Relationships with the unsaved

Intro: If you could share Christ with someone famous who would it be and why?

Study

  1. 1 Cor 13:1, Rom 12:2 The bible calls us as Christians to show love to those who are around us, however we must have wisdom in how we show love to the unsaved.
    1. Hosea 4:6 Many people lack wisdom in their relationships with the unsaved and end up themselves being negatively influenced and falling away from God.
      1. James 4:4 Although we should reach out to unsaved people, the bible also tells us that we are not to make the unsaved our close friends.
      2. 1 John 2:15-17 We must find the balance between showing love to the world in being evangelistic, but not getting so close that we backslide.
    2. John 14:15, S.S. 2:15 The greatest way we show the love of God, is by obeying his commands and living by his standards.
  2. Matt 10:16 We need to develop a strategy in our relationships with the unsaved that will allow us to reach out to them without being negatively influenced.
    1. 2 Cor 6:14 Rather than going with them to the clubs, or to parties, we need to invite them with us to church, cell groups, and Christian events.
      1. Rom 10:13-15 We can show love and kindness to the unsaved by talking to them in school,or at work, sharing Christ with them, and offering to pray with them.
      2. 2 Cor 6:17 We can also reach out to the unsaved and show them love by being an example ourselves in how we live, that we don’t live just like the world does.
    2. Mt 28:18-20, Jude 1:23-24 We must not forget Gods greatest commandment, and that we can’t win anyone to Christ if we ourselves fall away, therefore we must be careful in our relationships with the unsaved.

Discussion

  1. Have you ever personally been negatively influenced because you were hanging out with the unsaved, or with compromising Christians? give examples.
  2. How can we show the love of God to the unsaved without being negatively influenced ourselves?
  3. Does anyone have an example of a time when you personally led someone who was unsaved to Christ? how did you follow up with them?
  4. What are some of the ways we can be an example to the unsaved in our personal standards and daily lifestyles?

End: Pray for any who have been negatively influenced or backslidden because of relationships, then take prayer requests.