Loving People Back to Jesus (Study on the Book of James)

Image Credit:  Priscilla Du Preez - Public Domain Image - via Freely Photos

Today, we skipped ahead a bit to accommodate Valentine’s Day, since if fell on Sunday this year.  Our pastor talked about loving people back to Jesus.

The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. – 1 John 4:8

For God so loved the World that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. – John 3:16 

The one who wanders away. (James 5:19)

My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back  .  .  . – James 5:19 

Sometimes people wander because they get exposed to bad theology.  Think about someone you know who has drifted and resolve to bring them back to Jesus.  Love them back to Jesus.

The one who loves them back. (James 5:20)

Let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. – James 5:20 

Reasons people say they don’t like attending church:

The pastor is too conservative.

They are angry at God.

They are too busy.

They have issues at work.

They have no friends at church.

They feel unconnected at church.

They have fallen out of the habit of attending church.

There are too many hypocrites there.

They have bad health.

People are too judgmental.

They don’t believe in organized religion.

There are too many clicks there.

They live too far away.

Our pastor suggested that the next time someone tells us they live too far away to attend church, we should tell them that, “if the church is alive, it’s worth the drive.”  

For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls. – 1 Peter 2:25

  Loving People Back to Jesus

What we need to do to love people back to Jesus.

Be personally walking in the truth ourselves.

Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. – Galatians 6:1

*Pursue them with love.

*Pray specifically for them.

*Go to them in person.

If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. – Matthew 18:15-17

 You'll find all my posts about this study on the book of James here.