At first glance you'll see 16. Keep looking and you'll see 20 . . . then 24 and keep looking and you'll find more.

"But", you're thinking, "I thought this was an article about evangelism and not a lesson in geometry. What's the point?" The point is, the longer you look at those 16 original squares, the more squares you'll discover. Application: I have no new verses of holy writ on the topic of evangelism, but the more you look at the original writings about evangelism, the more you'll discover. There's more than you think!

I want you to grasp Friendship Evangelism as a Biblical concept. I want to define it, describe it and illustrate it in the pages that follow. Let me share twelve observations pertaining to Friendship Evangelism.

1. People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. How many Bible verses can you quote? How many college level Bible classes did you take? How many sermons have you preached? Answers to the above questions are nearly inconsequential! I've known capable Bible teachers, elders, preachers and even Christian college professors who can't lead a soul to Christ. You know the type ... great learning, but they don't know how to relate to people. The unsaved person doesn't really care how much you ..... . they just care about how much you care (about them). A Christian who follows the golden rule (Matt. 7:12), turns the other cheek (Matt. 5:39), and guards his tongue (James 3:2 ff), has a head start on evangelism.

   People don't really care how much you know! I believe that is clearly illustrated by noting that much local evangelism is carried out by the newer Christians (i.e. those who have been Christians for five years or less). Those newer Christians' lives have been dramatically changed by the gospel; the change is real, and they just can't contain themselves because they must share the "good news" with their non-Christian friends. People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.

2. Jesus was a master in the use of Eriendship Evangelism. Jesus mastered every effective evangelistic approach. He could move a crowd of thousands (Mart. 5-7; 15:32-39). He related well to small groups (Matt. 10:1-5; 22:23-32). But He was also a master in the "one on one" approach. He met Zaccheus right where he was -- up a tree (Lk. 19:1-10). Jesus then left the crowd and Zaccheus left the tree, together, because Jesus wanted to become Zaccheus' personal friend. Before the home study was over that day in Jericho, Zaccheus was saved. Remember also Jesus' one-on-one encounters with the Rich Young Ruler (Matt. 19:16-22) and the Samaritan Woman (John 4:7-35). In Jesus, we have a perfect role model for Friendship Evangelism.

3. All reliable surveys on church growth indicate that people are won, not through mass media, but through the influence of one or more friends. (See article on Friendship Evangelism Wori:s.) Do a little informal survey in your own congregation or among your circle of Christian friends. Ask "What is the primary reason that you're a Christian today?", and in the overwhelming number of cases you'll find Christians cite the name of a friend or relative as the "prime mover" in their decision to become a Christian. Just as certainly as Andrew led his brother, Peter, to Christ two thousand years ago (John 1:40-42), the best tool in reaching out to the unsaved TODAY is preparing Christians to share their faith with their unsaved friends and relatives. It still works!

4. "The best evangelism takes place in a context of mutual trust and respect. It takes place between friends." So says Arthur McPhee in his excellent book entitled Friendship Evangelism, The Caring Way to Share Your Faith.

   An honest question deserves an honest answer . . . What is your initial response when a stranger knocks on your door? What does your instinct tell you to do? My first impulse is -- "How can I get rid of this stranger?" What are they selling, promoting or what office are they running for? They have ~ credibility! I don't know them, trust them, nor do I respect them. Truth is, Fm skeptical and suspicious. Isn't your response the same? Friendship Evangelism thrives on an atmosphere of trust and respect, rather than an atmosphere of doubt and suspicion.

5. Effective evangelism is usually best begun without a film, chart or Bible in hand. We meet people where they are, not where we are.

   I am ready today, right now, to sit down with the atheist, agnostic or non-Christian and show him why he needs to believe in God and in His son, Jesus Christ. Furthermore, I'm ready to show anyone how to be ..... . what God has done (grace) and what man must do (obedience).

   But, most people are not ready to hear that simple, beautiful story of salvation the first day I meet them. In fact, it may take days, weeks, months or even years to effectively share the gospel message.

   Take for instance the true story of Larry Myerson. Larry was a bitter, hard, suspicious and skeptical Jew when we first met. It took time to build rapport.

   Another minister had met Larry with a "hard sell" job and was totally turned away. Larry wasn't ready for some religious zealot cramming religion down his throat. Larry resented that approach and that minister.

   Finally... finally, after much prayer, the time seemed right. A full year passed from the time Larry and I met until I "cracked the book," as he puts it. He wasn't ready for more, sooner. (See article by Larry, The Cooper Con.)

   We frequently sing the song "Just As I Am," but is that really the way we accept people? Or do we want them just as we are? We must begin where our friend is ... with agnosticism (Acts 17:22-32), or adultery (John8:1-11), or sickness (John 9:1-34), or even misunderstandings about baptism (Acts 18:24-28). Friendship Evangelism meets people where they are!

