What I Would Do Differently
Ephesians 2:8 CSB) — 8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—
III. Engage People Luke 19:1-10
1. Jesus Engaged Zacchaeus
Jesus entered Zacchaeus’ world to bring salvation to his heart and home. Jesus gave the example that believers must follow to engage in the lives of lost people by meeting them in a personal way. As Zacchaeus heard Jesus was coming, he put himself in a tree, so he could get a good view of Jesus as he passed. Shockingly, Jesus stopped, commanded him to climb down, and then told him that he would be staying at Zacchaeus’ house.
2. Jesus Engaged in Hospitality
Jesus here engages in the life of a lost person when they do not merit his love.
Jesus displays his love that while humankind were sinners he made way to salvation through the cross (Rom 5:8). Jesus engaged with a stranger to speak to his heart. Christians are called to do the same
3. Jesus’s Mission is our Mission
With this truth in mind, believers must live like Jesus and reach out to others like he did in the life of Zacchaeus. Ryken observes,
This is the way Jesus saves lost sinners: he does it by walking right into our lives, even uninvited. J. C. Ryle said, “If ever there was a soul sought and saved, without having done anything to deserve it, that soul was the soul of Zacchaeus. . . Unasked, our Lord stops and speaks to Zacchaeus. Unasked, He offers Himself to be a guest in the house of a sinner. Unasked, He sends into the heart of a publican the renewing grace of the Spirit and puts him that very day among the children of God.” Here is how the Puritan Matthew Henry explained the saving work of God in the sinner’s soul: Jesus “brings his own welcome; he opens the heart and inclines it to receive him.”5
The invitation of Zacchaeus is an example Jesus calling a sinner to himself and the beauty of a conversation that is spiritual in nature. Jesus spent time with Zacchaeus, and the result was the tax collector’s salvation. Jesus modeled how an everyday conversation can be used in the kingdom of God.
5 Philip Graham Ryken, Luke, Reformed Expository Commentary, vol. 2 (Phillipsburg, NJ: P & R, 2009), 304-5, Logos Bible Software.
Places to Engage People o Our Family
o Where we Work/School o Where we Live
o Where we Play o Church Events o Divine Appointments Ways to Engage People
Someone You Know Very Little
• Low Pressure Introduction
o “Hello, I’m __________________ . Have I met you before?
o You may not remember my name, I’m ___________________. Remind Me again your name?
o I wanted to say, I’m sorry. I should have introduced myself to you before.
I’m _________________.
• Look to Serve someone.
o “Hello, I’m __________________. May I help you with that?”
• Let them Serve you.
o “I’m new here can you tell me about ________________? (Listen) Thank you my name is_________________.
o “Have you been to this place before? What would you recommend?”
• Common Interest (Book, food, team, activity, etc.).
o “Hey, I’m _______________, I noticed you like ___________________
too. What is your favorite part?”
• Offer Prayer
o “Hello, I’m ___________________. I’m about to pray before I eat my meal. Is there anything I can pray for you about?”
o “Hello ____________________, I am going to be praying at lunch today is there anything I can pray for you about?”
Outreach Event
• Low Pressure Introduction
o “I know we have two services and it’s hard to keep track of names, I’m __________________. Are you one of our guests today?”
o “I hope you are having a great time. I’m _________________. Remind me again your name.”
• Serve Them
o “Hello, I’m _____________________. Do you need help finding anything? (Refreshment, Childcare, restroom)
Church
• Low Pressure Introduction
o “I know we have two services and it’s hard to keep track of names, I’m __________________. Are you new here today or attend a different service?”
o “We may have me before, I’m _________________. Remind me again your name.”
• Serve Them
o “Hello, I’m _____________________. Do you need help finding anything? (Refreshment, Childcare, restroom)
Are there some others that have worked for you to Engage Someone in Conversation?
Keep it Going
ALWAYS KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING OR OPEN FOR ANOTHER TIME
NEXT Step- Questions and Listening
“You may not have time right now; can I contact you and we can get together this/next week. I would love to continue our conversation.”
Handling Rejection
• Attitude of Joy- Your attitude will plant a seed of how Christians respond. Handle rejection with Jo as we are commanded to “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4 (CSB)
• Attitude of Gratitude- Say “Thank you!” Chick-fil-a says “My Pleasure” to communicate their willingness to serve. Make sure that person would feel comfortable coming back to you.
• Keep Going- Don’t stop. It takes an unbeliever 7.6 times to hear the gospel to respond. But remember our scorecard If you shared the gospel 100 times and one get saved how many times have you been successful? 100!
Practice Three different people using three different Introductions we discussed.
Session 2
Understanding that God’s plan is for the Christian to share the gospel and that he is at work in and through them should result in boldness. Christians are part of the tapestry of history in which God is saving people to himself. God controls every detail, from the way someone hears the gospel to bringing the gospel harvest. Christians can be bold because they know they are working within God’s plan for their lives to “go make disciples”
(Matt 28:19). Christians can know that their very lives are by no accident and that they
Rico Tice writes, In God’s sovereignty, what is going on in human history is that God is reaching out to people, so that they will reach out to him. The reason your neighbor lives where she does is so that she will get reached for the gospel. Why did God want a Christian—you—to be in your workplace? Yes, so you can bless your boss and workers by working hard and honestly. But first and foremost, it’s so that others can hear the gospel.6
Starting Gospel Conversations Training
Engage- Engage God in Prayer and People in Conversation
Listen and Ask Questions- Ask questions intended to further discussion and to develop listening skills for common point and transition.
Transition- Questions and statements to transition to Jesus, invitation to church, or Further conversation.
Jesus- A short gospel presentation to be used in context of conversation.