Seeking the Lost 3 - Building Friendships

27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector bythe name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. Follow me, Jesus said to him, 28 and Levi got up, left everything andfollowed him.

  29 Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. 30 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”

  31 Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:27-32 NIV)

I. Hangin’ with the Pagans.

   A.   Jesus rubbed shoulders with the wrong crowd.

      1.   At least they were “wrong” as far as the religious establishment was concerned.

      2.   Jesus seemed to intentionally go about meeting people that were on the outs with God.

      3.   Jesus didn’t mind the effect this had on his reputation.

   B.   Seeing them as People.

      1.   The pharisees saw these folks as a rather uniform blob of sinners.

      2.   Jesus related to them as if they were regular folk.

      3.   We can take our lead from Jesus, here.

   C.   Always Barbeque first.

      1.   Mark Mittleberg learned this lesson.

      2.   Get to know people before you break the ice about personal questions, like about their faith.

II.   Party Down!

   A.   The Matthew Event

      1.   Matthew wanted everyone in his old life to know what Jesus had done for him.

          a.    He also wanted them to meet this Jesus.

          b.   So, he did the one thing he knew would attract them to come: He threw a party.

      2.   Matthew’s event gave irreligious people a chance to meet Jesus in a non-threatening environment.

      3.   Hey, what a great idea!

   B.   Stay on comfortable turf.

      1.   Note that Mat didn’t invite them to the temple courts -- he invited them to his place.

      2.   Note that Mat didn’t invite them to a prayer meeting -- he invited them to a party.

   C.   Christians like a good time too!

      1.   The Christian life is more than church and prayer meetings and bible studies. Right?!

      2.   Non-Christian sometimes wonder if we can really enjoy ourselves, can laugh, can play games, can tell jokes, etc.

      3.   We can have a good time without setting our Christianity on the shelf, or hiding it in the closet.

III. Be Yourself!

   A.   Don’t become pagan to win pagans!

      1.   One temptation to making people feel comfortable is to be a pagan to win a pagan.

          a.    [Buzzer noise!]

      2.   Be a Christian here. Invite Jesus into your encounters with non-Christian.

   B.   God will use you as you are.

      1.   Matthew didn’t hold a crusade, go door to door, start calling a phone list, quote any spiritual laws, or use any slogans.

          a.    Mat was good at throwing parties.

      2.   The Bible holds out different models for evangelism. Which one fits you?

          a.    Peter was a confronter

          b.   Paul used intellectual persuasion.

          c.    The blind man of John 9:25 just gave his testimony (This is what Jesus did for me!)

          d.   Matt used an interpersonal approach.

          e.    The Samaritan woman invited her friends.

          f. Dorcas (Acts 9:36) won people by her servant heart.

   C.   Your unique opportunities.

      1.   Each person here has a unique set of gifts, interests and personal history.

      2.   Each person here has their own circle of acquaintances and friends.

      3.   Invite Jesus into your world -- he’ll change it!

The Bottom Line:

Make friends before introducing Christianity. Look for opportunities to introduce your friends to Christianity (Be creative!).