Most Christians desire to share the Gospel of Christ with others. Yet many often feel awkward in their attempts to talk with others. Or they simply don’t know how to share Gospel to others. The result? Many to experience frustrations that discourages them from trying again. Let us now learn from the example of our Master and Teacher, the Lord Jesus Christ. He often engaged in personal evangelism as well as public preaching. For example, the story of His conversation with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well in John 4:1-26.

NOW, observing Jesus in this story… Let us learn the Principles Of Personal Evangelism that Jesus employed in reaching out to the Samaritan woman.

1. MAKE AN INTENTIONAL CONTACT WITH PEOPLE

Jesus often interacted or made A SOCIAL CONTACT WITH PEOPLE! Jesus made contact when He passed through Samaria! vv1-6. Many Jews, because of their disdain for Samaritans, often avoided Samaria.

BUT Jesus with His disciples intentionally went to Samaria in order to make contact with the people. A similar example of Jesus making social contact. Lucas  5:29-32, MBB.

APPLICATION: WHAT ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR SOCIAL CONTACTS TODAY?

· At School (with fellow students and teachers)
· At Work (with co-workers or employees and employers)
· At Community (with our neighbors, friends, family relatives)

Here’s the lesson:

• The reason people aren’t coming to Christ, is because we are not going or making contacts and interacting with the people!
• · And by withdrawing ourselves from those who have not heard the gospel is contrary to the will of the God.
• Therefore, we must intentionally go and make social contacts to where the people are, regardless of their social status in life!
  Remember this… Mk 16:15, MBB

2. ESTABLISH A COMMON INTEREST IN ORDER TO CREATE A BRIDGE!

Jesus often causally talked to people in order to get their attention. So what was Jesus’ first words to the woman? vv7-8

• As Jesus was thirsty, and the woman had come to draw water
• His first words bridged to around their common interest which is the water
• Now, what are examples of COMMON INTERESTS
• They include family (such as children, grandchildren)
• They include activities (such as work, community projects, hobbies
• They include shared experiences (such as travel, or even tragedies)

What lessons can we learn from Jesus:

• Always go first for the need to build rapport with the people we talk to, because engaging into a meaningful dialogue especially involving spiritual matters, is not that easy.
• Therefore, creating a bridge to a common interest will build rapport will give us the opportunity to have a meaningful dialogue with people.
• Then, once a bridge for communication has been established, it will be easier to discuss God’s word with any person.
• Remember this… Don’t rush or immediately begin talking about spiritual matters. Take time to build rapport by nurturing common interests.

3. Next, AROUSE SPIRITUAL INTEREST

Jesus often aroused people’s interest by his words and actions! So, how did Jesus made the Samaritan woman interested? (v4:9)

It’s by simply speaking to her on the following:
· As a man (a Jew) He speaks to her as a woman (a Samaritan woman)
· As a rabbi He speaks to her, an immoral woman

So, how did Jesus shifted their conversation to spiritual matters? (vv10-14). He led their discussion into a common spiritual interest, about living water!

What is the lesson here?

1.We can also raise questions or make statements that shift conversations to spiritual matters, for example:
“What do you think our world is in such a mess?”
“Would you be interested in what the Bible says about…?”

2. We too can arouse peoples’ spiritual interests: by showing kindness and compassion to anybody, even the evil and wicked, by not harboring racial or social prejudices to those who are different, and by our own example of faith and hope.
* 1 Pedro 3:1-2,14-16, MBB