Who's Your One For April?
Playing the Long Game
Month three of our 2022 evangelism campaign is behind us. We discussed hesitation last month. This month, let’s talk about how quickly we should expect to see results in our evangelism.
Nobody becomes a Christian overnight. Regeneration happens in an instant, but the road to regeneration is often long and winding. When we’re sharing the gospel with someone, we usually don’t know where they are on that road. That’s why personal evangelism requires patience and persistence.
Our evangelistic efforts need to include seeking to understand why they don’t believe. Have they thought long and hard about Christianity and found it to be intellectually improbable? Or have they not thought deeply about life, death, and what comes after? Have they been hurt by the church or Christians? What is their perception of Jesus and the church?
Here are some questions you might ask:
What do you think about Jesus and Christianity?
What do you believe happens to us when we die?
Do you think something is fundamentally wrong with us? What is it?
What do you think God is like (if you believe he exists)?
Exploring these questions will communicate care to them and help you better understand how they need to hear the gospel. Make no mistake, the only way to be saved is to see their sin and then turn to the Savior. But there are many ways to help them do that. We’re playing the long game — asking, teaching, and inviting — as long as it takes to help them know Christ.
Next Steps
Decide who your “one” is for April and prepare to share about them with your small group. If you didn’t share the gospel with your “one” from last month, feel free to pick them and try again this month!
Think through the barriers to belief in Jesus your “one” has. Share them with your small group and ask them to help you brainstorm how to approach them.
Review the “Who’s Your One?” webpage and make use of the recommended resources at the bottom.
May God give us both love and wisdom as we share the good news of Jesus this month.