Lesson 3: Friendship Evangelism Putting It Into Action. Build stronger bridges to your mission family.

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1 Lesson 3: Friendship Evangelism Putting It Into Action Introduction: We make plans for vacations, where we are going to live, what occupation we will pursue, how we are going to invest, and many other things. What is more enjoyable, the planning or actually making our plans a reality? Up until now we have still been talking about pre-evangelism. We often find it easy to get to this point, but then are we fearful about what to do next? Would you make all of those other plans and not act on them? Of course not! Now we want to act on our Friendship Evangelism by Putting It Into Action. Goals: To build stronger bridges to your mission family. To share the good news with your mission family or individual. To find support for sharing the good news. STEP V. Build stronger bridges to your mission family. A. Through and (agape) Actions Caring: Allowing God s love to flow though you to other people It has been said, People don t care how much you know, until they know how much you care. Why would that be true? Loving (Agape): Intentionally and unconditionally doing things caring and helpful toward others in Jesus name, that is, out of love for Christ and for what He has done for you. Explain this statement: I always love you, though there may be times that I don t always like you. Why would this be important for our mission family to know? John 15:5, 8-12, I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 8 This is to my Father s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit fruit that will last 17 This is my command: Love each other. Friendship Evangelism Introducing Others to Their Savior 13

2 What command does Jesus give his disciples and us today? How do you carry that out? Is it difficult to do? What are some of the results of carrying out this command? Romans 13: Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not covet, and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: Love your neighbor as yourself. 10 Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Love is the fulfillment of the law. How are we using the law in this case? In what way are we not using God s law here as Christians? John 13: A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. When we carry out this command to love one another, will that include using the law with people? Why or why not? A Study on Christian Love: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (Rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10) 1. Love s goal: Love is patient.most of the time, I am Impatient Patient 2. Love s goal: Love is kind.most of the time, I am Unkind Kind 3. Love s goal: Love does not envy Most of the time, I am Envious Content 4. Love s goal: Love does not boast.most of the time, I am Arrogant Humble 5. Love s goal: Love is not self-seeking Most of the time, I am Selfish Generous Friendship Evangelism Introducing Others to Their Savior 14

3 6. Love s goal: Love is not easily angered Most of the time, I am Irritable Easy going 7. Love s goal: Love keeps no record of wrong Most of the time, I am Revengeful Forgiving 8. Love s goal: Love hates evil delights in truth...most of the time, I am... Lying Truthful 9. Love s goal: Love is always.... Most of the time, I am Inconsistent Consistent How did you do? We all have to admit that we have not hit a perfect 10 on every or any point like God demands. What can we do? An Effective Strategy of Learning to Love has Three Parts: 1) of past failures to love others as Jesus has taught us. 2) Continue to through the Word. Be empowered by the word! 3) specific obstacles to love in your life and begin to them with the Spirit s help through the Word. Take positive steps daily to initiate acts of love. Brainstorm some examples of love in action : B. Strengthen your relationship by doing things together From the suggestions below, circle the ones that you think would be most important. 1. A commitment of time is necessary. Give it the priority it deserves. 2. Work harder at being open, honest and transparent with him/her. 3. Go shopping together. 4. Play golf, go fishing, bowling, etc. 5. Go to mutually enjoyable events and activities together. 6. Take time to be a better listener. Listening is simply earning the right to be heard. Friendship Evangelism Introducing Others to Their Savior 15

4 7. Plan an outing where your mission family member will have the opportunity to meet other Christians from your church. 8. Invite the person (family) to a backyard barbecue, coffee, etc. 9. Give the person a gift. 10. Talk freely about your faith and its meaning for your day to day life. 11. Create an atmosphere that invites questions. 12. Share some past experiences and life situations. 13. Be sensitive to times of need, crisis, stress, etc. and be available. 14. Be complimentary as you are able and as situations warrant. 15. Allow him/her to do kind things for you. 16. Remember a special day/date with a card and brief hand written note. 17. Imagine yourself in their shoes and life situation to better understand how they feel, act and think. 18. Love them unconditionally in Christ and seek to serve them. 19. Pray regularly for them. 20.??? C. Involve other members of your church - Common interests - Needs - Hobbies - Support Groups D. Provide a variety of exposures to Christ and your church What are some ways you could do this? 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) E. Plan ministry with your potential congregation in mind What do we mean by this? Friendship Evangelism Introducing Others to Their Savior 16

5 Step VI. Share the good news! A. Remember the FIVE B s in preparing to witness: 1. BE 2. BE 3. BE 4. BE 5. BE B. What do I say to my friend(s) about Jesus? 1 Peter 3:15 Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. How do you do this? What Christ has done for us the ABC s of our Christian faith: a. b. c. 3. How being a Christian has made a difference in my life: a. when I hurt b. when I need help c. when I am happy 4. Different ways to share the Gospel: a. Your Story, My Story, His Story b. God s Great Exchange (See attachment) c. Problems Solutions Problems Problem (sin) Solution (grace) Solutions d. The Roman Way (See attachment on pg ) Friendship Evangelism Introducing Others to Their Savior 17

