).
He told Timothy...
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