A. This past week, I’ve had the privilege of spending time with my mother-in-law and my wife’s mother-in-law. Now I have a great mother-in-law, but I would have to say my wife’s mother-in-law is Supreme. (welcome Mom, Happy Anniversary).
B. Mother-in-law Joke: While on vacation to Jerusalem, George’s mother-in-law died. With death certificates in hand, George went to the American Consulate Office to make arrangements to send the body back to the states for proper burial. The Consul, after hearing of the death of the mother-in-law told George that the sending of a body back to the states for burial is very, very expensive. It could cost as much as $5,000.00. The Consul continued, in most cases the person responsible for the remains normally decides to bury the body here. This would only cost $150.00. George thought for some time and answers, "I don’t care how much it will cost to send the body back to the states! The Consul, after hearing this, said, "You must have loved your mother-in-law very much considering the difference in price." "No, it’s not that at all," said George. "You see, I know of a case years ago of a person that was buried here in Jerusalem. On the third day he arose from the dead! I just can’t take that chance.
C. Today, I’ve got a great Mother-in-law story for you. It’s found in Mark 1. It’s a short story, however powerful. In fact, I want to use this story to continue our series, How to Treat Others.
. D. Our Text today says this: “As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew, Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her,. So He went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them”– Mark 1:29-31.
E. Let’s use these three verses to help us consider How to go about Reaching Your Family for Christ. Now, I don’t know this for sure, but my assumption is that Peter’s Mother-in-law is not yet a follower of Christ. She’s not a Christian yet. I would guess that she was a believer in God, but her religion was Judaism. She was a staunch Jew. In fact, I expect she may very well be a bit skeptical.
F. Just a couple of verses prior to this episode, Mark records these words, “As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him”– Mark 1:16-18. This Simon is the man who married this woman’s daughter and He just quit his very profitable job and went to an unorthodox and unaccredited Bible College. I expect there was some tension in the air.
G. Let’s look deeper at this story and let’s make some suggestions for Reaching your Family for Christ. Odds are, everyone of us have family members outside of Christ and I assume that you would love nothing more than to see them find Salvation in Christ. T.S.— Let’s make a couple of Suggestions that may allow for greater success in reaching your family for Christ.
MH #1. Understand that Evangelism often takes a Team Effort.
A. Often, the hardest people for us personally to influence for Jesus Christ is our extended family. It doesn’t take very long at all to realize that family members are tough, a bit apathetic, even skeptical. And often, instead of seeing progress, you feel just the opposite.
B. I know of some preachers who have won thousands to Christ, but couldn’t get very far at all with their family members. And realize that we do not have any evidence that Jesus won of his family members until after his death, and resurrection. On one occasion, his brothers, sisters and even his mother came to get Him because they thought He had gone “mad”. Jesus said on another occasion, “Only in his hometown is a prophet without honor.”
C. Jesus knew the stress of having unbelieving family members. So did Simon Peter and I like his strategy.
D. Peter, invited other believers into his home– not only for a time of fellowship, not only for an opportunity to serve them, but also for an opportunity for tag-team evangelism. Listen, it’s not your sole responsibility to win the world for Christ, it’s our responsibility. So let’s see ourselves on the same team & let’s work together. Evangelism is to be a team effort.
MH#2. Understand Your Role on the Evangelistic Team. The second thing I would like for your to consider is this.... understand your personal role on the evangelistic team toward your family.
A You may not be the most effective person to “preach” to your family members. In fact your teaching and preaching may actually be repulsive to your family. Sometimes they can’t get over who you were. In our Discipleship Training class, we encourage you to “Avoid preaching to your family members”. Now understand that I did not say give up on your family members, nor did I say, “do not make any attempts.” Not at all. I think our story today explains what you are to do to influence family.....
A. First, be the Example– Peter was a great example in what he did to influence his mother-in-law for Christ. Listen to what he later wrote in his epistle as he addressed Christian women who had unbelieving husbands.... 1 Peter 3:1-ff– “Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without talk by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.” Peter would say, “When it comes to winning your family, forget about the talk and master your walk!” Be the example. That’s what Jesus did. We have no Biblical evidence that Jesus every “preached” to his family. He simply lived out the gospel. Now, we do know that some of his family members became Christians– but that didn’t happen until after his death, burial and resurrection.
B. Second, Create opportunity for relational connections.
*. We must be creative about allowing for situations where Christians and non-Christian can rub shoulders.
*. Throw a “Matthew Party”. The first thing Matthew did after committing to follow Christ was to throw a party where he invited all his new Christian friends to come hang out with all his “pagan” friends. It was an opportunity for Christians and non-Christians to rub shoulders. Maybe you need to go home and plan a party– that’s great application of a sermon. Throw a party.
* Listen, your role in reaching your family may not be “preaching” but very well should be “connecting.”
C. Thirdly, Recruit people who will pray for your family.
*. Not only did Peter open his home for his for some strategic team play. He also requested intercession. I love verse 30– “Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever and they told Jesus about her.”
*. Talking to Jesus about other’s needs– that’s prayer! And notice, it wasn’t her prayer that brought healing, but it was their prayer. It was their prayer that got God involved.
*. One of the best things you could possibly to for your unsaved family members is to recruit prayer partners to offer intercession on their behalf.
*. Now you may ask, “Who shall I recurit?” In this story, Peter recruited his brother Andrew, James and John. (Two sets of brothers in ministry together..... interesting concept.) He recruited those He knew who were serious about following Jesus and “they told Jesus about her.”
*. Who do you have praying for your family? James tells us in James 5:16– “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”
MH#3. Understand the importance of Service (Care).
A. Well, there’s a third suggestion..... 1) Understand that evangelism often takes a team effort. 2) Understand your role on that team. And third..... Understand that “service of others” is a great back door to the heart. So “open the door for personal service.”
B. One fo the best ways to influence someone is through service. Service is translated compassion and care.
C. Christ’s example here is paramount! Jesus learned of a need and immediately did what He could to meet that need. The Lord of lords and King of kings– God himself went immediately and helped this woman. God went personally, immediately, and powerfully. Forget about “Touched by an Angel!” This woman was touched by God!
D. Now you and I won’t be able to heal anyone, but the point is that Jesus, when he learned of the need, went and did what he could do. Real disciples see needs and then do what they can to meet those needs.
E. Who do you want on your evangelistic team? You want people who are willing to serve others.
Conclusion: Here’s how I want to conclude.... Two thoughts....
1). Consider your team for reaching your family. Who do you need to invite? Recruit? Invite?
2). Consider playing for someone else. Will someone want you on their team?
A) Accept invitations for fellowship– fellowship creates great opportunity for evangelism.
B) Commit to praying for evangelistic needs of LCC members. If someone asks you to pray for their family, pray! It’s the best thing we can do.
C) Look for opportunities to serve people outside of Christ. The old adage is true: “People won’t care how much we know, until they know how much we care.” Peter’s mother-in-law provides one of the best examples of a servant we have. After experiencing the love and power of Jesus, she responded in service. I think that will be true of all Christ’s disciples. “The touch of Jesus brought instant healing; and the consciousness of healing brought grateful service.” Are you serving others?
D) Talk to them about Jesus. Jesus is the Healer, the Savior, the Answer for life. You may very well be the “prophet” for someone’s family.
