TPCC Chinese Youth Zone

Friendship Evangelism [John 1:35-51]

Date: February 16, 2008

Aim: To learn from the Bible how we can share the gospel with our friends and family.

Source: Evangelism by Pippert and Siemens (lesson 8)

What’s about?

Jesus developed friendship with seekers. This glimpse into the beginning of his public ministry provides a model for making friends for the sake of the gospel and winning old friends and family, who are often our biggest challenge.

Get ready (choose one from the three)

1. Discussion:

a) Did any close friend or family member introduce you to Christ? Or, have you invited any friend or family to youth group? Share the experience.

2. As a group, come up a list of reasons that you find it difficult to evangelize the people who know us best?

3. Ask someone to share the experience of how he shared the gospel with a friend or a family member and later that friend and family member received Christ into life and became a Christian.

Read John 1:35-51

Group Discussion:

• Point A – “Jesus is what people (that you want to preach the gospel to) are looking for”

• Bible Question: What thoughts and feelings do you think John the Baptist’s words (v.36) aroused in his two disciples mentioned in v.35?

• At the time Jesus came to earth, Isreal was under the rule of Roman empire . Isrealites were expecting Messiah to come and free them from the rule of Rome .
• However, the Messiah in God’s plan is far more than just a political leader of a nation. John pointed out that the mission of Jesus is to die and rise, paying for people’s sins and giving them eternal life by claiming he’s the “Lamb of God”
• In order to preach gospel to friends and family, we first let them know that Jesus is what they are looking for and what they are expecting, such as the source of love, joy, help or financial provision. However, we also want to point to them that Jesus is the way to the Father, the truth revealed in flesh and the eternal life given to us.

• Life Question: How would you describe Jesus as what people are looking for or expecting? And then, how would you tell them that Jesus is far more than just that?

• What can Jesus provide to those people? What are the needs of those people? Some people might need love, some might need strength, some might need wisdom and some might need help. How do you tell them (or do you know) that Jesus can provide all these.
• Eg. Love – Jesus loves us like how God love Jesus; Strength: Jesus who is in us is greater than the world. Help and provision: Jesus is our shepherd, we shall not want.
• Why do eternal life, peace with God and other core things in gospel mean much more than our needs. How do you help people to look beyond the present world.

• Point B – “Ask your friends and family come and see/experience Jesus themselves”

o Bible Question: Jesus used a “come and see” approach (vv.38-39). Why would this be more effective than claiming that he’s God/Saviour (that He’s more than the long-waited Messiah, the Son of God)?

§ Israelites were monotheism, that is, they believed and worshiped one and only God (the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob). They could never accept Jesus if He claimed to be God at the very beginning. Also, if Jesus did claim for His deity openly at the beginning, He would have been arrested for it was a huge crime. However, Jesus is God appeared in flesh and this is a mystery that people cannot understand at the beginning.

§ Jesus’ come and see approach allows the disciples to understand the mystery gradually as they follow Jesus. Jesus revealed himself as God by miracles, teaching and his life examples.

§ Also look at how Philip brought Nathanael.

• Life Question: How do you apply “come and see” approach? why is inviting friends and family to church an important and effective way to bring them to Christ? What are the steps/tips/do’s and don’ts to invite them?

• Inviting friends to church, encourage them to read Bible and teaching them to pray are examples of “come and see” approach. The idea is to let them know that “Believing Jesus is awesome! Try it out!” Personal experience is a dominant factor when a person converts to gospel.
• We don’t need to pressure people to believe. It takes 3 years for Peter to recognize Jesus as the Messiah/Christ. As long as people are in touch with Jesus and the power of God, they will eventually know who Jesus is.

• Point C – “Evangelism starts with your friends and families”

o Bible Question: Jesus’ first six disciples were relatives and acquaintances from a single fishing village (v.44). What advantages are there in evangelizing natural groupings of people like families or colleagues at work?

§ Easy to connect to

§ They will believe what you say

§ You know them (needs, situation, personality… etc) better

o Life Question: What acquaintances do you have in your workplace, school or neighborhood whose friendship you could begin to cultivate?

§ Blah blah…

Additional questions: (optional)

1· These men were quickly convinced that Jesus was God’s promised King, but it took much longer to confess him as God. Jesus gives them many months. Why is it important not to pressure people too early about making a decision?

2· Jesus’ “come and see” method is an effective way for us to win friends and family. What makes it difficult for us to let them observe our lives?

3· What is your thought on “lifestyle evangelism”?

4· The content of the gospel demands to be shared with excitement. If we have taken the gospel for granted, how can we recover the excitement and the wonder of it?

Next Step: (TODO)

(Choose one)

1. Think of a friend whom you might want to invite over for youth group. Write his name on a card and pray for him. ***Make sure you take the action to invite!!!***

2. As a group, plan an activity that you can invite new friends to do together some time next month. This activity can be fun and casual, and the purpose would simply to let your friends get comfortable with Christians.

3. As a group, come up with one practical goal for “friendship evangelism.”

Prayer:

• Pray for your friends to come to church, experience Jesus and believe the gospel.
• Pray for your next outing-outreach event.