The sincere Christian/evangelist is usually thinking about the opportunities they can take to share their faith with someone.

The wise Christian knows that there is a tact - a combination of people skills and time/place to it all for effective evangelism.

And the wiser still know when words are in order to share the message, or when simply inviting someone out to join in on the fun is all it will take.

This blog we're going to highlight these situations and which approach you should use

I was talking with one of my youth the other Sunday at #church about our Friday night programs and how to invite their friends out.

He said he had no friends at school that would be interested in coming out to church on a Friday night. That none of the were "church" people or believers.

I said, "Here's all you need to say: There's basketball and girls."

He looked at me perplexed saying "are you serious?"

The next youth piped in and said, "Aren't we missing the point if we're only inviting them out for the basketball? I mean, don't we want them to come out for Jesus?"

I smiled and continued to make my point.

"Of course we want them to come out for Jesus. But if that's all we wanted, then we wouldn't have the video games, basketball courts, and fun stuff to do. It'd just be Matt (the preacher) on stage with a Bible and prayer time after. Would you guys enjoy youth-night if that's all it was?"

I could tell they were struggling a little bit with the answer because they wanted to be "good Christians" and say that Jesus is all they need.

I answered for them, "Of course not! You guys are young and ya'll need to have fun! Same with them. But the difference between you and them is that you already know Jesus, they don't.

So in their mind, when they're invited out to church, they think that its going to be a preacher with a  Bible and prayer afterwards.

Not something fun to get invited to right? That's why you don't invite them to church. You invite them to basketball and video games with girls around, at a church.

Why? Because those are the things they are looking for and those things they understand. While they're here, they will then be exposed to Jesus."

I could tell the gears were turning in their brains trying to comprehend what their youth leader was telling them.

After a few seconds more of silence allowing the smoke to clear from their ears, I added: "This is called situational evangelism."

Situational Evangelism

The idea that we give people what they need, in the moment they need it, to get them closer to Jesus.

In some cases that might be words of encouragement, preaching, teaching, #prophesying, etc.

In other cases that might be acts of service, gifts, quality time, physical touch.

Essentially it's what the person needs at that moment and your ability to read it.

It's like that street preacher who was walking around downtown preaching to the homeless when one responded, "I'm so hungry I can barely hear what you're saying."

The preacher got the #message, took him for a meal, and then the man was ready to listen.

When we go about thinking "preaching" is our only tool, then we miss out on ample opportunities to share with people who would be ready to listen if we were to only provide one simple thing first...what they need.

My advice to my youth that morning was to lead with what their friends needed - fun, attention, community.

Their friends are so inundated with entertainment that to lead in with "Jesus," when in their minds "Jesus" and "church" have a certain stigma to it (religion, boring, wooden pews, rules, etc... pretty much everything the movies make caricatures of us from) they wouldn't hear the message unless they were seeking for it.

But one thing they're craving is unconditional relationship.

To tell them that there is a place they can go for free and have fun; a place that doesn't want anything from them and isn't expecting anything from them; a place where they can be kids and be loved on... that's more attractive in the moment.

And of course, they're teenage boys... girls are a bonus - not that they would/could do anything with them anyways. They barely know how to talk to girls!

This is not a bait and switch either where we bribe the kids in with candy and then bang them over the head with Jesus as soon as they get in the doors.

This is about building relationship with them, loving them regardless of their decision on Christ - BECAUSE Jesus told us to love others.

And while they're there being fed what they need, then when they're ready to let down the walls that are holding the rest of the world out, Jesus will be ready with an offer.

But they won't easily see that offer if the only reason we invite kids to church is to preach to them Jesus.

Don't misunderstand what is being said here - Jesus is what needs to be preached.

I am saying that sometimes this can/needs to be done without words first in order to demonstrate/experience the message of love.

The church environment or even the environment that you bring with you wherever you go is going to demonstrate to others the type of #God you serve.

If it's an environment of love, fun, acceptance, order, and hope then they will know what kind of God you serve.

If it's all about rules, regulations, correction, holiness, behavior modification etc., then they will know what kind of God you serve.

The question for us to ask is

• What are we inviting people into?
• Is this what they need that will lead them to #Jesus the quickest? (which doesn't have to be a short amount of time either)
• If this is the God we serve, is this really who God is?

How to Know Which Method to Use in the Moment

So where do we go from here?

Do we preach? Do we just hang out? How do we tell what to do?

The answer really isn't that hard - but its also not that obvious.

It's not obvious in the sense that one could say, "If all things are like "this" then you should do "that."

But it isn't hard in the sense that you will feel lost in the dark.

The answer is dependent on the relationship you have with the person.

Can you  pass time with this person? Then invite them to something to enjoy life with you. Don't rush - just love and have conversations along the way.

Do you only have a few minutes with this person, but frequently every now and then? Then perhaps sharing a meal with them is what's needed - especially if they're physically hungry. Or maybe fulfill another need that you're aware of.

Do you only have a moment and might not ever see them again? Then perhaps a gift - but definitely a word of encouragement.

This is situational evangelism - giving the person what they need at the time they need it, that somehow leads to Jesus.

Take off all pressure from yourself about "preaching" to that person that has been on your mind the past little while.

Maybe you just need to invite them over for lunch to hang out.

Maybe you just need to invite them out to the new movie.

The point is give them what they need. Take a minute, observe them, pray about, talk with God about it, figure them out a little bit and go from there.

Evangelism is easy when all you're trying to do is love someone.