Winning Our Family and Relatives to the Lord

WINNING OUR FAMILY AND RELATIVES TO THE LORD

Introduction:  Although evangelism for a new convert is and should be spontaneous and directed to all those around us, one of the first people that we should specifically focus upon are our own families and relatives.  This is natural.  Usually our families love us.  We love them.  They are our family, our flesh and blood.  The natural walls of resistance between people are already largely down between us & our families.  They usually know us well and notice the change that the Lord and salvation has brought into our lives.

 A.       RELATIVE EVANGELISM HAS A BIBLICAL BASIS AND PRECEDENT.

 Luke 8:38, Jesus refused an associate evangelist on his team and told the Gadarene man delivered from demons: "Return home and tell how much God has done for you."

 John 1:41-42, The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ).  Then he brought Simon to Jesus...

 Acts 10, Cornelius and his household -- among the first Gentiles to come to Christ -- came as a family  and household!

 Acts 16:15, Lydia and her household were converted and baptized and became  the first converts in Europe!  Their home became a mission center!

 Acts 16:30-31, In response to the question of the Philippian jailer, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?", Paul and Silas replied: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved--you and your household."

 B.  RELATIVE EVANGELISM IS STRATEGIC.

 Donald McGavran, a missionary in India for over 30 years, makes an amazing disclosure in his classic book THE BRIDGES OF GOD (1955).  He states that the Church has grown most and fastest, both in New Testament times and throughout Church history, by Christians winning their relatives to the Lord!  We should therefore especially focus on evangelism of our relatives, particularly as new converts, advises McGavran.

 Did you know that normally new converts are the most effective as spontaneous evangelists, both to their relatives and others, in the first few years as Christians?  It's true!  They are then the most excited, the Lord and His salvation and wonderful works are fresh in their experience.  They are then the most effective natural evangelists, although they often lack biblical and theological knowledge as new converts.  Later, they may and often do backslide and grow cold and lukewarm.  They normally also increasingly lose contact and interests with their non-Christian relatives and friends. 

 Most of the Asian countries have strong family ties and relationships, extended families and communal societies.  This includes in particular China (Confucianism is very family oriented), Korea, India and many Moslem countries.  In these strong communal societies family evangelism should especially be encouraged and pursued.

 People movements to Christ and multi-individual decisions should be encouraged.  Heads of households, elders and leaders should be focused on. It is so interesting to me that this book was an assigned reading as punishment as a result of dunking men classmates in Lake Washington for an initiation on their engagement. Dr. Dan Pecota assigned the book who was my Dean of Students.

 Quotation from Ezra Sargunam, president of Evangelical Fellowship of India, in his article "Strategy for India", in PERSPECTIVES ON THE WORLD CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT (1981):

 "People in India are not just individuals.  There is the extended family and the clan and the caste.  The street corner preaching and bazaar preaching and the handing out of tracts, to the passerby may bring in a few stray individuals to the Christian fold.  But the most effective and successful way to evangelize is through the families and caste groups who are responsive to the Gospel.  Mobilize the Christians to bring their relatives to Christ.  Our slogan must be 'Families for Christ' and 'Relatives for Christ'."

 C.   PRACTICAL POINTS FOR RELATIVE EVANGELISM.  (Many points apply to all evangelism)

 BE SURE THAT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR FAMILY IS RIGHT.  Make sure there is no unforgiveness, bitterness or resentment, in your heart toward them.

 ABOVE ALL LOVE THEM IN THE LOVE OF THE LORD.  Love them into the kingdom. Ask God for His deep agape love for them. 

 AVOID ARGUMENTS AND INTELLECTUAL PERSUASIONS.  These will not convince your family as well as the genuine love of the Lord shining through you.

 BE WILLING TO LAY DOWN YOUR OWN LIFE FOR YOUR FAMILY AND OTHERS. 

1 John 3:16, "Jesus Christ laid down his life for us--we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." 

Romans 9:2-3, Paul said: "I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.  For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel."

 CLAIM YOUR FAMILY AND RELATIVES FOR THE LORD IN PRAYER AND SPIRITUAL WARFARE.  Claim biblical promises regarding family and household salvation.

 THROUGH SPIRITUAL WARFARE AND PRAYER "WRESTLE" your family and relatives from the deception and hold of the enemy.  Bind him in the lives of your family.  You may need to fast and pray.

 PRAY FOR DIVINE REVELATION OF JESUS' LOVE FOR THEM, a revelation of His goodness, His person and character.

 BE CONSISTENT IN PRAYER and in claiming your relatives.  Pray daily and earnestly.  Praying once in a while is not enough.

 MAKE A LIST of your relatives and pray for them and witness to them.  You can pray with them as a group, but also pray with each one individually to lead them to the Lord using the sinner's prayer. 

·       Invite them to food. The table is the place that family love is shared.

·       Invite them for family outings. Be real in your love and relationship to them.

·       Invite them to the house of God. This is where a great change has taken place in your own heart.

·       Pray regularly for them. Call their name out to the Lord for God to touch them.

 LIVE A GENUINE CHANGED HOLY LIFE.  Nothing convinces of an effective power and influence in your life as a redeemed changed life.

 SIMPLY SHARE CHRIST and what He has done in your life.  Tell of the relationship and communion with God that we can have through Christ.

 BE HUMBLE AND HONEST before God and your family. Admit you have problems on occasion, but now you have a Friend and Savior who can help you with your problems.