Friends and Family Evangelism

 

"The Lord is not slack concerning his promises, as some men count slackness, but is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."  2 Peter 2:9

Family and friends! Just the thought of witnessing to friends and family can be intimidating.  They know our past and are likely to point out when we have failed, make fun of us, and get under our skin.  Some consider family and friends evangelism to be the most difficult type of soul winning.

The holidays, however, are an opportune time to witness to them.  As you gather with loved ones this Christmas season, let the following soul winning tips encourage you to take steps to win them to the Lord.

1. Pray, Pray, Pray! Don't sit back and let the devil take your loved ones without a fight.  God is looking for someone to stand in the             gap on their behalf.  Lift their names up to the Lord and hold the Blood of Jesus against the enemy of their souls.

 2. The news we are sharing is good, not bad--If your family member inherited $1,000,000, would you be fearful to tell them?  Of course not! What Jesus did for them is so much better than all the silver and gold in the world.

3. Do not be moved by what you see--Just as God gave Noah a blueprint for the ark, so God has the blueprint for the salvation of your love ones.  He has a plan, and even though you may not see any changes, He is working the plan. Walk by faith and not by sight.

4. Admit when you are wrong--A simple "I'm sorry, please forgive me," might advance our witness more than telling them Jesus loves them 50 times. We don't have to be perfect in front of them, but we do have to be humble. 

5. Keep relationships with family members open, as much as is possible with you-- A broken relationship will hinder many conversations about Jesus.  Although God can use a stranger to witness to them, He also wants to use you.

6. If talking to them is difficult, write them an evangelistic letter--Sometimes we can express ourselves better when we take our time and get all of our thoughts on paper without interruption and emotions getting in the way. The next time you see them in person, ask them if they received the letter. 

7. Don't remind them of their need for Christ every time you see them.--While God will open doors for you to share the gospel, a daily presentation of the plan of salvation will likely do more harm than good.  This will cause their heart to become hardened toward the Gospel and toward you.  Be led by the Holy Spirit about when to open your mouth and when to keep it shut.

8. Ask God to change you as He is changing your loves ones--Let God turn you into someone full of love, mercy, and compassion.  He will give you creative ideas to love your family member straight into the Kingdom.