Three Word Evangelism
John 1:43-46
The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”
Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.
“Come and see,” said Philip.
Two words. That’s all it took for Philip to follow Jesus. Jesus says to him, “Follow me.” And Philip does. Maybe Philip already knew something about Jesus. He was from the same town as Andrew and Peter, after all. Maybe he’d even spoken to Jesus before. But when the time comes, all Jesus has to say is “Follow me.”
Three words. That’s what it took for Nathanael to come and see. He was a little resistant at first. “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” But instead of arguing with him, Philip simply said, “Come and see.”
And for three years, Philip and Nathanael followed Jesus. They went with him all over Galilee and Judea. They saw all kinds of wonders and signs. Day by day, Jesus taught them and the other disciples more and more about who he was and what he came to do. He finished all his work. He died on the cross to save sinners from death and hell. He rose again to guarantee life eternal in heaven.
One word. That’s what it took for Philip and Nathanael and the other disciples to spread the good news. “Go.” After they’d seen so much, learned from Jesus, and now witnessed his resurrection, they were ready. They went out and shared the good news of forgiveness, life and salvation with the whole world.
How many words does it take to encourage you to go? Jesus has already called you to follow him, and by faith from the Holy Spirit, you do follow him. You have come to see the wonderful good news of the forgiveness of sins and a restored relationship with your heavenly Father. Many of us have spent more than three years with Jesus. But perhaps you still think yourself unprepared and unequipped.
See what Jesus does for Philip. He simply says, “Follow me.” Jesus chooses Philip to be an apostle, and because Jesus has chosen him, he is already equipped to share the good news with Nathanael. “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote. Come and see.” That’s 21 words.
Jesus hasn’t only chosen the apostles to share the good news, but all Christians. And because he has chosen you, you are equipped to share. “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9). Yes, that includes worship of God. But it also includes declaring his praises to those who also need to hear what he has done.
We are planning on expansion to the north. Please keep this mission in your daily prayers that God would grant success to the efforts to share his gospel. Please also pray for people to join in this work. Just know that, when God answers that prayer, you might be the answer. Pray for your friends in that area—for those who are in the church and are searching for lost souls, and for those who are outside the family of believers that this mission perhaps may bring them into God's household. And, remember, your Nathanael may be waiting for their Philip (you!) to tell them, “Come and see.”