--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our problem in evangelism is not that we…" description: "\"“Our problem in evangelism is not that we don’t have enough information—it is that we don’t know how to be ourselves. We forget we are called to be wit..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0a/rebecca-manley-pippert-67689_quote_our-problem-in-evangelism-is-not-that-we_296546.jpg" --- # Our problem in evangelism is not that we don’t have enough… ![“Our problem in evangelism is not that we don’t have enough information—it is that we don’t know how to be ourselves. We forget we are called to be witnesses to what we have seen and know, not to what we don’t know. The key on our part is authenticity and obedience, not a doctorate in theology. We…” quote by Rebecca Manley Pippert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0a/rebecca-manley-pippert-67689_quote_our-problem-in-evangelism-is-not-that-we_296546.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0a/rebecca-manley-pippert-67689_quote_our-problem-in-evangelism-is-not-that-we_296546.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0a/rebecca-manley-pippert-67689_quote_our-problem-in-evangelism-is-not-that-we_296546.jpg) > ““Our problem in evangelism is not that we don’t have enough information—it is that we don’t know how to be ourselves. We forget we are called to be witnesses to what we have seen and know, not to what we don’t know. The key on our part is authenticity and obedience, not a doctorate in theology. We haven’t grasped that it really is OK for us to be who we are when we are with seekers, even if we don’t have all the answers to their questions or if our knowledge of Scripture is limited.”” Rebecca Manley Pippert ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective evangelism requires being genuine and obedient, not merely scholarly; authenticity builds trust with seekers even without full answers. **In simple terms:** Be real and obedient when sharing faith. Key Takeaway Prioritize honesty over expertise. Themes faith communication authenticity Mood thoughtful encouraging Type spiritual educational When to use this quote - church outreach - personal testimony - mentor training Key Concepts witnessing humility obedience Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance honesty with knowledge? - When should we seek further study? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on authenticity may neglect necessary theological depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Evangelism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evangelism/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [If you as a pastor don't have a passion for evangelism then don't be surprised if your people done either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-malphurs/if-you-as-a-pastor-don-t-have-a-passion-for-evangelism-then-don-t-be/) [Aubrey Malphurs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-malphurs/) > [We were called to be witnesses, not lawyers or judges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-were-called-to-be-witnesses-not-lawyers-or-judges/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think it's unhelpful to suggest that the task of evangelism is essentially the responsibility of ministers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/i-think-it-s-unhelpful-to-suggest-that-the-task-of-evangelism-is/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [“Evangelism will come organically in friendship if we don’t let our pride, fears, and pessimism cause us to hide our faith and heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/evangelism-will-come-organically-in-friendship-if-we-don-t-let-our/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [People forget that there is a big difference between coercion and persuasion. The idea that evangelism is coercive is nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/people-forget-that-there-is-a-big-difference-between-coercion-and/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [What really concerns me is for Christians to understand the fundamentals of evangelism in a way that is helpful in the contemporary scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/what-really-concerns-me-is-for-christians-to-understand-the/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [Every man is a missionary, now and forever, for good or for evil, whether he intends or designs it or not. He may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chalmers/every-man-is-a-missionary-now-and-forever-for-good-or-for-evil/) [Thomas Chalmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chalmers/) > [“I’ve heard it said many times when talking about going to heaven, ‘You can’t take it with you.’ It’s true that you cannot take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-harden/i-ve-heard-it-said-many-times-when-talking-about-going-to-heaven-you/) [Van Harden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-harden/) > [“Typical evangelism books always seem to locate airplanes as the most advantageous setting for evangelistic encounters, where, at 30,000 feet, restive unvelievers are unable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-s-mchugh/typical-evangelism-books-always-seem-to-locate-airplanes-as-the-most/) [Adam S. McHugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-s-mchugh/) > [“Most Christians have enormous respect for the space and freedom of others, it is only that they have found a joy in Jesus they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/most-christians-have-enormous-respect-for-the-space-and-freedom-of/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [“Run to and fro everywhere, holy fires, beautiful fires; for you are the light of the world, nor are you put under a bushel.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/run-to-and-fro-everywhere-holy-fires-beautiful-fires-for-you-are-the/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [May even the concept of unreached peoples be totally intolerable to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/may-even-the-concept-of-unreached-peoples-be-totally-intolerable-to-us/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [“Author conveys contemporary respect for Methodist preachers who rode the circuit of frontier settlements to put themselves at risk for the Gospel near the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/author-conveys-contemporary-respect-for-methodist-preachers-who-rode/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [“Be a Kingmaker, Not Just a King.