Why should we reach others?

Jesus came “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). He was clear that God sent Him on a mission to restore mankind’s broken relationship with God. Jesus is the hope of the world, and His Church (His followers) is his agent of hope. After His resurrection from the dead and before He physically left His disciples on earth, Jesus gave them His final instructions:

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And, surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28: 18-20).

This was not just for His followers at that time, but also for all of us who would come after them.

How can we reach others?

The Four-I Framework

A simple way to think about how to reach others is to remember these four “I’s”: Identify, Intercede, Invest, and Invite. Here’s a short message from pastor Ronnie Rothe about this four-I framework.

Identify

First, identify someone in your life who doesn’t know Jesus. It could be a friend, relative, co-worker, acquaintance, neighbor, or classmate. Think about the different areas in your life and who might not know Jesus. The goal is to identify ONE person. Here is a printable tool that can help.

Intercede

Once you identify someone you want to reach, the next step is to pray for them consistently. Here are five ways you can pray for your “reach one”.

Invest

As you continue to pray, take steps to invest in the relationship. Spend quality time getting to know them and letting them get to know you. Share your story with them. Care for them and serve them. Then, when you feel the time is right, talk to them about their spiritual journey.

Invite

Finally, when they are ready, invite them to put their faith in Jesus. This can sound intimidating, but we have some tools that will make it easier:

How to Share the Gospel
How to Pray With Someone to Put Their Faith in Jesus 

Want Help?

Email our Director of Impact Ministries, Cory Nelson at cory@relevantcommunity.org