STEP 8: Build Trust With Your Audience (WKST HERE)

JESUS TYPICALLY PROVIDED FOR PHYSICAL NEEDS FIRST

People 2,000 years ago didn’t know they needed what Jesus was offering, just like people today don’t know they need the Gospel message.

It’s hard to “sell” something that people don’t know they need. Jesus’ strategy to resolve this dilemma is excellent.

1.) When Jesus first interacted with his audience he provided something they found valuable.

Hungry people value food and this is what Jesus initially provided his audience at the feeding of the five thousand.

He didn’t hand out free fishing tools, handwritten copies of the Torah, or divine insight. First, He provided hungry people with food.

2.) More specifically, Jesus provided 1. something his audience found valuable that also, 2. provided evidence of a better way.

Throwing money into a crowd is something people find valuable but it doesn’t provide evidence of a better way to do life.

Jesus’ miracles fulfilled a need that resonated deeply with his audience but his miracles also attested to his authority to speak on more profound things. This was Jesus’ entry-point to share his message.

3.) After Jesus had the attention of His audience, He would draw their focus away from the physical provision and redirect it to His spiritual message.

After providing the bread in the feeding of the five thousand (Luke 6), Jesus refocused the attention of the crowd who followed him by saying, “I am the bread of life.

Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

“Jesus built the trust of fishermen with a fisherman’s provision.”

The Problem: Churches frequently make the mistake of trying to draw the attention of unbelievers either by:

1.) Offering something the unbeliever doesn’t want. This could be a service that isn’t oriented to their needs Or,

2.) They try to draw the visitor’s attention directly to what they don’t know they need (The Gospel Message or Church Attendance). Both are church marketing online mistakes.

Application: Your church should first build the trust of your Target Audience by fulfilling a deep need or desire in their life. Whatever you do to build their trust must also provide evidence of a better way to do life (Christ’s way).

Further info: In Luke chapter 5 Jesus built their trust by providing a miraculous catch of fish. Jesus’ didn’t provide, say, a miraculous harvest of wheat because this wouldn’t have resonated with fishermen.

Farming wouldn’t even have been on their radar. They understood the value and miraculous nature of a massive catch of fish and therefore were intrigued with anything else Jesus said.

Further Info: In Matthew 15:32, Jesus meets a physical need. He didn’t want anyone to go away hungry.

“Jesus called his disciples to him and said, I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.”

Instructions:

1. Download & Print Worksheet 8.
2. Watch the video above.
3. Read “Jesus Typically Provided For Physical Needs First.”
4. Fill out Worksheet 8.