Life is a Journey - Lesson 12

I. Christians fish

Jesus calls us to “follow me.” You and I are followers of Jesus Christ. To the first disciples, he said, “Come follow me and I will send you out to fish for people.”

Part of fishing for people is to invite others to follow Jesus. All disciples are to fish, fish for people. All disciples are to encourage others to walk with them.

In the final words of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus gives what is called his “Great Commission,” a commission that is true for all disciples. He says, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:18–19). In other words, all disciples are to be self-replicating, or to say it differently, Christians are in the business of cloning.

II. Think through the process

How do we invite others to follow Jesus? Just like we have followed Jesus. It’s by sharing how God has changed us and that God can change them as well, and invite them into his family. But practically, how do we do this?

A. God changed me

It starts by recognizing that God changed us at the gate — you remember lesson one — and changed people live changed lives. We can’t continue as we were before. We were given a new birth, a new life. We’ve been made into new creatures. We’re part of a new creation. Our lives must be different because changed people live in a changed way. In conversion, God changed me.

B. People will notice

As you and I live out our changed lives, people are going to notice. Paul tells us, “Do everything without grumbling or arguing so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life” (Philippians 2:14–15). We truly do live in a warped and crooked generation. Yet, as you and I live out our changed lives, people are going to notice that there’s something different about us.

Jesus uses other metaphors to make the same point. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on a stand and it gives light to everyone in the house” (Matthew 5:14–16). This is back on the Sermon on the Mount.

Jesus’ basic statement is that you are the light of the world. Then he builds two images to help us understand what that means. The first is a town built on a hill cannot be hidden. In other words, if there’s a town on top of a hill, when his lights are showing, we’re going to see it.

The second illustration is about an oil lamp. He says, “Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on a stand and it gives light to everyone in the house.” What’s the point of lighting a light and then hiding it? We’re not going to light a light and then stick it under something. The whole point of lighting a light is so that it will illuminate the room.

Then Jesus drives the point home. “In the same way, let your light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” You see, you and I are the city on the hill. We are the light that has been lit in order to illuminate the room.

C. People may ask why

As we live out this kind of life, we’re going to be different. And people will notice that there’s something different about us. As people start to notice that you and I are different, they may ask the question, what is it that makes you different? There’s a quotation that some people attribute to Martin Luther. Some say it was St. Francis of Assisi. I don’t know, but it’s a great quote. “Preach at all times, if necessary, use words.” I understand that ultimately you need words to explain the gospel, but the point of the saying is clear. Our lives preach loudly, sometimes more loudly than words. People will see our changed lives and they will start to wonder what’s different about that person.

I think that one of the more powerful examples of this change in Scripture is Peter’s instructions to wives, specifically those who are married to non-Christians.  I know that submission is a controversial topic, but listen to the main point he’s making. He writes, “Wives, submit yourselves to your own husband so that if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives. When they see the purity and reverence of your lives, your beauty should not come from outward adornment such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight” (1 Peter 3:1–4). Peter tells these wives that the way to win their husbands over to the Lord is not to preach at them or not to put an emphasis on the externals of beauty, but rather to focus on internal beauty. In this way, their lives will be different, and that difference will speak volumes to their husbands.

D. How will people respond?

As people begin to notice that you’re different from the world, eventually, some will respond one of two ways. The biblical metaphor is that we will be a fragrance or a stench. Paul writes, “‘For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing’” (2 Corinthians 2:14–16). The New Living Translation helps us understand what Paul means. It says, “Our lives are a Christlike fragrance rising up to God, but this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. We smell differently to different people, to one, the stench of death, to the other, a fragrance of life.”

The key in this whole living out our lives as followers of Jesus process is that we are the aroma of life, and if so, then people are going to ask us why. People will come to us and say, “Why do you smell so good?” They probably won’t use that metaphor, but that’s what they’re asking.

Paul tells the Colossian church, “Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders. Make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation always be full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Colossians 4:5–6). Paul is saying that as we live out our lives, our speech should be gracious, not cutting or condemning or judgmental or critical. Our speech should be gracious, and people are going to want to know why. We need to know how to answer them.

III. Personal testimony

Are you ready?

The question simply is, are you and I ready to tell people why we smell good? As Peter says, “In your hearts, revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer for everyone who asks the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander” (1 Peter 3:15–16).

Friendship evangelism

What I’m talking about is what is generally called a “personal testimony.” I’m not talking about sharing your faith with someone you don’t know. I’m talking about what is more specifically called “friendship evangelism.” What I’m talking about is us having a testimony so that we can share that testimony with people who we know.

