Your Simple Guide to Finding People of Peace
You don’t need to be an expert — just look for these four signs and step into the harvest.
The Making New Disciples Cheat Code
What if I told you there was a cheat code to Making New Disciples? A way of kicking it off that sounds too good to be true… but actually is true? What if God is already preparing people for you to meet and disciple?
When we look at culture you could be forgiven for thinking that people are just not interested in the Jesus and His Kingdom. However, Jesus said the harvest is ripe! There are people all around us who are ready to receive the gospel. People God has been preparing.
In Matthew 10 and Luke 10 Jesus calls these people, “People of Peace.” Not only are they warm towards the Kingdom, they open up networks to the kingdom.
I remember when God first showed me this.
Not a chance to finish…
I was at the playground with my young son. I started talking to one of the other mums. I had recently done some evangelism training and so I was ready to ask her the following questions,
Can I tell you my story of how I was far from God and came to know Him?
Would you like to read the Bible with me about some people who came to know God?
Would you like to know God?
But I didn’t have a chance to ask them. As we were talking she says to me,
“Do you know anyone that can teach me the Bible?”
I was a little shocked but I was happy to tell her that I would love to do that with her. Before I finished talking she then asked me,
“How did you come to know God?”
The next week she came over for dinner. But she didn’t come alone. This time she brought the whole family. As we chatted I shared a Bible story. Then out of nowhere this lady pipes up and asks,
“How can I know God? I want to know God!”
It turns out this lady was from China and a friend had given her a Bible before she came to Australia. However, since the day she received the Bible everything in her life was blessed! This sparked a curiosity in her.
This lady was a person of Peace. She was warm to the gospel. (or even hot!) A person God had prepared ahead of time, part of the “ripe for harvest crowd” that was waiting for someone to talk to her about Jesus! I couldn’t even finish my spiel, God had set the whole thing up!
Jesus said the harvest is ripe!
These people are everywhere!
We just have to find them!
W.A.R.M: A tool Identifying Person of Peace
So if these people are everywhere, how do we find them?
Here is a little tool I have developed that help us identify the “W.A.R.M” people Jesus spoke of.
Use this guide to consider who the people of peace are in your world right now. And if you can’t see them yet, keep praying and keep looking!
1. Welcoming
They offer peace and openness.
They’re friendly or kind-hearted
They smile, make eye contact, and are glad to see you
They engage in conversation and notice your presence
Ask yourself: Do they seem genuinely happy to talk with me?
2. Accepting
They receive you, not just what you bring.
They listen to you and show care
They follow up with you
They stick up for you, even among others
Ask yourself: Do they treat me like a friend and not a stranger?
3. Relational
They invite you into their life.
They share their time, home, meals, or stories
They are generous with what they have
They build trust over time
Ask yourself: Do they make space for me in their world?
4. Missional
They connect you to others and care about bigger things.
They introduce you to their friends, family, or networks
They are open to spiritual conversations
They have influence in their community
Ask yourself: Are they a bridge to others and open to spiritual things?
If people came to mind for the above, then the chances are they could be a Person of Peace God has warmed up for you!
Now What?
Once we realise that God is already at work in the world around us, the pressure is off! It is not all up to you! You are now part of a team that has been at work long before you showed up!
Instead of stressing about whether you are going to say the right thing, or worrying that you’ll mess it up, take confidence that God has already warmed up the crowd for you!
Who is coming to mind right now? Leave some names in the comment section and I’ll join you in praying for them.
Remember, the harvest is ripe,
But the workers are few…
So let’s join Jesus in the harvest!
James
P.S If you have identified a Person of Peace and have no idea what to do next, I suggest trying some of the following: Ask them how you can pray for them, share your story with them, invite them to read a Bible story with you, and find a way to love them. Or reach out to me and I’d be happy to coach you in some next steps!