Text: 1st Thessalonians 2:1-12 (NASB)
Introduction: I have a question for you tonight. It is a little tricky so be careful in how you answer. How can you tell when something is on fire? The answer is not smoke, it is not heat, it is not light, and the answer is because it burns. Fire consumes and ignites other material and in fact, any fire that does not spread will eventually go out.
An imperative question that we must ask ourselves as a church and as individuals is this. Are we going to burn? Are we going to continue to be on fire because we reach out to others and invite them to come to know the greatest news in the world, the news that God loves them and forgives them? Or are we going to be extinguished because we never shared God’s message with our friends and family?
A fire that does not burn is a contradiction. A fire has to spread and expand if it is going to live. That is why tonight we are going to look at a value that we hold high here, so that we don’t get one, two, or five years down the road and say, “Remember when, remember the good times…” The value that we are going to look at is this.
Lost people matter to God, and therefore they should matter to me, and they should matter to you.
If lost people truly matter to us as they matter to Jesus then we will actively engage in the purpose of Evangelism. Evangelism is all one of the five purposes that God has planned both for the church as a whole and for us as individuals as well. Basically evangelism is sharing your life’s message.
In his book “The Purpose Driven Life,” Pastor Rick Warren states that your life’s message will have four parts to it.
1. Your testimony: the story of how you began a relationship with Jesus Christ.
2. Your life lessons: The most important lessons God has taught you.
3. Your Godly passions: the issues God shaped you to care about most
4. The Good News: the message of salvation.
In reality there are many different methods that we can use to actually accomplish the purpose of evangelism. However, all current Christian and secular research indicates that in 21st century America that most effective method of evangelism is known as relational evangelism, which is also known as friendship evangelism.
In other words we believe that the best way to reach other people is through life on life, friendship based influence. When asking people how they came to Christ, how they became a Christ Follower, the overwhelming majority will say, “Because someone I knew was a Christian and they made a huge impact on my life” It is not through big evangelism crusades or by watching some Christian TV special, but it through relationships! And this is no surprise because some of Jesus last words to his disciples were their “marching orders” so to speak.
Matthew 28:18-20 (NASB) 18And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
Jesus says here’s the deal… “I want you to go and communicate the good news that I have given you and lead people to faith in me. Then I want you to make disciples out of those people, I want you to teach them so that they can grow up spiritually.” Then Jesus unveils the way to do this, through the newly created church, or through the believers who meet together and fellowship. That is what we are, we are group of believers in Christ who meet together and hang out, and a group of people that depends on each other and looks out for each other. This is the way Jesus said the good news about God’s love would be brought to the entire world. Why? Because human beings need other humans, we are relational creatures that like to be apart of a group that loves and cares for them, like a family, or a church. And our mission, the mission given to the church is to be about the business of turning irreligious, far from God people into fully-dependant followers of Jesus Christ.
We are to help heal the hurting, and help turn them toward the answer for life, and freedom, and salvation, Jesus!
Famous news commentator Paul Harvey said once, “God has called the church to be fishers of men, not keepers of the aquarium.”
So how do we do that? How do we become a group that does not keep all that God has done for us inside these four walls?
Well let me tell you a story:
One time Jesus was hanging out with some people that we might regard as the scum of the earth. Jesus was hanging out with tax collectors and known sinners in a certain town. It would be like him hanging out with some drug dealers and corporate thieves today, probably not the most looked up to people of the day. So here he is talking with them, eating with them and the religious leaders of the day were watching him and muttering things like “Who is this guy that he associates with these sinners, these low lives?” Jesus overheard them and got up, looked them in the eyes and said, “You know what the kingdom of God is really all about, you know what you really should be spending your time doing instead of complaining about me hanging out with the riff-raff…” Jesus then tells them three stories, one right after another to really drive the point home. The first story is about a guy who had 100 sheep that he was watching when he notices that he only has 99 in the pin. So what does he do, does he hang out and look out for the 99 and just consider the one lost sheep part of doing sheep business? No! He runs out and leaves the 99 to find the one little lost sheep. When he finds it he tosses it over his shoulder and joyfully runs home to celebrate with some of his sheep herder buddies. The next story is about a lady that had 10 coins and loses one of them. What does she do? She tears her house apart trying to find the one coin that was lost. When she finds it, she calls her neighbors over to have a party! The final story is about a man who had two sons. One day one of them says that he wants his inheritance now and leaves to go chase his dreams. The son spends his money on wild parties and wild women until one day it all runs out. He is hungry, lonely and desperate so he decides to go back home and ask his dad to hire him as a slave. When he gets close to his home he can see his dad sitting there on the porch. All of a sudden the dad sees his once lost son and he runs out to hug him. Not only that but he puts a new ring on his finger and throws him a multi-day celebration! In all of this Jesus was saying to these religious leaders, In the same way that all these people rejoiced when they found what was lost; God rejoices even more when just one person who was lost and without hope turns to God and finds salvation. Jesus is telling these guys who think they are better than anyone else that this is what it is all about! That is why we meet here every Sunday, this is what we are all about. We don’t meet so that we can look religious, or so that we can put another mark on our good things done list for the week. We meet to share the heart of God with other people who may not know all that God has done to have a personal relationship with them. We meet to offer other people a safe place to laugh, cry, heal, and just be themselves!
