Sermon Central
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How To Win Your Kin Series
Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Jan 6, 2004 (message contributor)
Summary: It’s hard to witness to them "cuz" we have to live with them. But if we don’t we’ll have to live without them forever, and until you do it will be hard to live with yourself. Link inc. to formatted text, audio, and PowerPoint Presentation.
How to Win Your Kin
http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/WinYourKin.html
Every time we see Andrew in scripture he is bringing someone to Jesus...he was a great soul winner. But who was his first convert? His own brother. Naturally, our hearts are more burdened for our lost family members than anyone else. But it’s hard to witness to them, because we have to live with them. We need to remember that if we don’t witness to them, we will have to live without them forever, and until you do state the case to them, it will be hard to live with yourself.
10 tips to winning your kin:
1. Realize why they are not going to Heaven
John chapter 3: after vv. 16 and 17 say what they say about everlasting life...
3:18
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
They ARE lost!
Ill.—man at hospital said to me over bed of dead mother… “if anyone’s in heaven, she is!”
At funerals—many have to stretch to “preach ‘em into heaven”
2. Be void of offense
And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.
Blameless, above reproach
Wise as serpents / harmless as doves
Give no excuses / ammunition
3. Have a meek and quiet spirit
Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.
The principle applies even to men: don’t be pushy, nag, guilt trips, and don’t punish, seem disappointed, but rather…
4. Have the joy of the Lord
Ps. 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me (what spouses need!) with thy free spirit. 13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
That relative needs to see what you’ve got and want it!
Ill.—old saying, “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink." Even better: “Your job is not to make him drink. Your job is to make him thirsty.”
5. Give a clear testimony
Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
Ill. From unknown preacher: Feeling a concern for witnessing can mean that you will have to stand up and be counted, and this can bring some degree of abuse. Years ago I was praying with one of my children at bedtime, and I asked him if he had any problems we should pray about. He couldn’t think of any, even though I could think of a number! Rather unwisely, I pressed the point and asked, "Don’t you have any problems at school?" "No," he replied quite firmly. "Don’t the kids give you a hard time because you’re a Christian?" “Nope, they’ve never found out!” And quite happily he turned over to sleep.
Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying, Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
“In the midst of a generation screaming for answers, Christians are stuttering.”
D.L. Moody once spoke with a woman who didn’t like his method of evangelism. He said, "I don’t really like my method all that much either. What’s your method?" She replied that she didn’t have one. Moody said, "Then I like mine better than yours."
6. Look for opportunities God will give you
But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.
Ask Him to make you sensitive to those moments!
7. Don’t be ashamed of the gospel
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth…
Again, family is tough…because you have to live w/ them…
