Finding Common Ground

I can honestly say that I've yet to meet anyone who came to know Christ by having a complete stranger come up to them and say something like: "If you never put your faith and trust in Christ, you're going to burn in hell." As true as that statement is, it's hardly an effective way to build a relationship; much less lead anyone to a relationship with our Savior.

The Apostle Paul, perhaps the greatest soul-winner of all time, gives us this pearl of godly wisdom on the subject of reaching the lost: To the Jews I became a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I may win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some (1 Corinthians 9:20-22).

The key to effectively reaching people for Christ is finding common ground with others. Paul was willing to meet people wherever they were, in the state they were in, for the purpose of leading them to the Savior. He was willing to do whatever was necessary to find common ground; even knowing that he wouldn't necessarily reach everyone.

As an avid sports fan, I've been able to build relationships with hundreds of people through sports and as those relationships grow, I am then able to share what Jesus has done in my life. Our hobbies, our children, our life experiences are just a few more examples of areas where common ground can be found and a relationship can be built. Never forget how important relationships are to our Heavenly Father. He allowed his only Son to pay our sin debt on the cross to restore his relationship with fallen man.