Whenever I talk about evangelism, the response I hear most often from the members of my church is they don’t know anybody who’s not a Christian. When you grow up in the over-churched South, it’s not unusual for you to spend all your time with people who go to your church, work out at the same place you do, eat at the same restaurant you do, whose children are the same age as your children. You end up forming a tribe of people who are more or less just like you. So when we hear God’s call to tell the good news, we literally do not know anybody who doesn't already know who Jesus Christ is.
This means that for us the first step of evangelism is going to be develop a relationship with somebody who is not a Christian. This isn't as hard or as daunting as you might think it is. Most of us have co-workers, neighbors and colleagues who do not attend church anywhere or who do not give expression to a faith of any kind.
I want to give you a minute just to think about it.
Have you thought about it? Has that person’s name come to your mind? Can you see their face?
- The first thing I want to ask you to do is pray for them. If you don’t know what to pray, just call their name to the Lord. At least, begin to pray for an opportunity to get to know the person.
- Do something intentional. Invite them to lunch. Practice the biblical gift of hospitality. Get to know them for no other reason than to love them in the love of Christ.
- Let the relationship develop. Don’t rush it. In due time, they’ll begin to ask some questions about you, and you will be able to tell them about Jesus.
Who do you know who doesn't know Jesus? How would you become their friend?
Some people will never understand Jesus is their friend until they see that you are.
