Personal Barriers to Sharing the Gospel

Yes, the "already go to church" response is hard to come back against. You can however, still let them know that you want to study and maybe get some discussions that way. Or make a note of them and get someone more experience to come back with you and try to get a personal bible study going with them.

Hmm...I may have an answer:

"Oh, where do you go?"
"Can you tell me more about it, what do you believe in, I'm interested in learning about different groups and their beliefs"

I think that this not only answers the question of "what to say" but also gives us a much better understanding of what people believe (rather than the "official" positions of certian denominations).
I think also, as the discussion progresses, you can find out what things they may question about their own "church"

Good thoughts. Sometimes we shutdown once they say they go somewhere else but if we would be less afraid of being judged we might be able to get them to open up a little more and make a connection that we might be able to use to get them to study with you.

As far as my personal barriers, my biggest one is dissapointment in the "soil" if you will.

We live in a society that is awful hard to preach to...perhaps even more difficult than a society which is "hostile" towards evangelism.

99% of people I talk to are simply indifferent, nobody sees a need for truth, only "faith" in some amorphous diety. We've had the whole "church of your choice" thing crammed down our collective throats for so long that people believe it.

From the parable of the sower, I think the vast majority of people we meet every day are like the compact soil by the wayside that the seed doesn't even breach the surface.

And it doesn't help that probably 75% of everybody is living in an unscriptural marriage..."you want me to give up my marriage?"

Depressing, but still there is that 1% out there that should keep us trying.

RKS

Despite the barriers and the excuses people give there are a lot of people searching for The Truth. It may not even be evident to the person searching, but when the seed is planted with them it will grow and flourish like never before. And if we only see one of those in our lifetimes while attempting to teach a lot of people it is well worth it all.

We can teach more by simply living a Christian lifestyle by our actions, our words to others, our clothes, our entire being than really by anything else. I have had a lot of people ask me why I'm different simply b/c of things I didn't say, places I chose not to go to, or situations I kindly excused myself from. It's the people who come back to you and ask you why that are truly seeking more from life. And it's then we have the most "respect" from those people and the most willingness from them to listen to The Truth. While they may not be converted, you've planted the seed and it may one day grow.

Those are just my thoughts (from someone who was converted).

Thanks Amy! And what a great verse to apply to my feeble thoughts. I will admit, I am not as well versed in the scriptures as others. But that's not to say I'm not able to find answers or ask others for help.

Those verses are going to be my verses for next week! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!