Evangelism 2016 Friendships and Relationships In Pervious Lessons

Evangelism 2016 Friendships and Relationships

• • In Pervious Lessons on Reaching the Lost Reasons to reach the lost Perspectives Today Qualities of personal workers Reaching our friends Examples in scripture and loved Overcoming excuse ones and obstacles We all can do SOMETHING! Prayer & courage

Reaching our friends • Perhaps our best pool of prospects to begin with • We have something in common • Include family, friends, neighbors, coworkers we are close to, etc. • John 1: 40 -45, Matt. 9: 10 -13 Acts 10: 24, 33

Reaching our friends • As Christians we ought to always be friendly! • Such might lead to more friendships which might present more opportunities!

Reaching our friends • The Best way to begin is by your example! 2 Corinthians 3: 2 -3 Matthew 5: 15 • Pray for opportunities Colossians 4: 3, Ephesians 6: 18 -19

Reaching our friends • Be a good neighbor – be friendly. Be helpful and serve

Reaching our friends • Seek ways to let others know that you are a Christian – James 2: 18 • Like Jesus and the Samaritan woman – John 4: 7 -11, Philip and the eunuch – Acts 8: 30 -31 • Mention your faith in conversations, be willing to discuss Jesus. • Show your faith - leave your Bible visible, tracts and other sound Bible literature, control your tongue, etc.

Reaching our friends • Look for opportunities to share the gospel with them • Invite them to services, gospel meetings, etc. Ask if they are interested in studying the Bible. Neighborhood studies, etc.

Will your risk your friendship? • Do we care for their souls enough to risk our friendship? • The gospel will offend – Acts 7: 54 -60, 16: 20 -24, etc. It caused Jesus to be crucified • 1 Corinthians 1: 22 -24

Will your risk your friendship? • Obeying the gospel might To save soul, friends mean giving upayour at some point they Matthew 10: 34 -36 MUST bespeaks confronted 1 Peter 4: 3 -4 of your the gospel. formerwith friends THIS is the point of risk! • Luke 18: 29 -30

Will your risk your friendship? • Thought! If you have more worldly friends than godly friends, where will your greater influence come from? James 4: 4

“Relationship Evangelism” • A method of reaching the lost that means you first create and cultivate a relationship and then gradually you try and introduce the gospel to them • Some advocate this is the only or most effective way to win souls

“Relationship Evangelism” • A process: • Choose who you want to try and win – pray for them • Begin making contact • Seek to get better acquainted by finding out what you can about them, let them get to know you • Serve and befriend them (being an example)

“Relationship Evangelism” • A process: • Gradually, youstep beginintothis mention Every your faith, but not too process can be useful. confrontational BUT, them is the only • Introduce to other Christians • Seekway to study the Bible with them to reach others? • Invite them to learn the gospel and obey

“Relationship Evangelism” • Some concerns and dangers: • It can overemphasize friendship as the means of reaching the lost The gospel is what saves! Romans 1: 16, 10: 14 -17, 1 Corinthians 1: 18, 2: 1 -5

“Relationship Evangelism” • Some concerns and dangers: • Don’t be deceptive! • IF the only reason for befriending someone is to eventually try to reach them – are we being up front with them? • What happens if they don’t respond?

“Relationship Evangelism” • Some concerns and dangers: • Don’t be deceptive! • We are to be honorable (straightforward) in our methods 2 Corinthians 1: 12 1 Thessalonians 2: 4 -5, 2 Corinthians 2: 17

“Relationship Evangelism” • Some concerns and dangers: • Will your friendship take precedence over teaching them • Some will value friendship over truth and never reach the point of risk or confrontation with the gospel.

“Relationship Evangelism” • Some concerns and dangers: • Will we seek cultivating friendships as fulfilling our efforts to reach the lost? • We keep putting off the “confrontation” but we tell ourselves we are doing all that we can

“Relationship Evangelism” • Some concerns and dangers: • What about the length of time involved in the process? • While we need to be patient, we must also realize that souls in sin are at risk! • 2 Corinthians 5: 11 Hebrews 9: 27 James 4: 14, Psalm 90: 10 -12

“Relationship Evangelism” • Some concerns and dangers: • Will friendship be the only reason one does obey the gospel? • Will it take precedence over serving God? Is their faith superficial? Cf. 1 Corinthians 1: 12 -13, 3: 4, etc.

“Relationship Evangelism” • Some concerns and dangers: • Are we ignoring the power of Persuasion does NOT reason, persuasion in teaching require friendship! others? (next • Souls MUST bemonth) persuaded to follow Jesus with scripture! There are many examples of reasoning in scripture

Concluding thoughts • Our friends are where we will begin our efforts to teach others Those we love, we seek to win to Him • Let our relationships develop naturally, based upon their understanding that you ARE A CHRISTIAN!

Let us resolve to try and reach whoever we have opportunity to teach!