What is a redemptive relationship? Redemptive relationships are “no strings attached” relationships that are cultivated to be, show, and share Christ. Christianity is fundamentally relational and interactive, not a transactional product to be sold. Jesus was the perfect model of redemptive relationships, which led him to the cross. Throughout the gospel accounts, He met temporal needs in order to fulfill spiritual needs.
Why pursue redemptive relationships? The primary factor that makes Christianity a radical faith is that the heart of the message is “relationship”. The cross is a picture of our vertical relationship with God and the horizontal relationship with others. First, God desires for us to be in a redemptive relationship with Him. Second, He wants us to be in redemptive relationships with others. These two desires are at the heart of the biblical narrative and the apex of the crucifixion; all Christians have the opportunity to be a part of the grand narrative of redemption through relationships. Needless to say, both vertical and horizontal relationships grow over time. Not only that, but evangelism is most effective in the context of relationships. Bill Bright said “85% of believers came to faith in Christ because of a family member or a friend. Put differently, evangelism is more effective being relational than transactional. Fundamentally, the gospel is transformational more than informational.
If we call ourselves Christians, or more effectively, disciple makers, then all of our relationships should be redemptive in nature. Therefore, we must see all relationships as eternal investments. Everyone on earth is someone for whom Jesus died. Consequently, we have the opportunity to share Christ and Him crucified. However, this means walking in the proximity of those who need Jesus the most.
The backdrop for pursuing redemptive relationships is personal holiness because lordship speaks loudly and earns credibility.
There are seven stages in a redemptive relationship
1. person is aware of messenger
2. person genuinely likes the messenger
3. person is aware messenger is Christian
4. person has a positive outlook towards Bible
5. person hears and understands the Gospel
6. person recognizes a personal need for Christ
7. Person places faith in Christ
These seven stages become the testimony of all Christians. As people who seek redemptive relationships, we must be sensitively aware to where people are in this process and carry people through these stages. Cultivation may take as much as years or as little as seconds. God is inviting us into his activity; we are a tool that he uses to paint the masterpiece of redemption in people’s lives.
Relational Tools to cultivate redemptive relationships:
1. Serve Others- Jesus didn’t come to be serve, but to serve
2. Culturally converse- Common ground conversations helps to relate to others.
3. Do things together that aren’t religious- people want to know that you don’t have an agenda relationship with them
4. Ask spiritual questions- People tend to be open to talk about spiritual things over religious things.
5. Listen before speaking- People want to be heard over being told.
Look for opportunities to transition conversations towards spiritual things.
Questions to answer:
1. What are some transitional statements we can use to discuss spiritual matters?
2. Which person in your life do you have a burden for?
3. How are you cultivating relationships?
4. What steps should you take to love people redemptively?
5. Are we ignoring the command to “make disciples?” If so, Why?
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