Not too long ago the long time leader of Campus Crusade for Christ, Dr. Bill Bright, died. Part of his legacy was his creation of "The Four Spiritual Laws" which has been used for decades in leading people to Jesus. Over one billion (1,000,000,000) copies of them have been printed and distributed.
Over time there have been many other publications and training in helping us lead our friends to the Lord.
This Biblical model from Acts 8 has 13 practical points of application in helping your friends reach their friends for Christ.
Acts 8: 26-40
26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert. 27 So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28 was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. 29Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 The place in the Scripture which he read was this:
“He was led as a sheep to the slaughter;
And as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.
33 In His humiliation His justice was taken away,
And who will declare His generation?
For His life is taken from the earth.”
34 So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. 36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”
37 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.”And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” 38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.
1. Listen—if you become a listener you will forget about your own problems.
Acts 8:26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”
2. Push —if you push yourself you will gain confidence is every area.
Acts 8: This is desert.
3. Identify—if you identify people who need the Lord you will enhance your own personal growth potential.
Acts 8:27 So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet.
4. Stay near—if you stay near someone you will sharpen your own skills.
Acts 8:29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and stay near this chariot.”
5. Ask questions—if you ask questions (rather than give opinions) you will open people up and you will overcome your own fear of rejection.
Acts 8:30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
6. Connect—if you connect with others through personal invitations (dinner, lunch, activities, and mutual interests) you will affirm and be affirmed.
Acts 8:31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.
7. Relax—if you relax God will handle all the details of developing a relationship that brings everything back to Him.
Acts 8:32 The place in the Scripture which he read was this:
“He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He opened not His mouth.
33 In His humiliation His justice was taken away, And who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.”
8. Cultivate—if you simply cultivate friendships by being kind you will see that people are needy and looking for answers. A deep sense of security will grow in you as you realize that through God you already have the answer to their needs.
Acts 8:34 So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?”
9. Begin anywhere—if you begin at the point of any question and end with your testimony you will release the power of God into your life.
Acts 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10. Connect—if you connect your friends you identify for the Lord with other Christians you will have a greater potential to have an impact upon them and those around them.
Acts 8:36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” 37 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.”And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” 38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.
11. Purpose—if you make it your purpose in life to lead people to Christ—every area of your life will be greatly blessed.
Acts 8:39 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more;
12. Pay it forward—if you teach the people you reach for Christ how to reach others for Christ—you will bring blessing on their lives.
Acts: 8 39 and he went on his way rejoicing.
13. Multiplication—if you think about the impact one person has in their life—think about the impact one soul has on eternity.
Acts 8:40 But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.