Lesson 39: Never Talk to Strangers?

“But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect” 1 Peter 3:15.

Though most of our personal evangelism probably happens in the context of some kind of relationship (friend, family member, coworker, neighbor, classmate, teammate, etc.) there are countless opportunities we have throughout our lives to engage complete strangers with the Good News, just like Jesus did with the Samaritan woman in John 4. To miss those opportunities is to miss the hand of God in our everyday lives. I believe that He is constantly orchestrating moments where intentional Gospel conversations can take place.

After the woman at the well went back to town to proclaim her newfound faith in Christ, He told his surprised disciples (a rabbi would never talk to a woman in this culture, let alone a Samaritan woman like Jesus did) this, “You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest” (John 4:35). In the same way we must wake up and look around to see the ripe harvest field around us every day... at the restaurant we frequent, in the grocery store where we shop, at the gym where we work out.


There is something powerful about the message of Jesus, so much so that most of the evangelism you read about in the New Testament centers around Jesus and the disciples reaching complete strangers with the Good News. These are people they just met along the way. They were fishermen, tax collectors, everyday people who needed that message of hope.

Those kinds of people are all around us today. In this high-stress, low-hope culture, people need the Gospel message more than ever. We are called to make disciples (not just new believers) and know that disciples can best be made in the context of a relationship, so a huge part of our evangelistic efforts should center around people we know and are getting to know. Once they come to Christ, we can help them grow in Christ so they can make more disciples.

Let us share Jesus with those we know. Let us invest in them and introduce them to the Lord. But let us also lift up our eyes and look around at the harvest all around us all the time. Even the stranger you meet needs to hear the good news, and we cannot know if we are simply giving an answer to someone who already heard enough that our simple word is what brings them to Jesus. Divine appointments are waiting for YOU!

Pray this week: Lord, forgive me for the opportunities I have not taken advantage of to share the good news of your Gospel with those with whom I come in contact. I pray that you will give me more of these opportunities, and that you’ll give me the correct words to say to share your love with those around me. Amen.