Evangelism: Sharing Faith Through Genuine Relationships

 

Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound and often misunderstood concept of evangelism. Evangelism, at its core, is about sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, much like hikers sharing the location of a good buffet. It's not about convincing or coercing others into faith but about engaging in genuine, faith-sharing dialogues rooted in relationships. These dialogues are not one-time events but a series of conversations over a lifetime, often with those closest to us—our family and friends.

We reflected on the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin, emphasizing that God is the seeker, the one who finds us when we are lost. Our role is not to be the shepherd or the woman searching but to be the found sheep or coin, joyfully proclaiming our discovery. Evangelism is not a recruitment strategy for church growth but an invitation to others to experience the love and grace we have found in Christ.

The essence of evangelism is living out our faith authentically and building relationships with those who may not yet know they are loved by God. It's about being present in the lives of others, sharing our stories, and allowing the love of Christ to overflow into every interaction. We are called to be the sheep that won't stop declaring, "I was lost, and now I am found," letting this truth permeate every aspect of our lives.

As we move forward, let us focus on building genuine relationships, being curious about others, and sharing our faith naturally and lovingly. May we be filled with the gift of Jesus Christ, allowing it to overflow into every relationship and place we go.

Key Takeaways:

1. Evangelism as Relationship Building: Evangelism is not about convincing others but about sharing the good news through genuine relationships. It involves a lifetime of conversations, often with those closest to us, allowing them to see the love of Christ in our lives. [36:16]

2. God as the Seeker: In the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin, God is the one who seeks and finds us. Our role is to joyfully proclaim that we have been found, sharing this good news with others. [39:55]

3. Living Out Our Faith: Evangelism is about living our faith authentically and allowing it to overflow into our relationships. It's about being the sheep that continually declares, "I was lost, and now I am found," in every aspect of our lives. [48:23]

4. The Slow Process of Evangelism: Sharing our faith is a slow process built on trust, love, and genuine interest in others. It's about forming friendships with those outside the church and allowing faith conversations to naturally arise. [44:07]

5. Evangelism as an Invitation: Evangelism is not a recruitment strategy but an invitation to others to experience the love and grace we have found in Christ. It's about introducing people to the faith we already have and letting them know they are loved by God. [41:25]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:30] - Centering in Prayer
- [09:58] - Call to Worship
- [12:17] - Hymn of Praise
- [32:56] - Appalachian Trail Lesson
- [34:49] - Understanding Evangelism
- [36:16] - Faith-Sharing Dialogue
- [37:16] - Journey to Faith
- [38:53] - Parables of the Lost
- [41:25] - Evangelism Misconceptions
- [43:07] - Story of Curiosity
- [44:07] - Building Relationships
- [46:10] - Living Faith Publicly
- [48:23] - Overflowing with Love
- [51:19] - Prayers and Intercessions
- [55:35] - Lord's Prayer and Closing Hymn

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Luke 15:1-10 - Parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin
2. Matthew 28:19-20 - The Great Commission
3. 1 Peter 3:15 - Always be prepared to give an answer

#### Observation Questions
1. In the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin, who is depicted as the seeker, and what does this imply about God's role in evangelism? [38:53]
2. How does the sermon describe the nature of evangelism in contrast to common misconceptions about it being a recruitment strategy? [41:25]
3. What analogy is used in the sermon to explain the concept of evangelism, and how does it relate to sharing the good news? [34:49]
4. According to the sermon, what is the significance of building relationships in the process of evangelism? [36:16]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the understanding of God as the seeker in the parables influence the way believers should approach evangelism? [39:55]
2. What does the sermon suggest about the importance of authenticity in living out one's faith, and how might this impact evangelistic efforts? [48:23]
3. How can the slow process of evangelism, as described in the sermon, be reconciled with the urgency of the Great Commission? [44:07]
4. In what ways does the sermon challenge the traditional view of evangelism as a one-time event or a sales pitch? [34:49]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current relationships. Are there people in your life with whom you can naturally share your faith? How can you begin or continue these conversations? [36:16]
2. Think about a time when you felt lost and then found by God. How can sharing this personal story with others serve as a form of evangelism? [39:55]
3. What are some practical ways you can live out your faith authentically in your daily interactions, allowing the love of Christ to overflow? [48:23]
4. Identify one person in your life who may not know they are loved by God. What steps can you take to build a genuine relationship with them? [44:07]
5. How can you shift your perspective on evangelism from a recruitment strategy to an invitation to experience God's love and grace? [41:25]
6. Consider the analogy of hikers sharing the location of a good buffet. How can you apply this approach to sharing the good news of Jesus in your community? [34:49]
7. What specific actions can you take this week to be more curious about others and engage in meaningful faith-sharing dialogues? [43:07]

Devotional

I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:

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Day 1: Evangelism as a Journey of Genuine Connection
Evangelism is not about convincing others but about sharing the good news through genuine relationships. It involves a lifetime of conversations, often with those closest to us, allowing them to see the love of Christ in our lives. This approach emphasizes the importance of building trust and understanding, rather than focusing on immediate results. By engaging in authentic dialogues, we create opportunities for others to experience the transformative power of faith in a natural and loving way. [36:16]

"Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." (Colossians 4:6, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life can you reach out to this week to start a genuine conversation about faith, without any agenda other than to share your journey and listen to theirs?


