"Unchurched Dick and Jane"

Preached by Rev. Ed Brouwer at The Gathering Place, Osoyoos
Pulpit Series Volume 18, Issue 27 September 14, 2008

Unchurched Dick and Jane are like most other Canadians. Fighting traffic, paying rent or mortgages, desperately trying to scratch out a living in today’s uncertain economy. They are "nice" people but probably haven’t been to a church for a few years, except to attend weddings and funerals. They are the basically unchurched.

As Christians, we are expected, sometime, somehow, somewhere, to share our faith with people like Dick and Jane.

Truth be told if Jesus lives inside us, we have little choice.
The apostle Paul shows us to be part of God’s plan. II Corinthians 5:17-19

God has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
Committed: - to give in trust or charge, consign, to entrust

God has reconciled the world in Christ, but the task of proclaiming that reconciliation goes to us!
Paul gives our spiritual job description: We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. II Corinthians 5:20

God makes His appeal to this hurting world through us, in our circle of influence ….. a humbling assignment!

Although the skeptic may blow off your doctrine or argue your theology, they cannot honestly ignore your life story. You walking out your new life in Christ is a powerful undeniable message! There is great power in personal testimony!

The atheist may stop his ears to the words of a preacher or the pleadings of an evangelist, but they are somehow attracted to the human-interest story of how you found peace within.
What do you think about “Friendship Evangelism,” what I mean by that is, forming close friendships with non-Christians.

Do you know what they accused Jesus of? They accused Him of being a friend of sinners. I think that we ought to have friendships with sinners. How else are we going to win them to Christ?

The greatest soil for Evangelism is friendship.

Jesus came healing, meeting people at their deepest point of need with mercy and love. He built relationships. I mean, standing on a corner screaming at a bunch of strangers isn't nearly as effective as a friendship. The good-news according to you, is one of the best ways to reach the lost.

Friendship evangelism works long after the hit and run evangelists have come and gone. blows in, blows up, blows out! We are best able to influence those closest to us, mainly because we have more credibility than with complete strangers.

Share about your heart transplant. Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you.. I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

Share your life enthusiastically, passionately and consistently.

The results are not up to you, but the presentation sure is!

You may not win everyone you share with over to the Lord’s side, and that is ok. Consider, Jesus was crucified between two thieves. One responded, one didn’t. Usually, it is a bad personal experience that turns unchurched Dick and Jane off of Christianity. An abusive minister, legalism or worse yet conflict with someone in the church.

Here is where your personal example comes into play. Most people you share your faith with will listen to the gospel according to you. You don’t even need to know how to read or write to be an effective ambassador for Christ.

Your credentials are: how you live your Christian life as employees, neighbors and family members.

Real-life events can bring great witness opportunities.
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have. I Peter 3:15

The best evangelism is intimate, up-close, one-on-one and face to face!

Perhaps Mary, the receptionist, will tearfully confide to you that her husband is leaving her for another woman. Or maybe, your neighbor Ted, leaning over the fence, breaks the news that his father has cancer.

These are real issues of life. They are opportunities to reflect Jesus.
WWJHMD? (What would Jesus have me do)

Verbalize your feelings
Communicate heart-to-heart as well as head-to-head
Tell them you’ll pray for them and be sure to do so

In some situations, it may be appropriate to pray then and there, asking God for wisdom, healing, strength, faith or peace.

You may want to share a favorite verse. You may share a personal experience but be careful not to “one-up” them.

As much as possible use THE WORD. You look it up and get them to read it. God’s Word can calm people. Sometimes that’s all that people in crisis need.

· Be Discerning. (Personal Space) Go only as deep as the person allows. Unchurched people are not really expecting you to be a theologian. Tell in your own words what God has done.

· Be Christ-like. Be the kind of person people can respect and confide in. Be known for going the extra mile at work and elsewhere. You don’t have to be perfect, but you do have to be consistently open, honest and concerned.

· Be Bold. Don’t be afraid to tell people: you’ll be praying for them. Offer to pray with them right then and there.

· Be Real. Don’t pretend to know what they are going through or feeling. Above all, don’t treat people like some project - be their friend, get involved in their life.

· Follow up. This shows you really are interested. A card or a gift is a concrete way of letting people know you care. Our world is starving for spiritual connection. With God’s help we can be ambassadors of healing.

John 4:6-30 Jesus meets with a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. He talks of living water, the woman asks, Sir, give me this water. The woman then leaves her water pot, runs into the city, inviting people to come, meet the Christ... And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.”

John 4:39-42 When the Samaritans came to him, they asked if he would stay with them: and he stayed two days. And many more believed because of his own word; And said to the woman, Now we believe, not because of your words: for we’ve heard him ourselves and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.