"RELATIONSHIP EVANGELISM"
Forces That Hinder Our Effectiveness
INTRODUCTION
1. There is a story of a conversation between Jesus and Gabriel which is
purely fictional, but illustrates a good point...
After Jesus ascended to heaven, the angel Gabriel approached Him
and said, "Master, you must have suffered terribly for men down
there."
"I did," He said.
"And," continued Gabriel, "do they know all about how you loved
them and what you did for them?"
"Oh, no," said Jesus, "not yet. Right now only a handful of
people in Palestine know."
Gabriel was perplexed. "Then what have you done, to let everyone
know about your love for them?"
Jesus said, "I've asked Peter, James, John, and a few more friends
to tell other people about Me. Those who are told will in turn tell
still other people about Me, and My story will be spread to the
farthest reaches of the globe. Ultimately, all of mankind will have
heard about My life and what I have done."
Gabriel frowned and looked rather skeptical. He knew well what
poor stuff men were made of. "But what if Peter and James and John
grow weary? What if the people who come after them forget? What if
way down in the twentieth century, people just don't tell others
about you? Haven't you made any other plans?"
And Jesus answered, "I haven't made any other plans. I'm counting
on them."
-- Lifestyle Evangelism, Joseph Aldrich, p. 15-16
2. Twenty centuries later . . . Jesus still has no other plan!
a. He counted on His early disciples and they delivered
b. He's counting on you and me; have we done as well?
3. Before we succumb to another "guilt trip," I want to consider some
reasons why we may appear "ineffective" when compared to the apostles
a. My purpose is not to excuse ourselves
b. But we need to understand some of the forces or influences which
have clearly hindered our effectiveness
I. TOO MANY PEOPLE
A. WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE WE COME FACE TO FACE WITH MORE PEOPLE
THAN WE CAN EASILY RELATE TO...
1. A casual stroll down the street or through a store brings us
face to face with dozens of people every minute
2. Every day we come in contact with more people than we can
possibly relate to in meaningful ways
B. THIS FACT CAN EASILY RESULT IN CRIPPLING OUR ABILITY TO RELATE TO
PEOPLE...
1. Since we cannot possible recognize or relate to EVERY one, we
are tempted to relate to NO one!
2. Before long, we begin to adopt an attitude of "isolation"
3. Eventually, we lose the ability to effectively carry on
meaningful relationships
C. THIS CAN HAVE AN ADVERSE EFFECT ON EVANGELISM...
1. For a meaningful relationship is one of the most successful
means of providing an avenue for the gospel (which is the
thesis of this study)
2. But many Christians, caught up in the attitude of
"isolationism"...
a. Often do not have any significant contacts with
non-Christians
b. Are therefore unable to relate to others in a "redemptive"
manner
II. LIFE IS TOO FAST AND COMPLICATED
A. DESPITE INVENTIONS TO SAVE TIME, WE ARE BUSIER THAN EVER...
1. Jobs change, people move
2. Congestion grows, traffic jams
3. Telephones ring constantly, TV drones on and on
4. We are held captive by schedules and the demands of others
5. We find ourselves unable to slow down our world...
B. LIVING SUCH HECTIC LIVES...
1. It is easy for one to feel there is simply no room to add the
"enterprise of evangelism"
2. One might feel that to do so may even be "the straw that breaks
the camel's back"
3. So evangelism of any sort is often left out
III. EXPOSURE TO LIMITED EVANGELISM MODELS
A. EVEN WHEN WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING, WE ARE OFTEN GIVEN LIMITED
"OPTIONS"...
1. Such as just inviting people to services
2. Or going around the neighborhood, knocking on the doors of
complete strangers
3. Or learning how to teach home Bible studies
B. THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT SUCH METHODS HAVE NOT WORKED OR WILL NOT
WORK FOR SOME...
1. These options DO work for some Christians, but not all are
suited for the particular approaches given
2. These options DO reach some non-believers, but many are
repelled by them
C. BUT THERE CAN BE LONG-LASTING EFFECTS WHEN THESE ARE THE ONLY
OPTIONS GIVEN...
1. Those not suited for these approaches can get easily
discouraged as they try and find themselves failing to be
something they are not
2. E.g., not everyone is designed to be a teacher - Ro 12:4-8 ;
1 Co 12:29 ; Ja 3:1
3. So unless other options are shown to be available, many quit
making ANY evangelistic effort!
IV. MISUNDERSTANDING "SEPARATION"
A. MANY CHRISTIANS MISUNDERSTAND THE PRINCIPLE OF "SEPARATION"...
1. We ARE to be "separate" from the world - cf. 2 Co 6:14-18
2. But this does not mean "isolation" - cf. 1 Co 5:9-13
3. Yet I fear that many Christians tend to isolate themselves from
the world in the name of "separation"
4. There IS a way to "influence people without losing your
influence!"
B. REMEMBER THE PRINCIPLE OF BEING "THE SALT OF THE EARTH"...
1. Salt must get out of the container and mix with food to be
effective
2. Without engaging in sin, we can still have contact with the
sinner...
a. As did Jesus - Mt 9:10-13 ; 11:19
b. And so did Paul - 1 Co 9:20-23
V. THE CREDIBILITY GAP
A. IN SOME CASES, THERE IS AN IMBALANCE BETWEEN THE "VERBALIZATION"
AND THE "INCARNATION" OF THE GOSPEL...
1. I.e., the lifestyle of the Christian is inconsistent with the
message being presented
2. When this happens, people are likely to think: "What you ARE
speaks so loudly, I can't hear what you are SAYING."
3. In this way, a "credibility gap" is formed
B. TO OVERCOME THIS "CREDIBILITY GAP"...
1. Christians must BE good news before they can SHARE the good
news
2. We must be sure to live out the gospel in our lives before
preaching it to others - cf. Ezra 7:10 ; 1 Pe 3:1-2
C. TO PUT IT ANOTHER WAY...
1. When love is seen, the message is heard
2. Conversely, when love is not seen, the message is not taken
seriously
3. "The best argument for Christianity is Christians; their joy,
their certainty, their completeness. But the strongest argument
against Christianity is also Christians--when they are somber
and joyless, when they are self-righteous and smug in
complacent consecrations, when they are narrow and repressive,
then Christianity dies a thousand deaths." - Vanauken
CONCLUSION
1. These are some of the forces which hinder our effectiveness in
evangelism today
2. Again, the purpose for considering them is not to excuse ourselves...
a. For no matter what the circumstances here on earth, the Lord's
plan for reaching the lost is still the same!
b. He still depends upon you and me!
3. But perhaps by recognizing these hindrances, we will be more open to
OTHER evangelistic options which take these problems into
consideration
4. One such option is known as "Relationship Evangelism" (also known as
"Lifestyle Evangelism"), which is what we shall examine more closely
in succeeding lessons
Note: The basic outline for this lesson was adapted heavily from "Lifestyle
Evangelism", by Joseph Aldrich.