Testifying of the Word

"How can I evangelize my friends and family without pushing them away?"

Every Christian has a family member, a friend, co-worker, or acquaintance who is not a Christian. Sharing the Gospel with others is always difficult, and it becomes even more difficult when it involves someone to whom you have close emotional ties. The Bible tells us that some people will be offended at the Gospel (Luke 12:51-53). It is especially troubling to risk offending someone we love or with whom we have frequent contact. 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 be doing is praying for them. Pray that God would change their hearts and open their eyes (2 Corinthians 4:4) to the truth of the Gospel. 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 we can minister to them (James 1:5). In addition to praying, we also need to be living a godly Christian life in front of them, so they can see the change God has made in our own lives (1 Peter 3:1-2). As Saint Francis of Assisi once said, “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”Finally, we must be willing and bold in our actual sharing of the Gospel. Proclaim the message of salvation through Jesus Christ to 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. Ultimately, we must leave the salvation of others up to God. It is God's power and grace that saves people, not our efforts. The best and most we can do is pray for them, witness to them, and live the Christian life in front of them.

Recommended Resource: How To Book on Personal Evangelism by Larry Moyer.