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One Bowl of Apricots or Two

Evangelism Persuasion Words (Power of)

Source: As quoted in BITS AND PIECES, 4/26/94, pp. 9-10.

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2015-01-12

Scripture: Matthew 22:9

Author: Illustration Exchange
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ILLUSTRATION

A young psych student pulling kitchen duty in the Army noticed that apricots were not very popular in the chow hall, so he decided to conduct a little experiment. He stood at the end of the chow line and rotated offering the apricots to the soldiers three very different ways:

  • “You don’t want apricots, do you?”
  • “You want apricots, don’t you?”
  • “Do you want one serving of apricots or two?

The results were fascinating. Ninety percent of those asked You don’t want apricots, do you? said No and declined receiving a serving.

Fifty percent of those asked You want apricots, don’t you? said Yes and received a serving.

Fifty percent of those asked if they wanted one serving of apricots or two said they’d take some, while forty percent said they’d take two! Only ten percent declined all together.

APPLICATION

There is power in a good presentation! What is your demeanor when you invite others to consider the claims of Christ? Does it say, "You don't want to know about Jesus, do you?" It's no surprise that the vast majority of these invitations are declined. Or, does it say, "You do want to know about Jesus, right?" Or, are you so bold as to ask, "Do you want one serving or two"?

"Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see" (Matthew 22:9).

Put A Pebble In Their Shoe

Evangelism Witness Testimony

Source: "Put a Pebble in His Shoe" by JUSTIN TAYLOR, published on TheGospelCoalition.org, APRIL 23, 2013

Link to Source: Click here to view source

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2024-03-19

Scripture: Matthew 13:8

Author: Illustration Exchange
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ILLUSTRATION

It's happens to all of us. We're walking along and suddenly become aware of a nagging little bump beneath the sole of our foot. Perhaps we're in a hurry and don't want to take the time to address it, so we try to ignore it. We're just too busy; it's not worth the effort.

Or perhaps we're not in an appropriate place or position to stop and remove our shoe to address the discomfort, so, again, we try to ignore it. We keep walking, trying to convince ourselves that it's fine, this is fine, no big deal. 

But sure enough, there comes a time when we just can't ignore it any longer ... the shoe, and maybe even the sock or stocking, needs to come off so we can shake out the tiny pebble which made itself at home just beneath soft, tender pad of our foot.

 

 

APPLICATION

Many (if not most) evangelical Christians get so nervous about witnessing to others. We fret not having all the answers, or feeling inadequate in presenting the "whole" of the Gospel message. So we shrink back and say nothing. But does this dichotomy of choices really exist? Or is there something in between?

Christian author, Greg Koukl, speaking to The Gospel Coalition, had this to say:

A wise ambassador ... weighs his opportunities and adopts an appropriate strategy for each occasion. ... Now here is my own more modest goal. I want to put a [pebble] in his shoe. All I want to do is give him something worth thinking about. I want him to hobble away on a nugget of truth he can’t simply ignore because it continues to poke at him.

Effective witness doesn't have to include a full, five point Gospel presentation. Sometimes all that's necessary is a little "nugget of truth" that nags at the unbeliever's conscience or phyche, until they simply cannot ignore it any longer. They have no choice but to "deal" with it, giving it greater consideration.

What they do with that nugget isn't our responsibility. It's entirely on them now. Will they simply remove it and toss it aside? Will they take it out and ponder how it got in there? Will it cause them to pause and consider further truth? 

Remember, next time you feel intimiated to "present the Gospel" to an unbelieving relative, friend, or even stranger ... you don't have to drop a boulder on their head. You just need to drop a pebble in their shoe.

Matthew 13: 3-9 (NIV):

A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.

Seeing Clearly

Spiritual Blindness Evangelism Discipleship

Source: Various

Link to Source: Click here to view source

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2024-01-02

Scripture: Mark 8:23 ; Matthew 4:16

Author: Illustration Exchange
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ILLUSTRATION

It is estimated that there are approximately 10 million people in the U.S. and upwards of 36 million people worldwide who are actually blind, i.e., totally unsighted and living in darkness.

In addition to those with complete blindness, the WHO estimates:

- Globally, at least 2.2 billion people have a near or distance vision impairment. In at least 1 billion of these, vision impairment could have been prevented or is yet to be addressed.

- The leading causes of vision impairment and blindness at a global level are refractive errors and cataracts [a cloudiness which grows over the lens of the eye].

- It is estimated that globally only 36% of people ... have received access to an appropriate intervention.

While millions live in complete spiritual darkness, and millions (nay billions!) more live with some measure of blindness, it is safe to say, biblically speaking, that ALL men walk in spiritual blindness, absent the "Light" of Jesus and His restorative, regenerative, and salvific work on their behalf.

 

APPLICATION

“And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.” - Mark 8:23-25 ESV

God calls us to bring Jesus' Light to those who live in darkness, and to not just bring His Light and truth, but to disciple them into clarity of a mature and fruitfal walk with the Savior. 

It’s one miracle to go from blindness to sight. It’s another to go from seeing to seeing clearly. We need Jesus to help us see things clearly.

"... the people living in darkness have seen a great light ..." - Matthew 4:16, NIV

Reflecting the Light - It All Comes Down to Proximity

Light Witness Devotion

Contributed By: Marcelle Smith | Date Posted: 2023-12-19

Scripture: John 1:8 ; Matthew 5:14

Author: Marcelle Smith
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Making Allies of Enemies

Evangelism Enemies History

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2023-12-19

Scripture: Matthew 28:19 ; Proverbs 11:30

Author: Illustration Exchange
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Seasoned Talk

Communication Evangelism Word of God

Contributed By: Marcelle Smith | Date Posted: 2023-09-23

Scripture: Colossians 4:6 ; 1 Peter 3:15

Author: Marcelle Smith / Illustration Exchange
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Cover the Earth in Salt

Witness Influence Evangelism

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2023-09-05

Scripture: Matthew 5:13 ; Colossians 4:6

Author: Illustration Exchange
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Test the Ice

Faith Evangelism Apologetics

Contributed By: Jeff Hage | Date Posted: 2023-06-22

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1 ; Romans 1:20

Author: Jeff Hage
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Perfect Puffer Fish Creation Points to a Perfect Creator

Creation/Creationism Apologetics Wrath

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2023-04-17

Scripture: Romans 1:18 ; Psalms 19:1

Author: Illustration Exchange
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Dig Out the Dying

Evangelism Heroism Hopelessness

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2023-04-12

Scripture: Luke 10:33 ; Mark 16:15

Author: Illustration Exchange
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