Relationship Evangelism Letting the Traffic Flow

Review Last lesson, we looked at “Bridge Building” –Developing relationships by Making the initial contact Getting better acquainted Serving them Becoming a friend These steps are “tilling the soil” prior to “planting the seed” With the bridges built, now we can let the traffic flow (get the seed into the soil)

Sharing your faith By the time you have become friends, the fact that you’re a Christian should be known –1 Pet 3:15 Be ready always to answer questions You may need to ask questions before answering –Many people have redefined terms you may take for granted »“baptism”, “church”, “atonement”, “worship”, “fellowship”, “repent”, etc Be gentle, not harsh Don’t try to tell them everything at once –The aim is not yet conversion You are planting, not harvesting (start your engines)

Traffic Jam Some are probably thinking, “But how do I get the conversation started?” –It may develop gradually, but what if it doesn't? You may already have friends with whom you've never been able to get the conversation about faith started You may have prospects where the opportunity has already been missed –Or, “What if I start the conversation and I don't have the answers?”

Clearing Roadblocks Consider what you know about your friend in regard to faith? –Do they attend a church somewhere? –Do they consider themselves to be a Christian? –Dp they belong to some denomination? –Do they read the Bible? –Are they concerned about sin or salvation? –Are they skeptical of religion and/or the Bible?

Using the Bible Imagine a conversation beginning like this: –You're at your friend's house and see a Bible (on a table, on a shelf, etc) –You say, “Have you ever wondered where those chapter and verse divisions came from? –Or, “I see you read the [Insert the version you see (King James, New International, etc)]. Have you ever wondered why there are so many different versions?” If they say, “Yes, I have wondered”, what then?

Origins of the Bible On the back pew, under the nursery room window, I have placed the first lesson in a six-part series called, “The Origins of the Bible” –Those questions and many others are answered in that series You could go through the series and be ready with answers You could offer to study the series together with your friend You could offer to leave a first lesson with your friend to let them study it

Using Religion Perhaps you ask about if they go to church or where they go to church –Then you follow up with, “Have you ever wondered where [insert name of denomination] came from?” –Or, “Have you ever wondered why there are so many different churches?” –Or, “Have you ever thought about what the Bible means by “church”?” –Or, “Have you ever wondered if any of today's churches are really the same as the church Jesus started?” Again, what if they answer, “Yes, I have wondered.” What then?

The Church On the back pew, under the nursery room window, I have placed the first lesson in a ten-part series called, “The Church that Jesus Built” –Those questions and many others are answered in that series You could go through the series and be ready with answers You could offer to study the series together with your friend You could offer to leave a first lesson with your friend to let them study it

Using the topic of Sin Perhaps your friend makes a comment about some sinful behavior (maybe from a news item or seen on TV or in a movie) –You could ask, “Have you ever wanted to know what the Bible says about [name the sin or just say “sin”] –Or, “Have you ever wondered if you may have done something equally sinful in the eyes of God?” You probably already know whay you can do if they say, “Yes.”

What is Sin? On the back pew, under the nursery room window, I have placed the first lesson in a seven-part series called, “What is Sin?” –Those questions and many others are answered in that series You could go through the series and be ready with answers You could offer to study the series together with your friend You could offer to leave a first lesson with your friend to let them study it

Using Salvation Maybe your friend is religious and none of the other three has worked to get the conversation flowing –You ask, “Are you certain you are saved?” If “No” or “Not certain”, there is the opening If “Yes”, “How do you know you are saved?” [Wait for them to explain] Then,“Do you know what the Bible says about being saved?” If you get an opening, you know what comes next

What Must I do to be Saved? On the back pew, under the nursery room window, I have placed the first lesson in a seven-part series called, “What Must I do to be Saved?” –Those questions and many others are answered in that series You could go through the series and be ready with answers You could offer to study the series together with your friend You could offer to leave a first lesson with your friend to let them study it

Options All four series are some I wrote –They can be easily reprinted If a different type size or font is needed Corrections and clarifications are simple –Originally used as correspondence courses Can still be used that way (the PO Box listed on each lesson will get the lesson to me) –They also work well as a guided lesson plan You and your friend work together on it, you leave the lesson with them for review –Or you can have me check the answers and then you return it to them

Options They all work better if you study each series first –Helps you think of questions to get your friend interested –Helps you know what answers are correct if you are going to study together –Helps you grow in knowledge (2 Pet 1:5-9, 3:18) Were you able to answer the questions I proposed? They can be used for cold contacts as well –The questions we proposed can be put in a newspaper ad and let the interested respond for the first lesson May need volunteers for correcting lessons –Another reason to study the lessons first

Conclusion Are you ready to clear out the traffic jams? Are you ready for traffic to flow? –The traffic will flow both ways –You will ask questions and they will ask questions You will be sharing your faith and growing in your faith at the same time (2 Thes 1:3, Rom 1:16-17) –That last passage speaks of the gospel, we'll talk about that in our next lesson