FRIENDSHIP EVANGELISM – Part 3 YOUNG ADULT CELLS APR 2006

FRIENDSHIP EVANGELISM Leader’s Notes

IMPT NOTE:
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A SHORT LESSON. YOU CAN DO SOME Learning Outcomes:
PRACTICES ON SHARING THEIR PERSONAL TESTIMONY AND HELP THE Understanding, Skill
MEMBERS HONE THEIR SKILLS AT IT.
Objective:
I EXPECT THE LESSON WILL TAKE ABOUT HALF HOUR. At the end of this lesson, you
will be able to:
• Identify 3 types of
THE PURPOSE OF THIS LESSON IS SO THAT THE MEMBER CAN BE responses to the Gospel
MORE PURPOSEFUL IN IDENTIFYING THEIR TARGET AND SHARING THE when you build friendship.
GOSPEL. • Identify at most 3 persons
that you would like to reach
FOCUS (5 Mins) out to in the next few
months.
You may do the role play of sharing personal testimony at the beginning
• Pray for your friends.
of the lesson or at the end of the lesson depending on your preference.

Ask members about their experiences in friendship evangelism.

Ask them what factors cause friends to be open and why some are
closed?
 personal sharing. Good or old friends usually easier to bring the Gospel
into the friendship because relationship has been built. Nonetheless, some
close friends can still refuse to hear you or argue with you.

II. Who Should We Target? (15 mins)

Read or get someone to read the story.

Do you agree with the story? Why or why not?

Generally yes. But of course we are not saying that friendship evangelism is
better than other methods. We proposed to use different methods. Different
stokes for different folks principle.

Can you think of any biblical examples of selective evangelism?

Jesus instructed His disciples to be selective in Math 10:5-6: "Do not go to
the Gentiles. Do not go to the Samaritans." He had His followers focus on
those most likely to respond at that point in time. The apostle Paul also set
an example about being selective in evangelism. He said he went first to the
Jew, then to the Greek. (Rom. 1:16)
There should be more examples.

Do you think this principle can be carried too far or misapplied?

Emphatically, yes! However, there is a crucial point to learn, too. We may
be concentrating so much on a dear friend or relative, who shows little
interest in spiritual things, that we overlook and neglect a visitor who
attends church three Sundays in a row. Their presence should shout at us,
"I am looking for something!" We must focus efforts and time on those who
are most receptive.

A) Those who would not listen to us.

From Rom 8:7, 2 Cor 4:4 and 1 Cor 1:18, what are some reasons why
they do not want to listen?
Under dominion of the world, hostile mind to God, spiritually dead etc.

Do you think there is anything we can do to change their attitudes?

Nothing much except pray. And also hope for opportunities or situations in
their lives where they can become more open.

What about our own attitudes? What does 1 Pet 3:15-16 exhorts us to
do?
We may not be able to do much with our friends attitudes but we can
certainly change our own attitude. We should prepare our own testimony,
and be prepared to share at any moment in time. We must always show a
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FRIENDSHIP EVANGELISM – Part 3 YOUNG ADULT CELLS APR 2006

sense of enthusiasm for sharing of the gospel, and at the same time, show
some sensitivity, by listening to what our friends have to say.

B) Those who would listen out of cursory interest or out of

Respect for you, not wanting to hurt your feelings.
What are some of the things we can do with this group of people?
Continue to share and be a friend to them.
Eg. of cursory interest: for
more knowledge sake or other
C) Those who have a genuine interest in the gospel. personal reasons.
What does Jn 6:44, 65 have to say about this group of people?
It is God who has planted seeds into their heart. In fact, this is the group of
people we should pay more attention to.

Do you have friends in all three categories? Can you list down their
names below according to each category?
Personal sharing.

With a prayerful heart, who do you think God is impressing upon you to
reach out to specifically? Name his or her name down below. (Should
not be more than 3 names.) Personal sharing.

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FRIENDSHIP EVANGELISM – Part 3 YOUNG ADULT CELLS APR 2006

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Can you list some practical ways in which you can do that?
• Think about them. Pray for them. Ask God to provide openings for you
to show His love for them.
• Talk with them. Listen to them. Be their friend. Show you care. Spend
quality time with them. Concentrate on what's important to them.
• Go out of your way to do good things for them. Be the best friend they
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FRIENDSHIP EVANGELISM – Part 3 YOUNG ADULT CELLS APR 2006
0.

Leader’s Notes
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