COMPONENTS OF FRIENDSHIP EVANGELISM
A. During my conversation with your elders, I have discovered that they have a PASSION for LOST SOULS.
1. Our PURPOSE as Christians is to live our lives in such a way that will bring GLORY to God and SOULS to Christ.
COMMENT:
Endeavoring to bring people to Christ is part of being a Christian. My POSITION as a PREACHER does not make me a SOUL WINNER, my POSITION as a Christian makes me a SOUL WINNER.
2. God can take an ORDINARY person and help him or her to do EXTRAORDINARY things in His KINGDOM.
B. EVANGELISM or SOUL WINNING can be FRIGHTENING
1. When we hear the word "EVANGELISM" the first thing that comes to mind is going DOOR-TO-DOOR and having a ONE-ON-ONE Bible study with someone.
a. We don’t have to carry a BIG BLACK BOOK, have a SALESMAN SMILE, and KNOCK on DOORS to teach someone about Jesus.
b. Often that TURNS people OFF!
ILLUSTRATION:
If you are ever on a crowded sidewalk and you are in a hurry to get to your destination, just hold up an open Bible in front of you and people will scatter everywhere.
People are turned off by tele-evangelists who preach morality but are living immoral lives. They are turned off by Christians who claim to be followers of Christ but live like the devil.
COMMENT:
Not everyone can teach a ONE-ON-BIBLE study. And DOOR-KNOCKING, although it has some MERIT, is not the most EFFECTIVE way to set Bible studies or tell someone about Jesus.
The Mormon church discovered this. At one time you could see young Mormon ELDERS going DOOR-TO-DOOR trying to set STUDIES. But they took a survey and discovered that the CONVERSION RATE was 0.1%; they CONVERTED only one FAMILY out of 1,000 DOORS KNOCKED. They also discovered that the CONVERSION RATE of FRIENDSHIPS made--people being brought into member’s HOMES--was 50%. They CONVERT 50% of their FRIENDS.
2. I don’t agree with MORMON THEOLOGY, but we can learn a LESSON from them, and the LESSON is: WE NEED TO MAKE FRIENDS WITH PEOPLE.
COMMENT:
I believe there is a greater OPPORTUNITY in bringing a FRIEND to Christ than a COMPLETE STRANGER. We need FRIENDSHIP EVANGELISM.
Once people know we really CARE for them and not trying to put another NOTCH on our Bibles, as it were, "I’ve BAPTIZED two more this MONTH", they will be more OPEN to listen to us as we share the GOSPEL of Christ.
C. FRIENDSHIP EVANGELISM is not NEW. Itis the METHOD Jesus used and the one that Paul describes in our text: I Thessalonians 2:1-12.
PAUL PRESENTS THREE COMPONENTS THAT MAKE UP FRIENDSHIP EVANGELISM!
MESSAGE:
I. INFORMATION- 2:1-6 (READ)
A. As you read Paul’s words, you sense his URGENCY in presenting the GOSPEL.
1. Paul is saying, "In spite of STRONG OPPOSITION, we did not HESITATE to tell you about Jesus!"
COMMENT:
He knows that people are DYING in their SINS, and he realizes that no matter what happens to him, they have to HEAR about the GOOD NEWS of Christ.
2. In order for us to get SERIOUS about TELLING our FRIENDS and FAMILY about Jesus, we have to come to the REALIZATION that they are LOST--they are not going to be with us in HEAVEN unless they give their LIVES to Christ.
a. So why aren’t we SHARING Christ with them?
b. The reason many Christians do not tell others about Jesus is because they are AFRAID.
COMMENT:
I’ve heard a lot of PREACHERS say that the "Reason Christian’s don’t tell others about Jesus is because they are ASHAMED of Him." I don’t think that at all. Most Christians LOVE Jesus Christ deeply, yet they are AFRAID--they’re AFRAID of REJECTION, AFRAID of being RIDICULED, AFRAID of not knowing what to SAY or how to TEACH.
B. We have made EVANGELISM much too DIFFICULT!
1. The most EFFECTIVE way to tell someone about Jesus is just to use your EVERYDAY CONVERSATION.
a. You don’t FORCE the conversation, you just let it come NATURALLY!
COMMENT:
You can be at work and say something very casually to a co-worker like, "Man, that discussion we had a church last night was amazing." Don’t say anything else. Let him be the one to ask, "Why? What was so AMAZING about it?"
Or you can talk about a FUN weekend or a night you had with some of your fellow-Christians by saying, "Last night we had a BLAST with some of the CHURCH GROUP. You just can’t believe what we did?" Again, when your CO-WORKER asks "What?" you have an OPPORTUNITY to TELL him or her about our congregation or about what Jesus has done for you in a personal way.
b. You’re not being "PREACHY" or trying to FORCE your BELIEFS upon anybody, you’re simply making
CONVERSATION--sharing INFORMATION about Jesus and His church in a very NON-THREATENING WAY.
c. The more you talk positively about the CHURCH and what CHRIST has done for you, the more your CO-WORKERS and FRIENDS will want to LEARN more and may even be willing to come WORSHIP with you or even STUDY with you or someone else further about Jesus.