I think one of the most powerful testimonies in the Bible is the story of Jesus healing the man born blind. It’s in John 9. The religious leaders are not willing to believe that Jesus gave him his sight. Big shock. So they summon the man who had been blind and say, “Give glory to God by telling the truth. We know this man, Jesus, is a sinner.” By “sinner,” they mean that Jesus doesn’t follow the religious rituals. The blind man answers, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind, but now I see” (John 9:24–25).Personal testimonies, especially like this, are hard to argue against. Once I was blind; now I see. Or we might testify something like, “Once I was dead in my sin, unable to see God, and I was ravaged by guilt. I didn’t even know what was right, but now I have hope.’” The religious leaders kicked the formerly blind man out of the synagogue and had nothing to do with him. He was the stench of death to them, a threat to their rituals and power.

Another good testimony is in Acts 4 where the young church had been witnessing to the risen Christ, and the religious leaders were unhappy. Again, big shock. The leaders bring Peter and James in to defend themselves, and the disciples respond with their personal testimony. They said, “Which is right in God’s eyes, to listen to you or to him? You be the judges.” In other words, you guys can make up your mind about something. That doesn’t matter as far as we’re concerned. They continue, “As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19–20).

IV. Practical Methods

You and I both need to be prepared to share a personal testimony. Let me just give you some practical tips.

A. KISS

The first is the well-known acronym, KISS, keep it simple, stupid. Personal testimonies don’t have to be complicated. They don’t have to be long, drawn out, well-crafted, logical treaties, because that’s not what saved us, and it’s not what’s going to save anyone else. Keep it simple.

Share with them what your life was like before you became a follower of Jesus. Keep this part short. Some personal testimonies, it seems, spent about 90% of the time on what a rotten jerk they had been, almost as if they were glorying in their past sins. I’d rather tell people what your life was like before Christ, but keep that to a minimum. Tell them why you decided to follow Jesus. Perhaps you may even want to share the details of your conversion experience, and then share how it has made a difference in your life. I once was blind, but now I see. Keep it simple. Our personal testimonies are something that we can prepare beforehand and practice beforehand. Find ways to communicate the truths of your life in three to five minutes, but again, keep it simple.

B. ABC

There are different methods people have devised to share their testimony. One is the ABC approach. I remember asking a former youth pastor, how do you share Christ? He goes, that’s easy, Bill, it’s ABC. What does it mean to be a Christian? A, admit that you’re a sinner and you’re separated from God. B, believe in your heart that Jesus is God, that He’s the Savior, that He is the Lord. Believe that Jesus is who He says He is, and believe that He did what He said He was going to do. He died on the cross for the forgiveness of our sin. Then C, commit your life to Him. He’s not only our Savior; he’s also our Lord. That’s the ABC approach.

C. John 3:16

Perhaps you may want to use John 3:16 like I did in the first lesson. In your own words, say something like this. God loved the world, He created the world, but it was separated from him by human sin, and yet he still loved us and he gave his only son, Jesus. Jesus is the only way that this alienated world can ever be reconciled to its creator. But it’s not enough to have intellectual assent. You must commit your life, you must believe into Him. Do you remember what believe into means? Again, from the first lesson. It means to transfer all your trust out of yourself and into Jesus. Then you will not perish, but you will live forever with Him, both now on earth and someday in heaven. John 3:16.

D. Three verses from Romans

Other people recommend using three verses from the book of Romans. Read Romans 3:23 to the person. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Tell them, every one of us has missed the mark. Every one of us has failed to do what our creator has called us to do. Then turn over to chapter six, verse 23, and read, “for the wages of sin is death” — which is the penalty for living separated from a holy God — “but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord.” Tell them, the only way to get to heaven and the only way to have our sin forgiven is through the work of Jesus. And it’s a free gift. And then read Romans 10:9. “If you declare with your mouth, Jesus is Lord. And if you believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, then you will be saved.”

E. Illustration

Perhaps it’s helpful to have illustrations. The most common illustration for salvation is that there’s this great chasm, the Grand Canyon. And we and our sin are over here on one side and God and His forgiveness are over on the other side. The chasm’s so great that there’s nothing we can do to get over to where God is. So the cross comes down and it fills the chasm or crosses the chasm through the work of the only Son of God who then invites us across to live in the presence of God the Father forever.

Invite them

Different methods, but our personal testimonies are only the first step. If we were to simply tell them why our lives have changed and then stop, we haven’t invited them to follow Jesus. So don’t forget to invite them. Ask them, does this make sense? Do you believe what I’ve been saying? Are you willing to take the next step and commit? If I could extend Jesus’s fishing imagery a little — maybe I shouldn’t, but I’m going to — it’s not enough to bait the hook. The fish has to take the bait.

