Bring a Friend to Jesus
“Phillip found Nathanael and said, ‘We have found Him…’” John 1:45
We know the familiar scripture that says, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” Luke 19:10. How did Jesus find you?
Jesus used somebody to find you.
It may have been a parent or other family member. It may have been a friend. The gospel may have come to you through a preacher’s sermon or through a writer’s pen. But one thing is sure—God used someone’s prayers, someone’s witness, someone’s faithfulness to find you with His love and grace.
Now, Jesus wants to use you to find somebody.
In John 1:44-46 we read of an example of this.
The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”
Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
After Philip had heard the call of Jesus to follow Him he had concern for his friend. He wanted him to meet Jesus too. Our mission to bring a friend to Jesus begins with concern and compassion.
Then, Phillip shared his experience of meeting Jesus with his friend. “We have found Him,” Phillip said alluding to Jesus being the Messiah—the Promised One from God sent to save us. Our mission to bring a friend to Jesus is not so much about theological expertise as it is sharing our story. We call this our testimony. And if you have found Jesus as your Lord and Savior you have a story to share.
Nathanael wasn’t sure he believed what Phillip was saying. Phillip responded to Nathanael’s uncertainty and extended a simple invitation. “Come and see!” This simple invitation can be powerfully used by God. When we share our story of how we came to know Christ we then offer those who hear our story to come find out for themselves. “Come and see” is our invitation to come to church with us or to look into the scriptures with us. We’re ready to tell His story!
God can and will use us to bring our friends to Christ. Like Phillip it begins with genuine care and concern. Our friends who do not know Jesus are headed for a Christ-less eternity. Pondering this should cause concern in our heart for them. This genuine concern will motivate us to then share our story—our testimony. Don’t underestimate the power of your testimony. God will use it. Once we have shared our story we then make a simple and sincere offer to our friend to learn more about Jesus – to hear His story! Then there is the awesome possibility that our friend will bow his head and heart and trust Christ as their Lord and Savior.
We have no control over how our friend responds. That’s the work of the Holy Spirit. But it is clear from scripture that God uses common ordinary folk like you and me to be a tool in His hands. God will use our sincere and simple witness to bring people to Christ. What greater thing can we do?
Bring a friend to Jesus!
Pastor Dan Barker