Today, a growing number of people lives in two worlds simultaneously – the physical realm and digital realm. The ways we communicate with each other, gather news and information, and exchange ideas, thoughts and feelings are shaped by all the digital devices, social media, various websites, thousands of apps, and other Internet-related services.
The Tale of the Two Worlds
Today, a growing number of people lives in two realms simultaneously – the physical world and cyberspace. The ways we communicate with each other, gather news and information, and exchange and form ideas, thoughts and feelings are shaped by the digital realm through social media, various websites, thousands of apps, and other Internet-related services.
“You must let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for the building up of the one in need, that it would give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” – Ephesians 4:29-30
This applies to our digital presence. How we conduct ourselves in the cyberspace can please or grieve the Holy Spirit just as much as our behavior in the physical world. Technology is merely a tool. It is a gift of the Creative God. It will be abused. It should be used to honor God. Because Christians are commanded to steward well everything God has entrusted to us, we should not be mere users and consumers of technology but also be prayerfully active in shaping the digital realm. To do this, however, you do not have to be technologists. You just need to be mindful of God whenever you are online.
Representing Jesus in the Digital Realm
The kingdom of God advances where his people are present. The digital realm is no different. Because it is a place where people virtually gather and interact with each other, God’s people are to bring the light of the glory of the Gospel of Jesus to the cyberspace.
How can you be a good witness for Jesus online? One effective way you can share your faith in the digital realm is to use this JoApp.
Share
Share with your family and friends the evangelistic articles available in this app (see Evangelistic Article sections). Read the articles first to find an appropriate one to share. When you share an article, you can say something like “You may find this article interesting” or “I found this article helpful, and I thought you might enjoy reading it” and send them the link by using the “Sharing” function of the app. By doing this, you are simply showing that you care about them.
You can also watch evangelistic videos together with others. Afterwards, ask them what they have thought about the video. It can open up opportunities for meaningful spiritual conversations.
Learn
Train yourself in how to share your faith by reading articles in this app (see “Sharing Your Faith” section).
Are you new to evangelism? Begin by reading “What Is Evangelism?” You will learn what evangelism really is and how simple it is. “Evangelism Is A Process” helps you with the Biblical understanding of evangelism.
Are you wondering why we should even be talking about Jesus with others? Read, “Reasons Why Believers Should Witness” and discover why it is critical for believers to be witnesses for Christ.
Are you afraid of talking about Jesus with others? “Why Christians Fail to Witness” unpacks some common reasons and explains how we can view witnessing differently.
Are you frustrated with your apparent ineffectiveness in evangelism? Read “The Importance of Scripture” and “The Power of Prayer in Evangelism” for encouragement.
Train
You can use these same articles to train others in evangelism. Follow the steps below.
- Invite them to download and install the JoApp.
- Ask them to read the articles and discuss the topics together. It is okay if you don’t have an answer to their questions. You can just say, “That’s a great question! I don’t have a good answer right now. I will look into that and let you know what I learn!” If you don’t know where to find an answer, contact us via message in the Community section. We will be happy to help!
- Ask them to make a list of people (family members, relatives, friends, co-workers) they feel burdened for their salvation.
- Ask them to regularly pray for their salvation and for God’s leading for opportunities to share the Gospel. You can pray for them, too.
- Remind them to be mindful of the leading of the Holy Spirit throughout the day for opportunities to bring up a spiritual conversation and to share the Gospel.
- When they have a chance to engage a spiritual conversation, they can share the articles found in “Evangelistic Articles” or watch together videos found in “Evangelistic Videos”.
- When a person has made a decision to believe in Jesus as his/her Savior and Lord, they can share “Next Steps for New Believers” to help them begin their walk with Jesus.