The Apprentice’s Preparation

We have been studying the method of relational or friendship evangelism. Last time we looked at the Master Evangelist, Jesus, and developed some principles that we can implement into our own lives.

The principles of evangelism:

1. curiosity aroused;

2. problem pointed out; and then (maybe),

3. the answer is given.

This morning we want to think about our preparation for this style of evangelism.

What do we need in order to be ready to share Jesus with our friends?

1. Regular Personal Bible Study

Why is this important to friendship evangelism?

Our friends have to see that we know something about the topic we are talking about.

Acts 4:13 (ESV)

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

Think about these highlighted words. Why were the Jews astonished when Peter and John spoke about the Scriptures?

Where did this confidence/boldness come from? It wasn’t from their theological degrees from the local theological Jerusalem Bible college. They had been with Jesus!

That was enough to amaze these Jews! And it will be enough to amaze our friends today.

We have a daily opportunity to be with Jesus through the Word.

John 14:23 ESV

Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

What is the difference between following someone’s instructions and obeying instructions out of love? How will that impact your unsaved friends?

“Our friends must see our own confidence in God’s Word if they are to take us seriously. If we are dummies when it comes to our knowledge of God’s Word, there is no better time to start changing that situation than now. The religious leaders saw Peter’s and John’s “confidence,” and later (Acts 4:31) Peter and John spoke the Word of God with “boldness.” The more you study John’s Gospel, the more confident you will become in your own faith.” —Schneider, Floyd. Evangelism For the Fainthearted (pp. 49-50). Kindle Edition.

We must keep in mind that when we have times of personal bible study, the bonus of that time is we are ready to share the gospel with our friends. But that is not our primary motivation.

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

“Our commitment is to the Lord Himself. This book is not meant for those who think that personal Bible study and evangelism are simply time-filling hobbies.” —Schneider, Floyd. Evangelism For the Fainthearted (p. 50). Kindle Edition.

What else do we need in order to be ready to share Jesus with our friends?

2. Sincerity

No matter how much time you devote to regular personal bible study will you ever have all the answers to their questions? Is that a benefit or a liability? Why?

“Our main objective centers on convincing our friends that we do not have all the answers; therefore, they have to learn to find the answers for themselves!” —Schneider, Floyd. Evangelism For the Fainthearted (p. 50). Kindle Edition.

What is the danger of thinking we have all the answers? We think that we have the ability to save people!

How do people come to Jesus? It is the Holy Spirit through the Word of God that will do that.

John 16:8–11 ESV

And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

We cannot remind ourselves enough of the truth of Hebrews 4 12!

Hebrews 4:12 ESV

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

“Not “my word,” “your word,” or “the preacher’s word” is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword. Sometimes our words are sharper than a sword, but usually in the wrong way. Our job is simply to get our friends to read the Bible with us and let them find the answers to their questions for themselves.” —Schneider, Floyd. Evangelism For the Fainthearted (p. 50). Kindle Edition.

Floyd then goes on to argue for this approach when you read the Bible with your unsaved friends, “Give them as few answers as possible.” Why do you think he would argue for that approach?

“Although you know the Bible better than they do (you’ve been reading it regularly, haven’t you?), and they know you know the Bible better than they do, they must come to see that you are not their answer person. The answers are in the Bible. If they want them, they will have to search the Scriptures for themselves to find them. You are willing to guide them in their search, but you are not “clergy.” You will need to repeat over and over again that they can understand the basics of knowing God as easily as you or anyone else can – if they want to understand them.”

Schneider, Floyd. Evangelism For the Fainthearted (pp. 50-51). Kindle Edition.

Remember: Our job is to bring our friends to the Lord in His Word, and then He brings them to faith in His person. We make the introduction; He saves them.

This style of evangelism works better between friends. Why is that?

Pick out one friend and get to know them better. Become interested in them as a person. Give them time. Don’t go too far, too fast. As they get to know you, they will begin to see that you are different. They will eventually ask you why you act the way you do, and then you can apply I Pet 3:15.

1 Peter 3:15 ESV

but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

“The more you make Christ Lord of your life and the center of all your activities, the more you will stand out as different from your friends. Your different lifestyle will be the biggest factor in making them curious about the gospel.”

Schneider, Floyd. Evangelism For the Fainthearted (p. 51). Kindle Edition.

A young student came to me at a student Bible conference a few summers ago and said that she had just become a Christian. She wanted to know how she could talk her mother into becoming a Christian as well. After talking to her for a few minutes, I detected that she harbored some bitterness toward her mother. I asked her if she loved her mother, and she started to cry. She said that she knew she should, and now that she had become a Christian, she wanted to work on it. Then she said, “It would be easier for me if my mother were a believer, too.”

I described a hypothetical situation for her: what if she goes home and tells her mother that she (the mother) has been wrong all her life and that her daughter has come home to set her straight. The girl thought about that for a few minutes and then said, “She’s known me all my life. She’ll probably ask me what I could possibly have to teach her.”

I then asked her if she really wanted to lead her mother to the Lord. When she answered yes, I asked, “What is the one thing above all other things that you hate to do the most when you are at home?”

She responded with no hesitation, “I hate to wash the dishes.”

I said, “If you really want to lead your mother to the Lord, then go home and volunteer to do the dishes everyday for the next six months. Don’t tell your mother that you’ve become a Christian. When she asks you how this conference went, just say it was nice. Above all, don’t complain about doing the dishes and don’t witness to her. Just do the dishes.”

She asked me how that would help lead her mother to the Lord, but I told her that I wouldn’t answer that question until she had done the dishes for six months at home. Then she could call me and tell me what happened, and I would answer her question.

Four months later, she called me to say that she had done what I had suggested and that she didn’t need an answer to her question anymore. Within three months her mother had become so irritated by her daughter’s cheerful dish-washing that she finally demanded to know why she had changed so much. Her daughter replied, “I’ve been reading the Bible and Jesus has changed my life. Would you like to read it with me?” The mother refused but wanted to know what was in the Bible. The daughter remembered what I had said about not giving answers, and she declined to tell her mother what was in the Bible. The young student wanted to call me and tell me that she and her mother had just begun reading the Gospel of John together. The mother eventually became a believer.

What else do we need in order to be ready to share Jesus with our friends?

3. Prayer

How many books, podcasts, seminars, and sermons are there on the topic of prayer? What is the best solution for a weak prayer life? Simply pray more!

We must develop a habit of regularly talking to the Lord about our unsaved friends! We need to ask other believers to pray for them as well.

Prayer App, Prayer document, Prayer service, Prayer stories!

The more prayer that is offered for you unsaved friend, the better. When he gets saved, the other believers who have prayed for him will be encouraged as well.

2 Corinthians 1:11 ESV

You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

Use any system necessary to jog your memory to pray for him a number of times each day. Praying short prayers for him daily will do more for your own awareness of your need for God’s help and mercy than praying just once a week at a weekly prayer meeting. More will be done through prayer than all of our best-laid plans and methods. Pray for your friend every time you think of it.

DO IT!

1. Read Acts 4:1-13 and ask yourself, “How can I increase in confidence in my witnessing? How can I show my unsaved friend that I have been with the Lord Jesus?”

2. How can you let your unsaved friend know that you have problems, just like everyone else, but that the Lord helps you work these problems out?

3. Write down three things you could do for your unsaved relatives that would make them ask, “Why did you do that?” You want to be able to tell them you did it because you love them.

4. How can you remind yourself to pray for your friend at least three times a day?

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