In a recent survey that was done of people who were “unchurched” meaning that they did not come to church in the last 6 months it was found that:
1. The unchurched are becoming increasingly more receptive to what the church has to offer and are staying away not out of hostility, but out of inconvenience.
2. 63% say they believe that the Bible is God’s Word.
3. 77% say they pray to God.
4. 72% believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
5. 58% said they would come to church if it were the right one.
The conclusion is that the people you know that are not here tonight and you know don’t go anywhere else, are ripe for picking.
We mentioned that we do evangelism through relationships, which means we build into people’s lives around us.
Not everyone can teach a Bible study class. Although Bible study is important and does have merit, it is not the most effective way to tell someone about Jesus.
The Mormon Church discovered some interesting information as well. At one time you could see young Mormon elders going door to door trying to set studies. But they recently 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 through friendships was 50%. They converted 50% of their friends through relational and friendship methods.
I don’t agree with Mormon theology but you and I stand to learn something from this research. The lesson that we need to learn is: We need to develop relationships and make friends with people.
In 21st century America it is significantly easier to bring a friend to Christ than it is to bring a complete stranger to Christ. 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 listening to us as we share the life changing Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Friendship and relational evangelism is not new. It is the method Jesus used and it is also the method that Paul describes in our text. In our text the scripture details three components that make up friendship evangelism.
I. Information
A. 1st Thessalonians 2:1-6 (NASB) 1For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain, 2but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition. 3For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit; 4but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts. 5For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed--God is witness--6nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority.
B. As we read these verses of scripture we can sense Paul’s urgency in presenting the gospel.
1. In spite of strong opposition Paul did not hesitate to tell the Thessalonians about Jesus.
C. We, like the Apostle Paul was, must realize that there are people who are dying in their sins.
1. Regardless of what happens to us we must share the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost and dying around us.
D. 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 and they are not going to be with us in heaven unless they give their lives to Christ.
1. If we are not sharing Jesus Christ them, why are we not sharing Jesus Christ with them?
2. The reason many Christians do not tell others about Jesus is because they are afraid.
Illustration: I’ve heard many preachers say that the reason Christians 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 are afraid of rejection, afraid of being ridiculed, afraid of not knowing what to say or how to teach.
E. We have made evangelism much too difficult!
F. The most effective way to tell someone about Jesus is through the use of relational evangelism.
G. Don’t force evangelistic conversations.
1. You can be at work and say something very casually to a co-worker like, “Boy, that discussion we had a church last night was amazing.”
2. Don’t say anything else.
3. Let him be the one to ask. Why? What was so amazing about it?”
4. 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 friends from church. You just can’t believe what we did?
5. Again, when your friend asks what, then you have an opportunity to tell him or her about what Jesus has done for you in a personal way.
6. At this point, you are not being preachy.
7. You are not trying to force your beliefs on anyone else.
8. You are just simply, as the opportunity presents itself, sharing your life’s message about Jesus and His family in a very non-threatening way.
H. The more you share positive things within the course of your existing friendships and relationships about the Family of God and what Jesus Christ has done for you, the more your coworkers, friends, family members, and neighbors will want to learn.
I. As you do this the goal is that at some point they would even be willing
to come and worship with you or even study with you or someone else in order to further learn about Jesus.
J. The main thing is, just be yourself and look for opportunities to share the love of Jesus Christ with others.
II. Participation
A. 1st Thessalonians 2:7-9 (NASB) 7But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. 8Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us. 9For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
B. Participation in getting involved with people building relationships.
1. 1st Thessalonians 2:7 (NASB) 7But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children.
2. There is no way that we are going to bring people to Christ without being kind and gentle with them.
3. If we are rude to another person or sarcastic or obnoxious, it will be very unlikely that we will ever bring that person to Jesus.
Illustration: Here you are at Wal Mart and you take your basket of items to a checkout stand where the checker is new and inexperienced and you are in a hurry. You try to be patient (for about 30 seconds), but the checker is really slow! So you finally get upset and say, “Will you please hurry! You are slower than my 95 year-old grandmother! I will never come to you again. In fact, I’m telling the store manager how slow you are.”
Come Sunday morning, you are appointed to greet visitors as they enter the building. This nicely dressed young lady, who has been invited to attend by a friend of hers, walks into the building, and you immediately recognize her as the checker at Wal-Mart that you yelled at the day before. As soon as
she sees your face, she turns around, walks away, and never comes back.
