Growing Your Heart For MissionsSample

Engaging others

When you read Acts 26, you are treated to the beautiful story of Paul’s conversion, as well as a brilliant lesson on apologetics. Even in chains, he employed the dynamic equivalent of humor to get his point across!

Just like Jesus telling a parable or comparing salvation to water—Paul employed relevant cultural and contextual bridges to clearly communicate a message. And so should we.

Every encounter we have ought to bring a person to the fullness of the Gospel. Not by berating them with Scripture, but by helping them realize their true identity. Every person born on this planet bears the image of Christ. 

Our goal is to see people as the image-bearers they are and help them realize their inheritance and the potential they have to live in the fullness of it.

That means praying before we speak, being prepared for any encounter, doing our research, listening—and really seeing people. Then we will know where to meet them and help “open their eyes.”

Your words echo the disposition of your heart. Since you and I don’t have the supernatural understanding of human nature that Jesus did, we must operate in prayer through the power of the Holy Spirit to guide us so that we can effectively carry out Christ’s ministry here on earth. 

God, we pray that your Holy Spirit will give us the power and supernatural ability to build a bridge to every person we encounter. May our hearts be so full of your wisdom and our minds so tuned to you that every word we say bears strong testimony and leads people to understand who you are, who you have made them to be, and that by your Word and your power, they can begin to live their lives in the fullness of the hope and the freedom your salvation offers. Help us to truly see people the way you see them. Break our hearts and guide our every word and action today. Amen.