Evangelism: The Interpersonal Style
Biblical
Example:
Matthew in Luke 5:29
Theme Verse:
I Corinthians 9:22b (NLT) - I try to find common ground with everyone so that I might bring them to Christ.
Traits:
-
Relationally warm
-
Conversational
-
Compassionate
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Friendship-oriented
-
Focuses on people and their needs
Cautions:
Beware of valuing
friendship over truth. Telling people they are sinners in need of a
savior will test relationships.
Do not get so involved in the process of building friendships that you
forget the ultimate goal: bringing people to know Christ as Savior and
Lord.
Don't get overwhelmed with the amount of needs your friends might
have---do what you can and leave the rest to God.
Suggestions for Using and Developing This
Style:
Be patient. This style tends to work more gradually than others. Look and pray for opportunities to turn conversations toward spiritual matters.
Continually create and plan opportunities to interact with friends and new people though social events, sports, etc. This will put you in a place where your style can flourish.
Practice telling the
gospel message so you will be prepared when the opportunity arises.
Team up with friends who have other styles that may be better matched to
the personality of the person you hope to reach.
Matthew's Interpersonal Approach
By any standard, he was an unlikely candidate. Tax collectors just
weren't known for becoming evangelists. Yet that's exactly what happened
to Matthew. After accepting Jesus' call to become one of His followers,
he decided to do whatever he could to bring along as many of his friends
as possible.
So, as we saw in Luke 5:29, he put a big banquet for all of his
tax-collecting buddies in an effort to expose them to Jesus and the new
life He offered. Unlike those who utilize the other approaches we've
examined, Matthew didn't confront or intellectually challenge them, nor
is there any mention of his telling them the story of what had happened
to him. Those were simply not his styles.
Rather, he relied on the relationships he'd built with these men over
the years and sought to further develop their friendships. He invited
them into his home. He spent time with them and ate with them. He did
all of this because he genuinely cared about them, and he wanted to
influence them toward considering the claims of Christ.
In the preceding chapters (of the book, "Becoming a Contagious
Christian"), we've talked abaout the importance of building
relationships. As we've seen, the vantage point of friendship gives us
the hightest possibility of influence in the lives of others. Well, from
my experience, those who have the interpersonal style of evangelism
specialize in this area. They tend to be warm, people-centered
individuals who enjoy deep levels of communication and trust with those
they're reaching out to.
And many people will never be reached until someone takes the time to
build that kind of intimacy with them. Maybe you're an interpersonal
evangelist. Do you enjoy having long talks over a cup of coffee with a
friend your trying to reach? Can you patiently listen to another
person's concerns without rushing in to tell them what they need to do?
Do you enjoy having people into your home, sharing a meal, and spending
time in conversation?
Churches around the world need a lot more of their members to develop
this kind of approach with their own friends and family members as well
as the lost people in their wider communities.
This information is adapted from the book and Participant's Guide,
"Becoming A Contagious Christian", by Lee Strobel, Mark Mittelberg and Bill Hybels