Day 2: God as the Seeker of the Lost
In the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin, God is portrayed as the one who actively seeks and finds us when we are lost. Our role is to joyfully proclaim that we have been found, sharing this good news with others. This perspective shifts the focus from our efforts to God's initiative and grace. It reminds us that evangelism is about celebrating and sharing the joy of being found by God, rather than trying to be the savior ourselves. [39:55]

"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." (Luke 19:10, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt lost and God found you. How can you share this story with someone who might need to hear it today?


Day 3: Living Out Our Faith Authentically
Evangelism is about living our faith authentically and allowing it to overflow into our relationships. It's about being the sheep that continually declares, "I was lost, and now I am found," in every aspect of our lives. This means letting our actions and words consistently reflect the love and grace we have received. By doing so, we become living testimonies of God's transformative power, inviting others to witness and experience the same. [48:23]

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16, ESV)

Reflection: What is one practical way you can let your faith shine in your daily interactions this week, so others can see the love of Christ in you?


Day 4: The Slow and Steady Process of Evangelism
Sharing our faith is a slow process built on trust, love, and genuine interest in others. It's about forming friendships with those outside the church and allowing faith conversations to naturally arise. This approach requires patience and a willingness to invest time in relationships, understanding that transformation often happens gradually. By being present and attentive, we create a safe space for others to explore faith at their own pace. [44:07]

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a relationship where you can invest more time and love. How can you be more present and attentive to this person, allowing faith conversations to arise naturally?


Day 5: Evangelism as an Invitation to Experience God's Love
Evangelism is not a recruitment strategy but an invitation to others to experience the love and grace we have found in Christ. It's about introducing people to the faith we already have and letting them know they are loved by God. This perspective emphasizes the relational and invitational nature of evangelism, focusing on sharing the joy and peace that come from knowing Christ. By extending this invitation, we offer others the opportunity to encounter the same transformative love that has changed our lives. [41:25]

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life might be in need of an invitation to experience God's love? How can you extend this invitation in a way that feels natural and genuine?

Quotes

"Evangelism is just sharing the good news. It's like the hikers going the other way. They want to tell you where the good food is. And vice versa. I, as a person hiking south, wanted to tell the people I met where the good food was. That's evangelism. Evangelism is just telling someone the good news of Jesus Christ." [00:35:23]

"Evangelism is a faith-sharing dialogue. And dialogues go two ways. Dialogues are between two people. Dialogues are built and founded on relationship. Evangelism, sharing the good news, for us today, comes out of sharing our lives with one another. Sharing and building relationships." [00:36:16]

"And survey after survey after survey that has been done of people in the church, the vast majority of people came to faith because they had conversations with friends or family members. And it wasn't just one conversation. It was a lifetime of conversations." [00:36:53]

"Evangelism is sharing the gift, offering the gift of Jesus Christ that we have been given. And it's an offering that happens over and over and over again. We cannot convince someone to have faith. We cannot convince someone to believe. There is no argument we can put forth that will make the gospel seem like the most logical conclusion." [00:38:06]

"God is the one who goes out and looks for the lost sheep. God is the one who goes out and looks for the lost coin. And we are those sheep. We are those coins. God has come out, has left the 99 and said, you are so important to me that I love you and I will not stop looking and pursuing you until you know that you are loved." [00:39:25]

"We are a coin and a sheep that has been lost and is now found. If anything, our job as people of faith is to be the sheep in the corral or to be the coin in the purse that will not shut up about how we were lost and are now found." [00:40:07]

"Evangelism is introducing people to the faith that we already have. It's saying, we have been found. And if you are lost, you can be found. There is one who loves you. There is one who cares for you. There is one who wants you. There is one who desires you." [00:41:25]

"The question isn't, does the gospel bring people to us? It's, does the gospel bring us to other people? The question isn't, does the gospel bring people to us. It's does the gospel join us to others?" [00:43:50]

"So how do we evangelize? How do we share our faith in this life? It's a slow process. It's a process built on relationship. It's a process built on trust. It's a process built on love. And if we don't have any friends who are outside of the church, we can't evangelize." [00:44:07]

"To evangelize means to live lives of faith with people who do not know they are loved by God right now. It's to have friends and relationships with people outside the walls of the church. And to recognize that it's not going to be this immediate thing." [00:44:39]

"Evangelism is telling our story. It's telling people that we were lost and now we are found, and that that love doesn't end with us. We build relationships with the people around us. We love the people around us. We love the people that we meet." [00:46:32]

"So may we be filled with the gift of Jesus Christ. May we realize we were lost and are now found. And let that gift, let that faith overflow out of us. Into every relationship we have. Into every place that we go." [00:48:23]

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?