2. The main thing is, just be yourself and look for opportunities to SHARE Christ with others.
II. PARTICIPATION- 2:7-9 (READ)
A. PARTICIPATION is getting INVOLVED with
PEOPLE--BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS!
1. Paul- "We were gentle among you like a nursing mother tenderly caring for her children."
a. There is no way that we are going to bring people to Christ without being KIND or GENTLE with them.
b. If you are RUDE to another or SARCASTIC or OBNOXIOUS, it will be very unlikely that you will ever bring that person to Jesus.
ILLUSTRATION:
Here you are at Super WalMart and you take your BASKET of items to a CHECK-OUT STAND where the CHECKER is NEW and INEXPERIENCED, and you’re in a HURRY. You try to be PATIENT (for about 2 minutes), but the CHECK is really SLOW! So you finally get upset and say, "Will you please HURRY! You are SLOWER than my 95 year-old grandmother! I’ll never come to you again. In fact, I’m telling the MANAGER how SLOW you are."
Come Sunday morning, you are appointed to GREET the people as they enter the BUILDING. This nicely dressed YOUNG LADY walks into the BUILDING, and you immediately recognize her as the CHECKER that you YELLED at the day before. As soon as she SEES your FACE, she TURNS around, WALKS AWAY, and NEVER comes back.
COMMENT:
Paul dealt with the Thessalonians with LOVE, COMPASSION, GENTLENESS, and COMPANIONSHIP. He knew that he had to be FRIENDS with the Thessalonians if he was ever going to bring them to Christ.
2. Paul- "We loved you so much that not only were we wanting to SHARE the GOSPEL, but our own LIVES as well."
COMMENT:
This is FRIENDSHIP EVANGELISM! When we begin SHARING our LIVES with others, we will have greater OPPORTUNITY in bringing them to Christ. You DISCIPLE people by letting them know that you CARE!
B. How do we show people we CARE?
1. BE FRIENDLY!
a. Solomon- "If you want FRIENDS, act FRIENDLY!"
COMMENT:
We need to be FRIENDLY! We should have a SMILE on our FACE and KIND WORDS on our LIPS. And I believe the more a person KNOWS you, LIKES you, and TRUSTS you, the better your CONVERSATIONS about Christ and His WORD will be.
b. IT’s IMPERATIVE that we MAKE FRIENDS with others.
2. SHARE YOURSELF!
COMMENT:
Invite people over for DINNER¡XGET to KNOW them. Share your INTERESTS--your LIKES and DISLIKES. Go to the MOVIES. Go HUNTING or FISHING or CAMPING
together. PLAY GOLF or go SHOPPING together. INVITE them to WORSHIP.
This is how you CULTIVATE FRIENDSHIPS. When we SHARE our LIVES, showing people that we do have a genuine LOVE and CONCERN for them, they will KNOW that you CARE and are not trying to DECEIVE them and will be more WILLING to LISTEN as you TEACH.
3. BE HELPFUL!
COMMENT:
Help people with their NEEDS! VISIT with those who are SICK! LEND a HELPING HAND in any way you are ABLE.
This is the METHOD of Jesus and the EARLY CHURCH. Where there is a good BENEVOLENT MINISTRY, there will be GROWTH. However, BENEVOLENCE, is more than just GIVING MONEY, it’s GIVING of YOURSELF in the SERVICE of others.
ILLUSTRATION:
A woman came to an elder of a CONGREGATION in Lubbock, Texas asking if he would STUDY the Bible with her. He gladly STUDIED with her, which resulted in the woman’s BAPTISM. Curiously the ELDER asked the woman what PROMPTED her to come in and STUDY the Bible.
She told the ELDER, "Over a year ago our three-year old son was hit by a car and was critically INJURED„oit was TOUCH and GO for awhile. During that time, our next-door NEIGHBOR, who was a member of this church, was so HELPFUL. She took CARE of our other son. She COOKED dinner for my family, she did our SHOPPING, CLEANED the house, washed the LAUNDRY. She did all of that without a single COMPLAINT or ASKING for ANYTHING in RETURN."
The lady continued, "I knew my neighbor had something I didn¡¦t have. I knew that she was a member of the Church of Christ, but that’s all I knew about her. She was always FRIENDLY, and she INVITED me to church. But PRIOR to my son’s ACCIDENT, I had NOTHING to do with her because my mother told me that MEMBERS of the church of Christ were JUDGMENTAL, UNFRIENDLY, and DESPISED anyone who wasn’t a MEMBER of their CHURCH!"
She CONCLUDED with TEARS, "My neighbor was NOTHING like my mother said; just the OPPOSITE. A few weeks ago she MOVED away. I really MISS her! While my son was in the HOSPITAL, my neighbor ENCOURAGED me to read the Bible. I wasn’t ready! But after she MOVED I started READING it and DISCOVERED what she had that I didn’t have, she had a CARING Savior."
