Introduction

We may know someone who has slowly drifted away from sincere faith in Jesus. Maybe he or she has chosen to disconnect himself or herself from the community of faith. Maybe they think they have valid reasons. Others may have chosen to go back to their previous lifestyle of sin and disobedience together with their unbelieving friends. A few may have hardened their hearts already. How do we help them go back to Jesus?

Four Crucial Steps

• Step 1: Discern the nature of the problem. (1 John 5:16-17; 1 John 3:14-15; 1 John 5:13) – Before we can help a person to go back to Jesus, we must discern the nature of the problem. If the problem has to do with common struggles in the Christian life, we can simply pray for their strengthening. Maybe we can even talk with them to encourage them. But when the problem is unbelief in Jesus, then more would be needed to help them.
• Step 2: Discuss the Gospel again if necessary. (James 5:19-20) – If the problem is unbelief in Jesus Christ, then we need to sit down with them and talk about the Gospel again. We have to go back to the foundations of the faith (Hebrews 6:1-3). A lot of Christians fall away because their foundations are not very strong.
• Step 3: Direct them toward true repentance. (Galatians 6:1-5) – Once they understand the Gospel again, they need to repent and put their trust in Jesus again. They need to surrender their lives to Him, promising to obey Him in every area and to stop sinning. Some of them may need more practical help to learn about spiritual formation again.
• Step 4: Decide when it’s time to set boundaries. (Jude 1:17-22) – We cannot help everyone. Some people will refuse our help no matter what we do. We must learn how to set boundaries. Not doing so may also endanger us leading us to compromise over sin. We cannot let our emotions overrule what is right before God.

Conclusion

1. Main Idea: “Once you’re back, you can help others to go back.”
2. There are many people right now who may want to go back to Jesus.
3. If you’re back, you can start helping them to go back to Jesus also.

Discussion

1. What have you realized about helping others to go back to Jesus?
2. Which of the steps are most challenging?
3. How will you apply what you’ve learned?