This is the question we should ask ourselves: What is the reason people do not receive the world's best message about the world's best person – Jesus Christ from Nazareth?
The next question then becomes: What is needed for them to be saved? Here is a door opener to salvation: A warm, giving fellowship draws people to salvation.
Today people are most easily saved by being in a COMMUNITY of Christians. Faith has a large "contagious effect." Gradually, non-believers start to believe in what their new friends believe in. People are saved through "warm influence," through community – not just through traditional meetings. They are saved by changing friendships, from non-Christian to Christian.
Generally speaking: COMMUNITY SHAPES what we believe in and how we interpret things we encounter in life. We are influenced by those we are with. We are shaped by our surroundings. Then it becomes less strange to believe, for my friends also believe this way – in Jesus and the gospel. People do not like to just exist; we like to belong somewhere. It gives security to have friends who can help us when we need it. And then people get "Jesus in the bargain." We are social beings and are created that way.
To reach out to people, we may need to connect to their club or community and influence others from there. Or we can invite them into our Christian group to influence them from here. Why does Mrs. Olsen buy the Electrolux vacuum cleaner? She might not have bought it just because a skilled, elegant salesperson came to the door wanting to sell it. She buys it because her friend has such a vacuum cleaner and praises it highly. She trusts her friend more than the vacuum cleaner salesperson – because she knows her friend. And that is the key to people's salvation.
Jesus was good at this. Once he was invited to the home of a prominent Pharisee "for a meal" (Luke 14:1). Jesus accepted the invitation of someone who was his enemy. At this gathering, He healed a man with dropsy – right there in the home! He used the invitation to show His religious opponent God's love and power. No one beats Jesus in influencing others to believe!
Another time Jesus was invited to the home of the tax collector Levi. He invited many other "tax collectors and sinners" to his home. "And there was a GREAT CROWD of tax collectors and others who sat down with them." (Luke 5:29) The Pharisees did not like this and criticized Jesus for eating and drinking with these sinners. Jesus answered them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." (Luke 5:31-32)
What do we learn from this? If non-Christians invite us to something, we should do everything we can to join them on trips, fishing, picnics, restaurants, their hobby activities, etc. Here is the secret: If we can do what they like to do, we can more easily get them involved in what we love to do.
I have joined a BOXING CLUB in a town on the West Coast. A former professional boxer gave me boxing gloves as a surprise gift a year ago. It was a God-given opportunity. Therefore, I joined the boxing club there – to be a light for the Lord among the boxers. It costs me 100 kroner a year. That's OK. Paul said: "I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some." (1 Cor 9:23)
How much have we done? FIRST AND FOREMOST, we need to make non-Christian friends – to gradually influence them to choose a better life – the Christian life. It can take time, cost money, and be demanding, for it can be a long process. Evangelism is often more a process than an event.
I believe that we all need to set up a different schedule than we have. Convert anew. Why are we here? First and foremost to win people for heaven. That's why Jesus came. Period! He said: "Lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!" (John 4:35) We need to be harvest workers in a world that cries out for community, care, truth, and security. We have what they need, but they don't know it – but we do – and we can do something about it!
You may be looking for peace with God, forgiveness, and eternal life. Or maybe you are sick. There are many people in both of these categories. Later in this program, I will pray for you who need forgiveness and salvation. I will also pray for you who are sick, no matter what illness you suffer from.
This is the question we should ask ourselves: What is the reason people do not receive the world's best message about the world's best person – Jesus Christ from Nazareth?
The next question then becomes: What is needed for them to be saved? Here is a door opener to salvation: A warm, giving fellowship draws people to salvation.
Today people are most easily saved by being in a COMMUNITY of Christians. Faith has a large "contagious effect." Gradually, non-believers start to believe in what their new friends believe in. People are saved through "warm influence," through community – not just through traditional meetings. They are saved by changing friendships, from non-Christian to Christian.
Generally speaking: COMMUNITY SHAPES what we believe in and how we interpret things we encounter in life. We are influenced by those we are with. We are shaped by our surroundings. Then it becomes less strange to believe, for my friends also believe this way – in Jesus and the gospel. People do not like to just exist; we like to belong somewhere. It gives security to have friends who can help us when we need it. And then people get "Jesus in the bargain." We are social beings and are created that way.
To reach out to people, we may need to connect to their club or community and influence others from there. Or we can invite them into our Christian group to influence them from here. Why does Mrs. Olsen buy the Electrolux vacuum cleaner? She might not have bought it just because a skilled, elegant salesperson came to the door wanting to sell it. She buys it because her friend has such a vacuum cleaner and praises it highly. She trusts her friend more than the vacuum cleaner salesperson – because she knows her friend. And that is the key to people's salvation.
Jesus was good at this. Once he was invited to the home of a prominent Pharisee "for a meal" (Luke 14:1). Jesus accepted the invitation of someone who was his enemy. At this gathering, He healed a man with dropsy – right there in the home! He used the invitation to show His religious opponent God's love and power. No one beats Jesus in influencing others to believe!
Another time Jesus was invited to the home of the tax collector Levi. He invited many other "tax collectors and sinners" to his home. "And there was a GREAT CROWD of tax collectors and others who sat down with them." (Luke 5:29) The Pharisees did not like this and criticized Jesus for eating and drinking with these sinners. Jesus answered them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." (Luke 5:31-32)
What do we learn from this? If non-Christians invite us to something, we should do everything we can to join them on trips, fishing, picnics, restaurants, their hobby activities, etc. Here is the secret: If we can do what they like to do, we can more easily get them involved in what we love to do.
I have joined a BOXING CLUB in a town on the West Coast. A former professional boxer gave me boxing gloves as a surprise gift a year ago. It was a God-given opportunity. Therefore, I joined the boxing club there – to be a light for the Lord among the boxers. It costs me 100 kroner a year. That's OK. Paul said: "I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some." (1 Cor 9:23)
How much have we done? FIRST AND FOREMOST, we need to make non-Christian friends – to gradually influence them to choose a better life – the Christian life. It can take time, cost money, and be demanding, for it can be a long process. Evangelism is often more a process than an event.
I believe that we all need to set up a different schedule than we have. Convert anew. Why are we here? First and foremost to win people for heaven. That's why Jesus came. Period! He said: "Lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!" (John 4:35) We need to be harvest workers in a world that cries out for community, care, truth, and security. We have what they need, but they don't know it – but we do – and we can do something about it!
You may be looking for peace with God, forgiveness, and eternal life. Or maybe you are sick. There are many people in both of these categories. Later in this program, I will pray for you who need forgiveness and salvation. I will also pray for you who are sick, no matter what illness you suffer from.
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