Sharing your faith in Christ is not difficult to do, but aren't your friends and family members the most difficult ones to talk to about Christ? Possibly because you fear being rejected or don't want to appear judgmental. Also, your friends and family know you better than anyone else. You can probably think of times, when you've let the Lord down and have not represented Him in the way that you should. Hopefully, these suggestions will help.
1. Be prepared to give your own personal testimony. Answer the following questions if you've never shared your faith in Christ or what God has done in your life:
a) What was my life like before I accepted Christ?
b) What were the events that led up to my salvation?
c) What were some details describing my salvation?
d) What has my life been like since? What has changed? What difference has Christ made in my life?
It's very difficult for someone to argue about a changed life; so be ready to share what Christ has done in your life and how you came to know Him. I remember one professor who had ridiculed my faith publicly in class; had resisted any attempt to share Truth. But when I went into his office and, in love, shared my personal testimony and what Christ had done in my life, he said, "I can't argue with that!"
2. Be prepared to present the "good news/gospel message" from God's Word. Remember that the gospel of Christ alone saves; the powerful message of the cross stands alone. A simply yet powerful method of explaining why we need salvation, how God provided it, how we can receive it, and what the results of salvation are, can be found in "The Romans Road." The Romans Road explains the good news of salvation using verses from the Book of Romans.
Step One: Defining Sin
Romans 3:23; 3:10-18Step Two: The Consequences of Sin
Romans 6:23Step Three: Christ's Love Demonstrated on the Cross
Romans 6:23; 5:8Step Four: Accepting Christ
Romans 10:9; 10:13Step Five: The Result of Salvation
Romans 5:1; 8:1; 8:38-39
It's not your suave or polished presentation that will convince someone of a need for Christ; that's the Holy Spirit's job. You simply are the instrument to speak the Truth.
3. Be prepared by praying. In 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 we are told, "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ" Just as Jesus made the physically blind to see, pray that God will remove the spiritual blindness from your friends' eyes. Also pray that the Lord will give you boldness to be a witness in their life, through your actions and your words.
4. What's love got to do with it? 1 Peter 3:15-16 states, "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander."Love for God and others is part of the reason that we share Christ. Too many times, though, Christians have alienated friends and family members because they sounded too "preachy" instead of sharing in love with gentleness and respect.
5. Remember, it's not about you, but about Him. 2 Corinthians 3:5-6 states, "Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God." When David went against the giant, Goliath in 1 Samuel 17:45, David said, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty." Imagine the scene, little boy David is going to battle against the giant, Goliath. Impossible. But with God all things are possible!
Successful witnessing is living out your Christian life, sharing the gospel, and trusting God for the results. For further reading, check out Share Jesus Without Fear by William Fay and Ralph Hodge.
