Living in 3D

“Living in 3D: The Art of Evangelism”

Mat 5:13-14 13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15

Evangelism is the sharing of the the good news to those who are far from God.

2 Cor 5: 14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.

15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

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We are all influencers.  Don’t waste your influence.

So how do we go about doing it? 3 Ds

• Develop Friendships
• Discover Stories
• Discern Next Steps
• Hybels says:“The single greatest gift Christ followers can give to the people around them is an introduction to the God who created them, who loves them, and who has a purpose for their lives.”
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1 Corinthians 9:19–23 19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. (LOVE) 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

There is a willingness to become what we need to reach those who are lost.  This is our call, this is our sacrifice.

AW Tozer In every Christian’s heart there is a cross and a throne, and the Christian is on the throne till he puts himself on the cross; if he refuses the cross, he remains on the throne. We want to be saved, but we insist that Christ do all the dying. No cross for us, no dethronement, no dying. We remain king within the little kingdom of [ourselves] and wear our tinsel crown with all the pride of a Caesar; but we doom ourselves to shadows and weakness and spiritual sterility

• Evangelism is relational
• Develop Friendships – “Be Present”
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Jesus meeting Zacchaeus:

Luke 19: 5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

• Friendship opens doors the pulpit never will.
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Developing friendships requires presence. Not preaching.

Ask yourself:

• Who is in your proximity but outside your circle?
• Who sits near you at work or school but doesn’t know you’re a believer?
• Who would you reach if you took one step of friendship?

• Building New friendships requires us be intentional.
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“Every day we walk by people who are one conversation away from a changed life.” Bill Hybels

Discover Stories – “Be Curious”

 

Proverbs 20:5  “The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.”

John 4:14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

John 4: 28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?”

39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.”

• You don’t have to have your life figured out to influence someone for Jesus.
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Here’s a challenge: for one week, approach your conversations with this prayer—“Lord, let me hear their story.”

Ask:

• “Where did you grow up?”
• “What’s been your biggest joy or biggest challenge lately?”
• “What do you believe about God, if anything?”

• Discern Next Steps – “Be Spirit-Led”
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Romans 8:14 “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.”

Jesus didn’t have a one-size-fits-all evangelism method. He healed some, forgave others, invited still more. Because He discerned what the Spirit was doing in each moment.

Discernment asks:

• “Do I share my story now?”
• “Should I invite them to church?”
• “Is this the moment to pray with them?”
• “Or should I just sit with them in silence?”
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“It’s not your job to convert anyone. That’s God’s job. Your job is to walk. To listen. To love. And then respond as the Spirit leads.” Bill Hybels

Mother Teresa  “We are not called to be successful, but to be faithful.”

Practical Application – Living This Out

1. Develop One New Friendship
   • Ask God to highlight someone in your world.
   • Make space—coffee, lunch, a walk.
   • Be present.
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2. Discover One Story
   • Be curious. Ask meaningful questions.
   • Don’t interrupt. Don’t fix. Just listen.
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3. Discern One Next Step
   • Pray before and after your conversation.
   • Ask God, “What’s my role here?”
   • Don’t rush—trust His timing.
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Conclusion – Join the Mission

Let me close with this thought.

The greatest evangelist the world has ever known was Jesus Christ. And His method? He walked.

• Walked to Zacchaeus.
• Walked to the well.
• Walked to the cross.
• And walked out of the grave.
• If your lost He’s walking towards you

 

John 20:21 “As the Father has sent Me, so I am sending you.” –

You don’t need all the answers.
You don’t need a seminary degree.
You just need the courage to take one step.

You can.

Let’s live in 3D—Develop, Discover, Discern.
Let’s walk across rooms, across cultures, across fears.
Because every step we take in love echoes into eternity.