Tell Someone: Evangelism, "Jesus Style"

Notes: Tell Someone: Evangelism, "Jesus Style"

John 4

SPEAKER:

Greg Laurie

Sunday, August 2, 2015 — 10:00 a.m.

Jesus said we should go into the whole world, but He didn't say the whole world would come to the church.

Matthew 28:19 NLT

[19] Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Mark 16:15 NLT

[15] And then he told them, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.

We need to engage in FRANgelism... Friends, relatives, associates and neighbors.

1 Corinthians 1:21 NLT

[21] Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe.

We share the Gospel all the time.

2 Timothy 4:2 NLT

[2] Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.

1 Peter 3:15 NLT

[15] Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.

How do we share the Gospel? That is where it falls apart for many people. The answer is from Jesus Himself. It is showed in John 4 with the woman at the well.

Everyone's favorite subject appears to be themselves. The selfie picture is a testament to that.

Our objective is to build a bridge, not burn one. A stepping stone not a stumbling block.

John 4:3-10 NLT

[3] So he left Judea and returned to Galilee. [4] He had to go through Samaria on the way. [5] Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. [6] Jacob's well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. [7] Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, "Please give me a drink." [8] He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. [9] The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, "You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?" [10] Jesus replied, "If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water."

Evangelism Jesus style, starts with a burden. Jesus needed to go through Samaria.

There is no place for prejudice in the life of a believer. We are to share with all people.

We are to use tact. Skill and grace with dealing with others. You don't start telling them they are going to hell.  

You should engage people in a dialogue, it's not a monologue.

A great example of tact...

Acts 8:29-38 NLT

[29] The Holy Spirit said to Philip, "Go over and walk along beside the carriage." [30] Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" [31] The man replied, "How can I, unless someone instructs me?" And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him. [32] The passage of Scripture he had been reading was this: "He was led like a sheep to the slaughter. And as a lamb is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. [33] He was humiliated and received no justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth." [34] The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or someone else?" [35] So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus. [36-37] As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Look! There's some water! Why can't I be baptized?" [38] He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

Nonbelievers are looking for someone to show them the way. People have stated they would go to church if someone invited them.

Look for open doors and opportunity.

Some people are unnecessarily offensive. That burns bridges.

Chumming is a good way to go about it. Start a conversation don't force it. Jesus asked the woman for a drink of water. It showed a vulnerability that the woman could relate to.

I'm just one beggar telling another beggar where to find some food.

We can be in secondary subjects and missing the opportunities to lead people to Christ right in front of us.

The result of Jesus' conversation was that the lady believed and she went and told others.

Greg's mother reminds him of the woman at the well. She was raised in the church but seemed to fight her belief in the Lord. Greg talked to her about the Lord one month before she passed. Greg gets to see her in Heaven again. We never know when the opportunity will arise, but we need to listen to the nudges from God.

There is joy in leading people to Christ, but there is also a responsibility to do it.