COMMENT:
HELPING others when they are need EXPECTING nothing in RETURN really makes an IMPACT in the LIVES of people.
But sadly, the STATEMENT that the young woman’s MOTHER made has some VALIDITY. I’m afraid that many in our FELLOWSHIP do have the REPUTATION of being
UNKIND, UNFRIENDLY, and have a "HOLIER-THAN-THOU" attitude! THIS CAN’T BE IF WE WANT TO BRING PEOPLE TO CHRIST!!
C. Paul became FRIENDS with the Thessalonians.
1. He SHARED the GOSPEL and he SHARED his LIFE.
a. The Thessalonians were more EAGER to HEAR the GOSPEL because of Paul’s GENUINE CONCERN for them.
b. It’s a FACT: "PEOPLE DON’T CARE HOW MUCH YOU KNOW, UNTIL THEY KNOW HOW MUCH YOU CARE!"
2. We want to SHARE Christ with people who will LISTEN!
a. Who will be more of an ARDENT LISTENER than one with whom we have a MUTUAL LOVE and FRIENDSHIP.
b. You may be not be a TEACHER, but you can be a FRIEND!
III. DEMONSTRATION- vv. 10-12 (READ)
A. We are to LIVE the LIFE of Christ.
1. How can we TEACH someone the GOSPEL without LIVING IT?
COMMENT:
Our non-Christian FRIENDS, FAMILY, NEIGHBORS, CO-WORKERS are WATCHING us to see if we really BELIEVE what we PROFESS. If we are not REAL, then they don’t want to have any PART of us or our God.
ILLUSTRATION:
How can you show a FRIEND the importance of WORSHIPPING God if you regularly absent yourself from the WORSHIP ASSEMBLY? How can you teach against IMMORALITY when you access the PORNO SITES on the INTERNET? How can you tell someone about the LOVE and MERCY of God when you REFUSE to FORGIVE another for some OFFENSE committed against you?
WE CAN’T! It doesn’t matter how TRUE our TEACHING is, if we’re not striving to LIVE like Jesus we are not going to bring PEOPLE to Him.
2. Paul- "You and God are witnesses of how DEVOUTLY, UPRIGHTLY, and BLAMELESSLY we behaved toward you."
ILLUSTRATION:
Paul knew that he couldn’t TEACH on LOVE if he didn’t LOVE. He knew he couldn’t teach about PURITY if he wasn’t PURE. He knew he couldn’t teach about FAITH if he wasn’t FAITHFUL.
Paul knew that his LIFE had to CORRESPOND with his TEACHING. Now, Paul wasn’t PERFECT! You can read Romans 7 and see that he STRUGGLED with SIN just like everybody else. But he was one STRIVING to LIVE the LIFE of Christ to the best of his ABILITY!
COMMENT:
This is all that God EXPECTS of us. He wants us to MAKE EVERY EFFORT to follow the EXAMPLE of His Son, Jesus.
And when we do make MISTAKES it doesn’t HURT to say, "Im SORRY!" "Will you FORGIVE ME?" "I was WRONG!"
When we own up to our SINS, MISTAKES, and FAULTS, people will look at us and think, "He has HUMAN STRUGGLES just like I have. Maybe I can LIVE the Christian LIFE after all."
CONCLUSION:
A. I truly believe that if we incorporate these COMPONENTS of FRIENDSHIP EVANGELISM into our daily lives, we will STIR interest in others to want to KNOW more about Jesus.
1. WORD OF CAUTION: As you DEVELOP your FRIENDSHIPS and the time comes when your FRIEND will want to seriously STUDY God’s Word (and it will come), if for some reason he or she does not ACCEPT the word of God immediately, please DO NOT WITHDRAW YOUR FRIENDSHIP.
ILLUSTRATION:
At the AIRPORT or SHOPPING MALLS, often there are RELIGIOUS GROUPS who hand out BOOKS and BROCHURES to people as they PASS BY. They say, "This is a GIFT from us to you because we CARE for you so much." But then they ask for a DONATION. If MONEY is not given, they take back the GIFT.
Our FRIENDSHIP is also a GIFT. We extend our FRIENDSHIP to those we want to bring to Christ. If no CONVERSION, we take it BACK. ("You had your CHANCE!")
2. Luke 6:32-33- "If you LOVE those who LOVE you, and DO GOOD to those who DO GOOD to you, what REWARD do you have? For even SINNERS do the same . . ."
COMMENT:
There is a REWARD in LOVE and FRIENDSHIP. Just because a person doesn’t OBEY the GOSPEL right away, never WITHDRAW your LOVE and FRIENDSHIP. If you do, you will never bring that person to Christ. With your LOVE, PRAYER, and PERSISTENCE, someday you may.
NEVER GIVE UP ON PEOPLE!
HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS NOT A CHRISTIAN?
