Build Trust

‘The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?” John 4:9

I came across Bill Hybels’ model for leading people to God. We have actually been doing it but he articulates it perfectly. It is called the 3D model. I am sure we have come across the word 3D before. To help us remember this simple model and deploy it on a daily basis is the word 3D. So what are the 3D’s of breaking the ice?

The 1^st D: Develop friendships. People that break the ice live in 3D. They constantly look for ways to develop friendships. Friendships allow people to examine your life without you saying a word. This can be one of the most powerful ways to evangelize. Friendship is the easiest way to build trust. For you to do this, for you to build friendship you must be willing to walk away from your comfort zone. All of us have comfort zones. We have our circle of friends that we are safe with. For you to actually develop friendships the way God wants you to, it would take walking out of your comfort zone. When I was younger and running away from cigarette and other vices, I will run away from evangelizing to people who smoke. I didn’t want anyone to entice me and I didn’t want to be seen standing with someone who smokes. I could not afford to be associated with that. God is saying move out of your comfort zone. Please read John 4. The Bible says Jesus had need to go through Samaria. The Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. So rather than pass through Samaria, they would opt to go around it. If they have to pass through Samaria, they would run through the town. So when the Bible says Jesus had need to go through Samaria, it means Jesus went out of His comfort zone. As if that was not enough, a woman came to the well and Jesus engaged her in conversation. ‘The woman was surprised… “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?” John 4:9. It was considered scandalous for Jews to relate with Samaritans, for a man to be talking to a woman, and a Samaritan woman at that. Yet Jesus put Himself in that position. For us to be icebreakers and to live in 3D we have to develop friendships outside of our comfort zone.

Prayer [song]: ‘Everywhere He went, He was doing good. Almighty Healer! He healed the leaper. When the crippled saw Him, they started walking. Everywhere He went my God was going good’