Fishing in Your Network

Studies show that 80 percent of Christians came to Christ through a friend, making relationships the most effective form of evangelism…

How are you enabling the gospel to flow amongst your network of friends?

Have you heard of ‘Dunbar’s Number?’

Dunbar proposed that humans can comfortably maintain 150 stable relationships at once. You could think of this as;

‘The number of people you would not feel embarrassed about joining uninvited for a drink if you happened to bump into them in a bar’

On the periphery, the number also includes past colleagues, such as high school friends, with whom a person would want to reacquaint themselves if they met again.

It’s interesting that when Jesus said, ‘Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught’ that Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore and there were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn (see John 21:10-11)

Is it time to bring to Jesus some of the fish you’ve caught in your network of approx 150 people?

Your Network is Your Net-worth

Jesus said to his new disciples, ‘Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!’ -Matthew 4:19

He then called James and John who were ‘mending their nets’ at the time

Have you considered ‘mending your nets’ so that they are more efficient when fishing for people?

Consider – who is in your network?

Are you on social media? I once went through my Facebook friends list and listed all those I’m connected with who are not Christians. I listed them under different headings such as from school, from college, from university and so on. Altogether I collated a list of over 100 contacts. I then began praying for them to come to know Jesus.

Have you ever thought that God has put those who don’t know Him into your life for His purpose?

Jesus said in John 17:12/John 18:9;

‘I have not lost one of those whom you gave me’

Name List

To begin with, it’s good to make a list – writing down the names of your non-believing friends.

Write down all the people you know including family, friends, neighbours, work colleagues and so on.

Begin to pray regularly for those on your list to come to know Christ

Then circle the 5 you want to make it a habit of praying for regularly. Pray that they would come to know Christ. Pray for opportunities to share Jesus!

Opportunities among your non-believing friends

‘Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive; seasoned with salt, so that you will have the right response for everyone’ -Colossians 4:5-6

‘Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world’ -1 Peter 2:12

‘[…] If someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ’ -1 Peter 3:15b-16

Based on the above passages of scripture, there are a few things you can do among your non-believing contacts:

Live Wisely
Make the most of Every Opportunity
Let Your Conversation be Salty
Always be ready to explain your Christian Hope

I once heard of a man who prayed daily for opportunities to share Jesus with others, and for the words to say when the opportunity arose. Let’s follow his example!

This is the first short article in a series on evangelism. One of the first things Jesus said to one of his new disciples was;

‘Don’t be afraid, from now on you will be fishing for people!’ -Luke 5:10

To stay in touch and receive forthcoming articles in this and other series, please go ahead and subscribe to this blog by adding your email to the subscribe box!