4. Paul dealt with the Thessalonians with love compassion, gentleness, and compassion.
5. He knew that he had to be friends with the Thessalonians if he was ever going to bring them to Christ.
C. 1st Thessalonians 2:8 (NASB) 8Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.
1. This is friendship evangelism!
2. When we begin sharing our lives with others, we will have greater opportunity in bringing them to Christ.
3. You evangelize people by letting them know that you care!
D. How do we show people we care?
1. Be friendly.
2. Proverbs 18:24 (NKJV) 24A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
3. We need to be friendly.
4. We should have a smile on our face and kind words on our lips.
5. I believe the more a person knows you, likes you, and trusts you, the better your conversations about Christ, His family and His Word will be.
6. It’s imperative that we make friends with others.
7. We can do that by sharing our life’s message.
8. Invite people over for dinner.
9. Get to know them.
10. Share your interests.
11. Share your likes and dislikes.
12. Go to the movies.
13. Go hunting or fishing or camping together.
14. Ladies you can go shopping together.
15. Invite them to worship.
16. This is how you cultivate friendships.
17. When we share our lives while 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 to you as teach them about the Love of Jesus Christ.
18. Be helpful.
19. Help people with their needs.
20. Visit with those who are sick!
21. Lend a helping hand in any way that you are able.
22. This is the method of both Jesus Christ himself and the early New Testament church.
23. Where there is a good ministry of benevolence, there will be growth.
24. However, benevolence is more than just the giving of money.
25. It is the giving of your life 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 salvation. Curiously the elder asked the woman what PROMPTED her to come in and study the Bible. She told the elder over a year ago her three-year old son was hit by a car and was critically injured and it was touch and go for a while. During that time, her next-door neighbor, who was a member of this particular church, was exceedingly helpful. She took care of her other son. She cooked dinner for her family, she did her shopping, she cleaned the house, washed the laundry. She did all of that without a single complaint or asking for anything in return. The lady continued by saying that knew her neighbor had something that she did not have. I knew that she was a member of this church but that’s all that she knew about her. She was always friendly and she invited me to church. But prior to her son’s accident, I had nothing to do with her because her mother told her that members of the church were judgmental, rude, and obnoxious toward anyone who was not a member of the church.
She concluded tearfully that her neighbor was nothing like she had been taught. But instead her neighbor was just the opposite. While her son was in the hospital, her neighbor encouraged her to read the Bible. In time she began reading the Bible and she soon discovered that her neighbor had something that she did not have and that was a caring Savior named Jesus Christ.
26. Helping others when they are in need while expecting nothing in return makes a dynamic impact in the lives of all people.
27. But sadly, the statement that the young woman’s mother made has some validity.
28. Throughout the history of our fellowship there are many people who have developed the reputation of being judgmental; self righteous, unkind, and unfriendly while having a holier than you are attitude.
E. Paul became friends with the Thessalonians.
F. Paul shared the gospel and he shared his life.
1. The Thessalonians were more eager to here the gospel because they realized Paul’s genuine concern for them.
2. People do not care what you know until they first know how much you care about them.
G. All of us want to share Christ with people who will listen.
1. People who we have developed loving friendships with will be much more ardent listeners to what we have to say in regards to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
H. All of us are not gifted in the area of being teachers but all of us have the capacity of being friends.
III. Demonstration
A. 1st Thessalonians 2:10-12 (NASB) 10You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers; 11just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, 12so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
B. We are to live the life of Christ before other people.
1. How can we teach people about the love of Jesus Christ without living the love of Jesus Christ in front of them?
2. In the post modern society that we live in today our non-Christian friends, family members, neighbors and coworkers are watching us to see if we really believe what we profess.
3. 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 corporately if you are regularly absent yourself from the worship assembly? 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 are not striving to live like Jesus we are not going to bring anyone to Jesus at all.
C. 1st Thessalonians 2:10 (NASB) 10You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers.
1. Paul knew that he could not teach on love if he himself did not love.
2. Paul knew that he could not teach on faithful if he himself was unfaithful.
3. Paul knew that his life had to correspond with his teaching.
4. Does that mean that Paul was perfect
5. Romans 7:14-25 (NASB) 14For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. 15For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. 16But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. 17So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 18For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 20But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 21I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 22For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. 24Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 25Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.
6. The Apostle Paul struggled with sin in the same way that all of us struggle with sin but he was striving to live the life of Jesus Christ to the best of his ability.
7. This is all that God expects of us.
8. He wants all of us to make every effort possible to follow the example of His Son Jesus Christ.
9. And when we do make mistakes it doesn’t hurt to say, I’m sorry will you forgive me? I was wrong!
10. When we are honest about our sins, mistakes, and faults, people will look at us and think: they have human struggles just like I have. Maybe I can live the Christian life after all.
Conclusion: If we incorporate these components of friendship evangelism in to our daily lives we still interest in others as they desire to more about Jesus Christ. 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. At the airports or the 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 about 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 back our friendship, as if to say you had your chance.
Luke 6:32-34 (NASB) 32"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33"If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34"If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount.
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, you may just one day win that person to Jesus Christ. Never give up on people.
