What We Can Learn from Five Guys*

What We Can Learn from Five Guys*

(not the Burger place)

The greatest thing you can do

is bring someone to Jesus.

There is always something more to learn about evangelism. No matter how many training courses you’ve been to or how many books you have read. There’s more to learn. The four friends in Mark 2:1-12 who brought their paralytic friend as well as what we see in Levi/Matthew in Mark 2:13-17 help us learn several principles for evangelism. Spend a few minutes going over these principles. As you spend time in prayer over the next few days, let these principles guide you. Remember, prayer changes us, we don’t change God’s mind by asking Him things. When we pray rightly, we will be changed and we will come to love what Jesus loves and hate what Jesus hates. 

This cannot help but drive us to be more evangelistic.

What we can learn from the Four Friends:

1.  Deep concern

We must be deeply concerned for others. Specifically, their spiritual condition. While meeting physical needs is of definite value and shouldn’t be ignored, their spiritual needs should be our main concern.

2. They believed

We must be 100% convinced that Jesus can save them. That He is ultimately the solution to their biggest problem (and He is).

3. Action

You must do something. Take action. We can get bogged down in strategizing and planning and never get around to doing if we’re not careful.

4.  They overcame obstacles – creatively

Rarely will it be simple. Rarely will it be easy. There will be something in your way. Don’t let that stop you. Don’t give up and decide ‘well, I guess it’s not God’s will’ just because it didn’t go exactly like you had planned for it to go. 

5. They worked together.

You don’t have to do it on your own. You’re called to be a part of the body of Christ. The task of taking the message to the World has been given to the church. We should be working together on many levels to take the Gospel to the world. Every time you walk out the doors of your church you are entering the mission field.

6. Keep going, and going, and going....

Principle #4 is so important. Don’t stop. Do whatever it takes to bring your friends to Jesus. 

What we can learn from Levi/Matthew:

1.  Start Now

Don’t wait until you are “fully trained for evangelism.” You never will be. If you know enough about the gospel to be saved, then you know enough about the gospel to start sharing with others (but never stop trying to learn more). If you are not sharing the gospel with others, there is something wrong with your spiritual life!

2.  Start Close

Start with those that are around you. In your circle of friends, associates, etc. God has placed you where you are so that you can share the gospel with those around you.

3. Invite Them In

You don’t necessarily have to invite them to your home (although that’s a great pattern and habit to get in to), but bring them to a place where everyone can be comfortable. Be intentional about inviting them into your “world” and share with them. 

4. Joy!

There should always be an element of joy woven in. This isn’t a funeral. It’s a celebration. Levi threw a big party. Let an attitude and “vibe” of joy be woven in whenever you share the Gospel. How can you not be joyful when you’re sharing what Christ has done for you?

5. Passion/Excitement

There’s not a word in the text that means “passion,” but I can’t imagine Levi wasn’t excited. Did He go around saying to his friends, “well.... if you’re bored tonight and don’t have anything better going on, you might want to possibly think about considering stopping by my house... maybe...” NO! He would have been excited, begging his friends to come over. Telling them they have to come because Jesus will be there! We should always be excited to about the one who has so radically changed our life.

Now – read Mark 2:1-17 and START NOW! You should definitely pray and do a little bit of strategizing, but don’t get bogged down in that. Get started. Where do you start? (you might even already know....)

Soli Deo Gloria!

Rob

* These principles are inspired by Steve Lawson’s exposition on these passages in Mark.