Relational Foundation

Reading from Feb. 10 ~Acts 17

TOPIC: Sharing the Good News

SCRIPTURE: "We want to hear more about this Jesus." (Acts 17:32)

OBSERVATION: It was the Apostle Paul's regular practice to go into synagogues and share about Jesus. He would take time to start with the Old Testament writings and explain how Jesus fulfilled all the requirements of being The Messiah. He would connect the dots by move from what they knew to the unknown. When we share Jesus with others, we would do well to follow Pauls example and begin where people are, affirming the truth they do know, and then we can build on that foundation.

APPLICATION: Paul paid attention
to the people he was interacting with!
Paul would try to find common ground first
When you go about your daily routine
Do you know your audience?

SO
in your recent conversations with the unchurched
(NOTE: You know what that implies, right?
It implies that you've actually had a conversation with an unchurched person)

SO

If you have
&
If you are building a relationship with them
&
I soooo hope you are

if you are not
Ask the Holy Spirit to bring someone into your life
TODAY
And if you are serious about this type of relationship
HE WILL
SO Get Ready

Ok back to where I was
If you are building a relationship with an unchurched person
Eventually the time will come when
You'll actually share with them about your relationship with Jesus
Much the same way
you would share with them about the relationship you have with your spouse or kids
It should come up naturally


NOTE: Take what I am about to say in the context of the passage
In what I am about to say I am in NO WAY saying that you are only to share Jesus with someone that you have a relationship with. Ok?
Ok let's continue

In sharing Jesus with people in my past I've found that

It was a good thing, for me, to build upon the foundation that was laid through the relationship that had already been built.

Simply put: Don't rush beyond your relational foundation!

Remember this is NOT a command
As always you need to be spirit led
and yes at times the Spirit will lead you to speak to a total stranger about Jesus

I've found that, at times, for me, before I share certain things with people
Its a wise thing to think through the relationship
to make sure the relational foundation is strong enough
to bare the wait of truth
that I'm about to share.

Did all that make since? I hope it came out right
O well if it didn't just let me know as I'm sure you will

I believe with all my heart
that
if you are taking the time to
really build a relationship with an unchurched person.
Loving them where they are spend time praying for them and serving them
being genuine in everything you say and do.

NOT JUST TRYING TO GET THEM TO COME TO CHURCH
If thats all you ever do . . then . . . I believe
They will be tempted to look at you
the same way
some people
look at used car salesmen.

However if you are in the relationship for the long haul
No matter what happens
You will eventually hear that person say to you
(maybe not with the exact same words but in the same vein)

what Paul heard
"We want to hear more about this Jesus"?

I've had it happen to me many times throughout my life
and look forward to it continuing

if you are doing these things they will eventually ask
and the reason they'll ask is because
they will have seen and heard Jesus through you
from the very beginning

So
Keep on Investing in that relationship
and if you're not
then start today
and when the time is right
And you'll know
Because it will be so natural
Invite them to take a step

For example you could invite them to one of our environments at church
Like Kidstuf or Married Life LIVE or a Sunday Morning Service
or To your house or to a restaurant for dinner or or or or
You get the idea

or you could even

Invite them to begin their relationship with Jesus
Yes you
Yes even if you are not a Pastor
You can do it


If you are unsure about what you would say or do
Just let me know
I'd be more than happy to walk you through this


PRAYER: Heavenly Father, help me to remember Paul's example as I go throughout my daily routine