6 C. How people are brought to a saving faith in Jesus: 1. Ephesians 2:1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins. 2. Ephesians 2:8 9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God 9 not by works, so that no one can boast Corinthians 12:3 Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, Jesus be cursed, and no one can say, Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit. 4. Romans 10:17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. 5. Romans 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. Step VII. Find support for sharing the good news. A. What is a Grow and Go Support Group? - It is a group of people who meet regularly for the purpose of studying God s Word and for the purpose of encouraging and supporting each other in the process of sharing God s love in Christ with their mission families. B. Why is important to be a part of a Grow and Go Support Group? 1. To continue to grow in God s Word (1 Peter 2:2-3 & 2 Peter 3:18). 2. To provide encouragement and accountability for planning and on-going involvement in witnessing to your mission family member(s). 3. To pray with and for each other and for the members of your mission families. 4. To get to know each other better and to exercise the basic truths of friendship evangelism with each other and in the congregation. 5. To receive and offer suggestions and ideas for building relationships and for reaching out with Christ to others. (No gossip!) 6. To encourage all of the members of our church in friendship evangelism. There is no greater joy than to introduce someone to their Savior! Friendship Evangelism Introducing Others to Their Savior 18

7 What is God s Word and What Can it Do? Romans 1:16 17 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith. The Word is the powerful dynamite of God that is able to save all people from there sins. It reveals the way of salvation that God provided for all people. What is Our Status Before God? Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God There is no exception among us. All fall short and fail to receive God s approval for our sin-filled lives. Romans 3:10 There is no one righteous, not even one This condition is all inclusive. Not even one person does what is right in God s eyes. What Do We Deserve Because of Our Sin? Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man (Adam), and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned Death was not part of God s original plan at creation. It came as a result of sin. This was not just physical death, but spiritual, eternal death. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death Wages are usually a good thing that is earned from hard work. From all of our hard work of sin we have earned for ourselves God s condemnation of eternal death. What Has God Done About Our Situation? Romans 5:6, 8 6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. We were powerless to do anything about our condemned condition. We were ungodly completely at odds with God. We were sinners unable to keep God s law, stuck in sin and happy to be there. But it was at this time that God showed his undeserved love to us by sending his son to die to pay for all of our sins. Friendship Evangelism Introducing Others to Their Savior 19

8 You can see a tremendous example of God s grace when you consider Baptism. At the time when we were sinners, incapable of doing anything pleasing to God, he put his name on us through the waters of Baptism. He began faith in our hearts to make us his child. Romans 5:11 Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. It was through Jesus that God resolved to put an end to the hostility that existed between sinful mankind and him. What is the Result of God s Love? Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus Those who believe in Jesus no longer stand condemned of their sins because God has taken them away through Jesus. Romans 8: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. So much does God love us and want us to be his children that nothing can separate us from him. What is the Only Way to Be Saved? Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. What do you have to do to be saved? Absolutely nothing. Jesus has done it all. Just believe in him. Even that comes by God s grace as the Holy Spirit works faith in your heart. Romans 10:13 Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. God does not show favoritism, but his grace is for everyone. Salvation comes not from what a person does, but by believing in Jesus as Savior, who has done it all for us. Romans 10:17 faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. This is the way the Lord brings salvation to us. It is through the gospel. The Holy Spirit creates faith and strengthens it though hearing the Word of God. What is Our Response to All This? Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God this is your spiritual act of worship. This is our lives of Sanctification or the Christian Life that follows faith. No longer do we want to live according to the sinful ways of the world. We want to now use our bodies out of thankfulness to God for all that he has done. We want to use every thing we have in service to our Lord to his glory. Friendship Evangelism Introducing Others to Their Savior 20

9 The Basic Elements of Friendship Evangelism Strategy Introduction: - Our calling in Christ: To GROW in the Word and to GO with the Word - Friendship evangelism is simply living your faith in word and deed in the world - Friendship evangelism is building bridges to people in order to share Christ - The majority of Christians have met Jesus as the result of an invitation from a friend 1. INDENTIFY your mission family - Those who do not know and confess Jesus as Savior and Lord, and/or - Those who are not presently active in the worship life of a Christian church - What to do if you cannot identify a mission family (See Luke 15:1 10, 14:23) 2. PROFILE of your mission family members - What do I know about my mission family? (Basic & religious information; interests & needs) - Why? - How? 3. PRAY for your mission family (James 5:16b) - Regularly - Specifically - Dangerously 4. FOCUS your efforts - Why? - How? - Check your priorities 5. DEVELOP a plan of action to enhance your witness opportunity - Caring and loving actions and words (agape) - Doing things together - Involving other Christians - Provide a variety of exposures to Christ and to your church - Plan with your potential congregation in mind 6. VERBALIZE your faith - The 5 B s - Simply tell what Jesus means to you - What Jesus has done for you, the A, B, C s of our faith - God s Great Exchange - The Roman Way 7. PARTICIPATE in a Grow and Go Support Group - To grow in the Word - Accountability - Prayer - Encouragement for Friendship Evangelism Friendship Evangelism Introducing Others to Their Savior 21