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-seow-how/be-a-kingmaker-not-just-a-king/) [Tan Seow How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-seow-how/) > [Well, the mission statement of Heart of David is that we're a ministry of evangelism and encouragement. Evangelism meaning that I evangelize I travel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dibiase-sr/well-the-mission-statement-of-heart-of-david-is-that-we-re-a-ministry/) [Ted DiBiase Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dibiase-sr/) ## More by Rebecca Manley Pippert > [Christians are people of hope and not despair because we know that God, who had the first word, will have the last. He is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-manley-pippert/christians-are-people-of-hope-and-not-despair-because-we-know-that/) Rebecca Manley Pippert > [“If you say there is no such thing as morality in absolute terms, then child abuse is not evil, it just may not happen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-manley-pippert/if-you-say-there-is-no-such-thing-as-morality-in-absolute-terms-then/) Rebecca Manley Pippert > [“The problem stems from our great difficulty in believing that God is glorified in our utter humanity rather than in our spiritually programmed responses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-manley-pippert/the-problem-stems-from-our-great-difficulty-in-believing-that-god-is/) Rebecca Manley Pippert Explore all 4 Rebecca Manley Pippert quotes ## More Evangelism quotes > [I think it's unhelpful to suggest that the task of evangelism is essentially the responsibility of ministers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/i-think-it-s-unhelpful-to-suggest-that-the-task-of-evangelism-is/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [People forget that there is a big difference between coercion and persuasion. The idea that evangelism is coercive is nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/people-forget-that-there-is-a-big-difference-between-coercion-and/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [What really concerns me is for Christians to understand the fundamentals of evangelism in a way that is helpful in the contemporary scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/what-really-concerns-me-is-for-christians-to-understand-the/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [Every man is a missionary, now and forever, for good or for evil, whether he intends or designs it or not. He may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chalmers/every-man-is-a-missionary-now-and-forever-for-good-or-for-evil/) [Thomas Chalmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chalmers/) > [“Evangelism will come organically in friendship if we don’t let our pride, fears, and pessimism cause us to hide our faith and heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/evangelism-will-come-organically-in-friendship-if-we-don-t-let-our/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“Be a Kingmaker, Not Just a King.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-seow-how/be-a-kingmaker-not-just-a-king/) [Tan Seow How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-seow-how/) > [“Author conveys contemporary respect for Methodist preachers who rode the circuit of frontier settlements to put themselves at risk for the Gospel near the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/author-conveys-contemporary-respect-for-methodist-preachers-who-rode/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [Well, the mission statement of Heart of David is that we're a ministry of evangelism and encouragement. Evangelism meaning that I evangelize I travel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-dibiase-sr/well-the-mission-statement-of-heart-of-david-is-that-we-re-a-ministry/) [Ted DiBiase Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-dibiase-sr/) > [May even the concept of unreached peoples be totally intolerable to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/may-even-the-concept-of-unreached-peoples-be-totally-intolerable-to-us/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [“Run to and fro everywhere, holy fires, beautiful fires; for you are the light of the world, nor are you put under a bushel.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/run-to-and-fro-everywhere-holy-fires-beautiful-fires-for-you-are-the/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > [“Most Christians have enormous respect for the space and freedom of others, it is only that they have found a joy in Jesus they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/most-christians-have-enormous-respect-for-the-space-and-freedom-of/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [“Typical evangelism books always seem to locate airplanes as the most advantageous setting for evangelistic encounters, where, at 30,000 feet, restive unvelievers are unable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-s-mchugh/typical-evangelism-books-always-seem-to-locate-airplanes-as-the-most/) [Adam S. McHugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-s-mchugh/) > [“I’ve heard it said many times when talking about going to heaven, ‘You can’t take it with you.’ It’s true that you cannot take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-harden/i-ve-heard-it-said-many-times-when-talking-about-going-to-heaven-you/) [Van Harden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-harden/) > [I assume that normally the Lord will be bringing people to himself through the instrumentality of the preached word. However, we have to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/i-assume-that-normally-the-lord-will-be-bringing-people-to-himself/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [“A schoolmate of Matt Chandler's with the locker next to his: "I need to tell you about Jesus. When do you want to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-chandler/a-schoolmate-of-matt-chandler-s-with-the-locker-next-to-his-i-need-to/) [Matt Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-chandler/) [Browse all 363 Evangelism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evangelism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Our problem in evangelism is not that we don’t have enough information—it is that we don’t know how to be ourselves. We forget we are called to be witnesses to what we have seen and know, not to what we don’t know. The key on our part is authenticity and obedience, not a doctorate in theology. 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