Question: "How can I evangelize my friends and family without pushing them away?"
Answer:
At some point, every Christian has had a family member, a friend,
co-worker, or acquaintance who is not a Christian. Sharing the gospel
with others can be difficult, and it can become even more difficult when
it involves someone with whom we have close emotional ties. The Bible
tells us that some people will be offended at the gospel (Luke
12:51–53). However, we are commanded to share the gospel, and there is
no excuse for not doing so (Matthew 28:19–20; Acts 1:8; 1 Peter 3:15).
So, how can we evangelize our family members, friends, co-workers, and acquaintances? The most important thing we can do is pray for them.
Pray that God would change their hearts and open their eyes to the
truth of the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:4). Pray that God would convince
them of His love for them and their need for salvation through Jesus
Christ (John 3:16). Pray for wisdom as to how to best minister to them
(James 1:5).
We must be willing and bold in our actual sharing of the gospel.
Proclaim the message of salvation through Jesus Christ to your friends
and family (Romans 10:9–10). Always be prepared to speak of your faith
(1 Peter 3:15), doing so with gentleness and respect. There is no
substitute for personally sharing the gospel: “Faith comes from hearing
the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ”
(Romans 10:17).
In addition to praying and sharing our faith, we must also live godly
Christian lives in front of our friends and family members so they can
see the change God has made in us (1 Peter 3:1–2). Ultimately, we must
leave the salvation of our loved ones up to God. It is God’s power and
grace that saves people, not our efforts. The best we can do is pray for
them, witness to them, and live the Christian life in front of them. It
is God who gives the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6).
Recommended Resource:
Reaching the Lost: Evangelism by Bobby Jamieson
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