V. Hints

A. Focus on Jesus

The issue isn’t being able to answer their intellectual questions. Don’t let them change the topic. That will often happen. They’ll start to feel the inner working of the Spirit in their life. They won’t know that. They’ll start getting uncomfortable and they’re going to want to get you off track. So they’ll start asking questions. It’s always good to acknowledge their questions and offer to come back and answer them later, but stay on track. Keep focused on Jesus, on who he is. He’s God. He’s the Savior. He’s the Lord. Stay focused on what God has done. He has died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sin and usher you into a relationship with God. Make sure the focus never shifts to you and your story or to their questions. Keep the focus where it belongs, on Jesus.

B. Don’t accept too much responsibility

As you put your personal testimony into action, please don’t accept too much responsibility. I think one of the reasons why people get frightened of all this is that we tend to assume too much responsibility in the whole process. Jesus says, “No one can come to me unless the father who sent me draws them” (John 6:4). The point is that God is hopefully at work in the lives of these people that you’re talking to, and he is the one drawing them to himself.

If someone shows no interest, then God may not be drawing them to himself yet. It’s not your responsibility. You’re not going to argue them into the kingdom. Conversely, if someone does show interest, it’s not because of your story, but it’s because God is at work in their heart and their mind. In other words, don’t become the Holy Spirit. It’s his job to convict people of their sin.

We talked about this in an earlier lesson. As you are sharing your life with people, if they’re turned off, there’s nothing you can do about it because they’re dead in their sin and only God can enliven their spirit. Don’t accept responsibility for what only God can do. Paul Little writes, “It is the Holy Spirit, not we, who converts an individual. We, the privileged ambassadors of Jesus Christ can communicate a verbal message. We can demonstrate through our personality and lives what the grace of Jesus Christ can accomplish.... But let us never naively think that we have converted a soul and brought them to Jesus Christ.... No one calls Jesus Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.”

If you and I share, then we haven’t failed. We only fail when we don’t share. When we do share, we’ve done our part, but it’s not our responsibility to convict people of their sin, and it’s not our job to save them. As Paul says to Titus, “God saved us.” If they reject us, what does Jesus say? He says, they’re not rejecting you, they’re rejecting me. And if they reject me, Jesus says, they’re rejecting my father. You will never fail if you share the gospel. The rest is up to God. God will bring people into our lives who will see the change, and he will be at work in their lives so that someday they will walk up and say, why do you smell so good?

VI. ILLUSTRATION

I had some good friends in Boston a while back, Steve and Michelle, and we went to a community church in Boston, and there were a lot of people who had been raised in the church, not this church, but a church, but they had left. When they had children, they decided that their children needed to get religion. So there were a lot of people coming to this church, dropping off their kids, going to get a cup of coffee, and coming back later and picking them up.

The pastor knew what was going on, so he asked me to teach a Sunday school class in a room that was right near the front doors. You couldn’t get to the front doors without hearing me talking. He thought that perhaps some of these people would hear the lesson and come into the class.

I didn’t know them at the time, but Steve and Michelle lived quite away from church, and so they got tired of dropping off their kids and going home, and then five minutes later, coming back and picking them up. So Steve started hanging around Sunday school, and he started hearing things he had never heard before. He had been raised in a church, but he had not been raised in a church that actually talked about the gospel. He told his wife, you’ve got to come listen to this guy. I’ve never heard someone talk about the Bible the way the teacher does. Steve and Michelle started attending regularly, still non-Christians, still non-believers. But as they heard more and more of the gospel, they started inviting more and more of their non-Christian friends who were dropping their kids off at church and going to get coffee. They would say — and I found this out later on — you’ve got to hang around. We’ve never heard anyone talk about the Bible like this.

This is not to give me any credit. I was just teaching the Bible. They just had never heard the Bible taught before. 12 non-Christians started attending the Sunday school class. I was completely unaware of it, but by the grace of God and by the witness of other people in the class and their changed lives — and that’s the important part — Steve became a Christian, and later Michelle became a Christian, and their lives changed so much you couldn’t shut them up. Steve wanted to talk about Jesus all the time, and he did. They owned a restaurant, and he was giving away Bibles to everyone, including the employees, which technically was illegal but he didn’t care. He handed out these Bibles because his life was so fundamentally different, and he couldn’t figure out why anyone wouldn’t want to hear the gospel. He had no developed theology. He didn’t have any logical, persuasive, fine-tuned argument. He never went to seminary. He simply said, I once was blind, and now I see. The last I heard, all 12 did become Christians through Steve’s and Michelle’s testimony and their changed lives.

VII. Christians are cloners

Christians are the greatest cloners of all time. We were changed in conversion, and changed people live changed lives. To some, we stink. That’s fine. But to some, we are a sweet aroma. Are we prepared to tell them why? If they respond to our story through God’s prompting, are we prepared to ask, “Would you like to be a follower of Jesus just like me? Let me tell you how.” Then, let God be God, and do what only God can do.