6. Friendship Evangelism can be carried on in large or small congregations. I'm tired of meetings where we talk about visitation, evangelism, etc., and don't do much else. Any effort must include Friendship Evangelism. Friendship Evangelism is not a program. Hence, both large and small churches can be taught and led to practice Friendship Evangelism. No matter what the size of your congregation, Friendship Evangelism works without organization with proper role models and leadership.

7. Friendship Evangelism can be carried out in large or small churches with only small monetary investment, but there must be an abundance of love.

   Church treasurers and budget-conscious elders love this truth: Friendship Evangelism does not drain the church budget. In fact, other than providing some basic training and equipping, I can think of no way that your church budget will be adversely affected. Families will likely spend more from their family budgets for snacks, picnics, and entertaining; but Friendship Evangelism is not a line item you'll see in your church budget every year.

   However, your church family must invest heavily in Christian love. Jesus said the world would know we were Christians -- NOT because of our form of baptism; NOT because of our frequency of observing the Lord's Supper; and NOT because of accapella singing; but because of the love we have for one another. No, I'm not advocating we change any of our doctrinal positions, but I am emphatically stating that every congregation of God's people must invest heavily in genuine love (John 13:34-35).

8. Friendship Evangelism encourages chain-reaction growth. Your new Christians provide you with your best list of contacts.

   My wife, Katherine, was enrolled in a class to equip her to become a certified childbirth teacher. Traveling in her car were several other ladies preparing to become childbirth instructors. Two of the ladies (Karen & Patti) were converted to Christ. Both Karen & Patti promptly won their husbands to Christ. Then Patti won her mother to Christ, and Karen won her sister to Christ. Friendship Evangelism encourages that "domino effect," chain-reaction growth. Every new convert has a new set of friends who need to hear the wonderful message of salvation.

9. No one method of evangelism should be used to the exclusion of all others. I'm not against charts, filmstrips, gospel meetings, study sheets, mass mall outs, campaigns, bus ministries, correspondence courses or any other biblically sound method of outreach. I'm not suggesting Friendship Evangelism is the only approach that is working today. In fact, rm suggesting that the best evangelism will use a mix of several approaches. The best approach will be tailored to the specific region of the country and your particular "contact." Friendship should, however, be a prerequisite to any method of evangelism to encourage the best results.

10. Each Christian has a God-given responsibility to build Christ's church numerically here on the earth (Luke 19:10). Christ came to seek and to save the lost. If we are Christians in the fullest sense of the word, we, too, will be concerned about seeking and saving the lost. Yes, that means every Christian is concerned about numbers. We're individually concerned about church grow~ How many are we baptizing in our local congregation? Are we baptizing only our own children, or are we bringing in new people? Every Christian should be concerned about building the church numerically!

11. We must learn to maximize our efforts on those most likely to respond. We need to learn how to practice selective evangelism.

    Several men went deer hunting. From the back of a pick-up two men spotted a herd of deer. One man had a rifle, the other had a shot-gun. The one with a shot-gun said, "Let's shoot them with the shot-gun, that way we'll hit the whole herd." The one with the rifle retorted, "You'll hit them all, alright, but you won't kill one of them. Let's use the rifle and kill one of therm" We Christians frequently hunt like the man with the shot-gun. We just want to hit everyone with the Word, but we don't really penetrate any hearts because we're so general.

    We must learn to select specific targets and really focus on them. Jesus instructed His disciples to be selective in Math 10:5-6: "Do not go to the Gentiles. Do not go to the Samaritans." He had His followers focus on those most likely to respond at that point in time. The apostle Paul also set an example about being selective in evangelism. He said he went first to the Jew, then to the Greek. (Rom. 1:16).

    Can this principle be carried too far or be misapplied? Emphatically, yes! However, there is a crucial point to learn, too. We may be concentrating so much on a dear friend or relative, who shows little interest in spiritual things, that we overlook and neglect a visitor who attends church three Sundays in a row. Their presence should shout at us, "I am looking for something!" We must focus efforts and time on those who are most receptive.

12. Finally, we must learn to serve those in need, both Christians and non-Christians alike. Again, Jesus is our role model. What does service have to do evangelism? Everything! After Jesus served the apostles by washing their feet, He asked them if they understood what He had done (Johnl3:17). He proceeded to tell them that He served them as an example of what they were to do to and for each other (Johnl3: 15). Finally, He said to them that they would be happy if they did what He told them (Jo~3:17). What did He tell them? He told them to serve one another!

    Jesus was teaching and personally illustrating. if we serve each other and the lost, we give His message credibility. Friendship Evangelism works when we serve one another.

    How many squares in the original diagram? Look long and hard and you'll find 30! (16, plus 9 blocks of 4, plus 4 blocks of 9, plus one block with all 16). As you look to the same old Biblical reference points my hope and prayer is that you'll see new patterns and concepts to stimulate your evangelistic zeal.