EVERY BELIEVER CAN BE FRIENDLY

Proverbs 18:24 – “A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

Believers are called to be friendly.

Jesus was accused of being the friend of tax collectors and sinners. (Luke 7:34)

Luke 5:29 – “Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And there were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with them.”

Luke 5:30 – “And the scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples saying, ‘Why do you eat with tax collectors and sinners?’”

Luke 5:31-32 – “Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’”

We want to build relationships with unbelievers so we can introduce them to Jesus Christ.

What does it look like to be friendly? 

Being friendly is important for the outreach Saturday, for our neighbors, our families, our co-workers, etc.

 

1. See people

Be aware of the people around you.

Be outward-focused.

Luke 10:33 – “But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion.”

We want to see people with the eyes of Jesus.

 

2. Smile at people

Proverbs 15:13a – “A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance.”

If Jesus is living in our heart, He should show up in our face.

 

3. Shake hands with people

Galatians 2:9a – “…They gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship.”

If they are wearing a face mask, perhaps offer a fist bump.

 

4. Speak with people

Find common ground: the weather, sports, family, children.

Proverbs 16:24 – “Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.”

Colossians 4:6 – “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”

 

5. Shift the conversation

Look for ways to shift the conversation to Jesus and a relationship with Him.

John 4:10 – “Jesus answered and said to her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and Who it is Who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink’, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.’”

Share a personal testimony of a time the Lord came through for you or helped you. Be vulnerable.

Offer to pray for them. “How can we pray for you?” Then pray for them and that situation.

Ask them if they have a personal relationship with Jesus. If not, would they like that?

Draw out the bridge to Life on a paper plate, or give them a gospel booklet.

Walk them through the Gospel and ask them if they would like to receive Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is the Friend who sticks closer than a brother. 

Our goal is to introduce people to Him and encourage them to get to know Him.

Being friendly is very important in this process.