2 Timothy 4:5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Have you considered that as a Christian, our Lord has positioned people in your life who are close to you, yet far from Him? God’s sovereignty is always strategic. God has placed you in your family, in your neighborhood, in your place of employment, in your community so that you can be a witness for Him and to those who need Him.
“God wants to work through your life to make disciples of those in your world- in your concentric circles of influence” – W. Oscar Thompson
Your Concentric Circles of influence:
Important: Live with an everyday evangelistic expectancy that God will providentially place people in your life that you can show the Gospel to and share the Gospel with. Remember, your encounters with people and your relationships are no accident but are the strategic plan of God.
Here are some simple steps to help reach those in your concentric circles of influence:
- Align Yourself – Think vertically before you think horizontally. Ask yourself, is there any unconfessed sin in my life? Is there any unforgiveness that I am not dealing with? How is my walk with the Lord? Am I spending time in personal Bible study and in corporate worship? Remember, God wants to first do a work in you so that He can then do a work through you.
- Survey Relationships – You must think intentionally about who God has providently placed in your life. Ask yourself, who are people that are close to me but far from God? Who are the people in my concentric circles of influences? Remember, anyone who already knows Jesus is a missionary and anyone who doesn’t already know Jesus is the mission field.
- Pray Specifically – When we pray God moves in powerful ways. Ask yourself, who am I praying for by name to be saved? Am I praying for opportunities to share your faith with the people in my concentric circles of influence? Am I asking God to show me how I can build evangelistic connections and relationships? Remember, it’s possible that nobody has ever been saved until somebody first prayed for their salvation.
- Build Bridges – You must look for ways to connect with people by seeking ways to turn everyday conversations into spiritual/Gospel conversations. Ask yourself, who can I serve today in a practical way? How can I use my words to encourage and bless others during my normal routines of life? How can I use the gift of listening to show I truly care? Is there anyone I can offer to pray for or to pray with? Remember, the often repeated but very true statement, people won’t care what you know until they first know that you care.
- Share the Gospel – You must eventually seek the opportunity to share a verbal presentation/proclamation of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Ask yourself, am I familiar with a simple and Biblical method of sharing the Gospel? Have I ever used my words to extend an invitation to somebody to trust Jesus then to walk with me as I walk with Christ? Do I turn everyday conversations into spiritual/Gospel conversations. Remember, people are not saved by your good life but by Christ’s death… and resurrection. People must hear the Gospel and respond by faith to be saved.
Romans 10:13-17 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who [a]preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
God calls every Christian to be a witness. Not every Christian will be a preacher, but every Christian is to be a reach-er. In many ways, evangelism is much more effectively done by those who are not professional clergy. When a pastor shares the Gospel the person who is being witnessed to can often think… well, this sounds like a salesperson trying to sell a product to me… but when a non-professional clergy person cares enough to share the Gospel the person being witnessed to often thinks… this must be a satisfied customer… if they feel so strongly about this truth then maybe I need to give it serious consideration. God truly uses both the “Pros” and the “Joes” in His plan of evangelism!
Please make plans to join me next week for the 3rd and final installment of this blog series called “Personalize the Mission.”
If this blog post has grabbed your curiosity and you would like to know more, please pursue any/all of the below options:
1- Contact me at pastor@missionchurchlex.org
2- Check out our church website Misisonchurchlex.org
3- Visit us for Community Celebration and Worship every Sunday at 9am and 11am (Facebook livestreaming available at 9am) and Mission Groups each Wednesday at 630pm. We are located at 3288 Beaver Creek Drive Lexington KY 40515.
4- Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missionchurch.lex
5- Continue to read this weekly blog- “Find your Why with Pastor D”