Bringing Your Friends to Jesus
The miracle story in Mark 2 provides a powerful template for evangelism. Bringing friends to Jesus offers practical reminders about outreach, as the paralytic’s companions model deep commitment and creative cooperation.
1. They Had a Plan.
One aspect of this story that is easy to overlook is that four men worked together to carry their friend to Jesus. If you have ever tried to coordinate a group to move heavy furniture, you know this is no small feat. Usually, getting volunteers to assist with a move requires weeks of advanced planning and the promise of free pizza.
While we should not over-spiritualize details outside the biblical text, we must realize that to introduce our friends to Jesus, we need a strategic plan. Every person is different, and every evangelistic encounter is unique.
Have you ever asked yourself, “Why is my friend not a Christian?”
• Lack of Adequate Knowledge
• Bad Experience
• Rejecting Belief or Life Requirements
• Apathy
When we know why our friends are not Christians, we can have a plan for addressing their concerns. For example, if my friend has adequate knowledge of the gospel but doesn’t want to change his life, then his problem is not apologetic. If I dump a bunch of information on him, he may say, “I know, stop preaching to me.” He needs to see the error of his ways, the pain of sin and the blessing of following Christ. My life and testimony become a vital part of the plan.
Think about those in your life who don’t know Jesus. Why are they still not believing? What is your plan for addressing their unique concerns?
2. They Overcame a Problem.
As the friends approached the house, they realized they had a problem but refused to allow this problem to deter them. I imagine they tried ways to get through the door—after all, breaking someone’s house is usually not the first thing we think of doing! When that didn’t work, they climbed to the roof.
Evangelism always requires determination. Keep this in mind:
• It is always easier not to share Christ.
• It is more comfortable to stay silent.
• There are always reasons why now isn’t the best time.
• You always have something else you could be doing at the moment.
If we are going to bring our friends to Jesus, then we cannot give up too quickly. There will be times when the words flow freely, and our friend is engaged in the conversation. There will be other times when we will forget John 3:16, and it will feel as if the Holy Spirit has abandoned you (hint: he hasn’t). But in every evangelistic encounter be prepared to overcome obstacles and press through. Trust the Lord to use your efforts to accomplish his will.
3. They Understood Their Role.
Without the help of his friends, the paralyzed man was hopeless. We don’t know much about his physical condition, but we know that he could do nothing to get to Jesus. It is evident that these men loved their friend. They wanted him to be get up and walk, but his healing was not within their power. They needed to get him to Jesus.
The Bible teaches us that God is not willing that any should perish, but all come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:4) and that anyone who calls on the name of the Lord can be saved (Rom. 10:13). However, God’s plan for salvation always requires an evangel, a person who presents the gospel and leads the person to Christ. Your role is to share Christ with your unbelieving friends, not to be their savior.
“How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher?” (Rom. 10:14).
Our unbelieving friends are like the paralyzed man in this story. Left to themselves, they are unable to get to Jesus. Before we can bring our friends to Jesus, we need to settle the fact in our hearts and minds that if we do not bring them, they will likely not find him.
This article originally appeared on LifeWayVoices.com and is reposted here by permission.
