Start With Those Around You

When we think about sharing our faith, we often imagine speaking to strangers or going to foreign mission fields. But Jesus shows us that authentic evangelism often begins in our own relational circles. Today, we'll look at how the gospel naturally spreads through existing relationships.

John 1:40-42 "One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He found first his own brother Simon and said to him, 'We have found the Messiah' (which translated means Christ). He brought him to Jesus."

There's something beautiful about this simple account. Andrew, having spent time with Jesus and realized who He is, immediately thinks of his brother. We know almost nothing about Andrew except that three of the four times he's mentioned in the Gospels, he's bringing someone to Jesus. The qualifier that John gives next to his name is largely what Andrew would have been known for his entire life: "Simon Peter's brother."

Think about this: the only reason we know about Peter is because of the faithful witness of his brother. The one who hears the good news immediately goes to those nearest and dearest to his own heart and brings them to Jesus. This is the reflex of the regenerated heart: "I've heard the good news. Good news is too good to keep quiet. I must share it!"

What's fascinating is that this pattern continues. Philip, after being called by Jesus, immediately finds his friend Nathanael. This becomes one of the foundational principles of Christian expansion throughout history: new disciples of Jesus bear witness of Jesus to others, who in turn become disciples and repeat the process. Those who truly come to the Savior cannot remain indifferent.

But let's be honest—the hardest people to share Christ with are often those closest to us. If I'm on a plane next to a stranger, I can easily share my faith because in 90 minutes, I'll never see them again. If I'm on vacation and meet someone briefly, I can witness without fear because our paths may never cross again.

But what about your neighbor? Your brother? Your parents? These relationships come with stakes. If your neighbor rejects your witness, what will your relationship be like after that? If your brother dismisses your faith, you'll still have to share holidays with him. If your parents reject your testimony, what does that mean for your ongoing relationship?

These are the hardest people to evangelize, yet this is precisely where the first disciples began—with Andrew's brother and Philip's friend. They started with the relationships they already had.

I grew up hearing missionary biographies—William Carey in India, Lottie Moon in China, Hudson Taylor, Gladys Aylward, Mary Slesser in Africa, Jim Elliot in Ecuador. These stories inspired me. But the primary way people have come to Christ throughout history isn't through famous missionaries or pastors. It's through ordinary believers sharing Christ with those in their immediate circles.

Sometimes we think, "If there's going to be a great work of God, we need have a big event, bring in a big name, rent a facility, and then people will be saved in mass." But the primary way God has saved people for hundreds of years is through one person saying to another, "I found the Messiah. I found the Savior. You need to meet Him too."

Let me ask you a practical question: Who is that person in your life right now? Is there at least one person in your world who needs to come to Christ this year? Who are you praying for? What's your strategy? A mission requires both an objective and a strategy. You don't find the end zone by wandering.

How many times in the last year have you had an unbeliever at your table? This isn't about legalism or suggesting that everyone must have the gift of evangelism. It's about recognizing that every Christian is a gospel ambassador given a mission by Jesus Christ.

Stay dialed in,
Jonny Ardavanis

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