How to Win Your Kin
John 1:35-42a
http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/WinYourKin.html
Every time we see Andrew in scripture he is bringing someone to Jesus...he was a great soul winner. But who was his first convert? His own brother. Naturally, our hearts are more burdened for our lost family members than anyone else. But it’s hard to witness to them, because we have to live with them. We need to remember that if we don’t witness to them, we will have to live without them forever, and until you do state the case to them, it will be hard to live with yourself.
10 tips to winning your kin:
1. Realize why they are not going to Heaven
John chapter 3: after vv. 16 and 17 say what they say about everlasting life...
3:18
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
They ARE lost!
Ill.—man at hospital said to me over bed of dead mother… “if anyone’s in heaven, she is!”
At funerals—many have to stretch to “preach ‘em into heaven”
2. Be void of offense
Acts 24:16
And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.
Blameless, above reproach
Wise as serpents / harmless as doves
Give no excuses / ammunition
3. Have a meek and quiet spirit
1 Peter 3:1-2
Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.
The principle applies even to men: don’t be pushy, nag, guilt trips, and don’t punish, seem disappointed, but rather…
4. Have the joy of the Lord
Ps. 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me (what spouses need!) with thy free spirit. 13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
That relative needs to see what you’ve got and want it!
Ill.—old saying, “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink." Even better: “Your job is not to make him drink. Your job is to make him thirsty.”
5. Give a clear testimony
Luke 12:8-9
Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
Ill. From unknown preacher: Feeling a concern for witnessing can mean that you will have to stand up and be counted, and this can bring some degree of abuse. Years ago I was praying with one of my children at bedtime, and I asked him if he had any problems we should pray about. He couldn’t think of any, even though I could think of a number! Rather unwisely, I pressed the point and asked, "Don’t you have any problems at school?" "No," he replied quite firmly. "Don’t the kids give you a hard time because you’re a Christian?" “Nope, they’ve never found out!” And quite happily he turned over to sleep.
Luke 8:38-39
Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying, Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.
1 Peter 3:15
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
“In the midst of a generation screaming for answers, Christians are stuttering.”
D.L. Moody once spoke with a woman who didn’t like his method of evangelism. He said, "I don’t really like my method all that much either. What’s your method?" She replied that she didn’t have one. Moody said, "Then I like mine better than yours."
6. Look for opportunities God will give you
Philippians 1:12
But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
1 Corinthians 16:9
For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.
Ask Him to make you sensitive to those moments!
7. Don’t be ashamed of the gospel
Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth…
Again, family is tough…because you have to live w/ them…
…but if YOU don’t share the gospel, you’ll have to live w/out them! And until you do share with them, it’s gonna be hard to live with yourself.
Ill.--As D.L. Moody walked down a Chicago street one day, he saw a man leaning against a lamppost. The evangelist gently put his hand on the man’s shoulder and asked him if he was a Christian. The fellow raised his fists and angrily exclaimed, "Mind your own business!"
"I’m sorry if I’ve offended you," said Moody, "but to be very frank, that IS my business!" Even if people reject the gospel, we still must love them.
--You haven’t fully witnessed until the gospel is given
--share the actual words of the gospel
Ill.--I read about a court case that was lost because of the silence of an attorney. The distinguished lawyer Samuel Hoar (1778-1856) was representing the defendant. When it was time to present his case, he told the jurors that the facts favoring his client were so evident that he would not insult their intelligence by arguing them. The jury retired to deliberate and returned in a few minutes with a verdict of guilty. Samuel Hoar was astonished!
"How," he asked, "could you have reached such a verdict?"
The foreman replied, "We all agreed that if anything could be said for a case, you would say it. But since you didn’t present any evidence, we decided to rule against you." Silence had lost the case.
How often the opportunity to speak a word of testimony for Christ is lost because we remain silent. Those who need to hear the gospel may conclude that salvation is not important enough to talk about. We cannot let this age of privacy silence us. We have freedom of speech, and like a newspaper, we need to share what we know, good news and bad, with those who can benefit.
8. Be faithful to church
Ps. 122:1
I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.
Psalms 84:1-2
How amiable (lovely) are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.
Hebrews 10:25
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Acts 2:41
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Ps. 55:13
But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. 14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.
Psalms 26:8
LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.
1 Chronicles 29:3
Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house,
1 Pet. 4:17 - Show Context
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
9. Show them how much you care for them
I Thess. 2:8
So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.
“They don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care!”
Ex. 32:32
Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.
Rom. 9:3
For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
Ro 10:1
Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
Jeremiah 9:1
Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!
Jude v. 22 …of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire;
10. Pray, and be sensitive to the Holy Spirit
Mark 13:11
But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.
Ps. 81:10 I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.
Remember, a witness is no braver than anyone else, just brave about 10 seconds longer [the time it takes to say, “Can I ask you a personal question because I care about you?”].
http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/WinYourKin.html
