Any good tips for witnessing to unsaved friends and family?
2007-08-16 11:11:33 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Don't get caught up in gossiping or talking about others behind their backs.
Be real with people and don't be afraid to let others see you have the same struggles and problems - sometimes we can be so 'holy' others find it hard to believe we could understand what they are going through.
Pray moment by moment - Ask for God's guidance as to when you should speak and when to just listen. The Holy Spirit will give you all you need.
Know what the bible says about things our friends want to know about - death, injustice, judgement, life.
Continue to respect and love people whether they believe the same as you do - just keep praying that God will use you.
2007-08-16 12:04:31 · answer #1 · answered by steph c 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is hard to share some things openly with unsaved friends, because you care about them and don't want to appear pushy. It is the good deed in all of us that will serve as the perfect witnessing. It is the act of witnessing you serve someone else or soothe someone or comfort someone in need. A subtle witness may share the high spirits they feel when singing on Sunday.This raises curiosity to the others.
When in a group, it is effective to speak softly and intentionally about an event or project that you are proud to work on. If anyone raises interest, share more info and invite them to join you once. Don't call it a church event or ministry, just a project like visiting elderly, helping with meals on wheels ( you need a navigator with you) or another volunteer project.
Once you are noticed as a leader or active volunteer, you will be setting the pace for the others. Your actions and passion for helping others will be an inspiration to these friends. Don't be afraid to ask for help if it is a project outside of church. Just ask one person to tag along with you one day that you volunteer. Make it short and they will love you for the opportunity.
God bless you always
2007-08-16 18:28:25 · answer #2 · answered by joe_on_drums 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
use bible verses in camaflauged ways.
listen to christian music with good melody.
be serious about your religion when talking about it, but never go furious about it(meaning just dont say you're right and they're wrong. this just makes them away from your goal).
this might be cruel. But in order to save them, you need to move his/her heart. Here it is: make them feel sorry for you. Now, this means few or some big stuffs(like lost your ring, being late and lost job interview, things like that). Why? because i know this for sure that they would most likely not to open their hearts when they have conscious and lucid mind which can reject your words. And/Or take the chance of sadness of unsaved friend/family member. This means when your friend, for example, lost his/her parents, go and show how much you care about them. Little by little, they will rethink about life when they see a big change like lossing job, deaths, all other stuff that does not go well.
Good luck to you, and I will be praying for you
2007-08-16 18:30:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Have a good knowledge of the Bible. People are not interested in listening to a person who doesn't know how to use the Bible to teach others or respond to questions.(2 Timothy 2:15)
Be truly interested in them. When they have a problem, point them to the solution for it found in the Bible.
Have a good knowledge of what they believe and let them know you are interested in discussing their viewpoints and be respectful of how they believe.(Colossians 4:6; 1 Peter 3:15)
Ask a question or make a comment about something and show what the Bible has to say about it. Offer to return to give them more information.
Don't correct every false idea they have. Leave some things for another time, so you don't sound like you are scolding them or being "preachy".
Leave Bible-based literature out for them to see. Maybe they will read some of it.
As you would water a plant, "water" them with the Bible- don't "drown" them with it. Don't make it the total sum of your conversations with them. Let them see that the Bible is your main interest, not your only interest.
Live the truth. Let them see that being a Christian is a happy, fulfilling life.
2007-08-16 20:24:58 · answer #4 · answered by catgrl 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm probably not a good one for advice since almost none of my unsaved friends or family have accepted Christ because of anything I have ever said or done. I have tried. Some funerals are really without hope for me.
I'm totally convinced that lots of prayer is needed to open spiritually blind eyes though, or it just won't happen. One of my uncles did accept Christ after years of prayer. I didn't really get to talk to him much, so it wasn't me. So, yes, we need to witness and let Christ shine through us and love people and all that. We also need to pray tons.
2007-08-16 18:32:43 · answer #5 · answered by MikeM 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes.
Show them by example what God has done for you. Let God take over your life, like in the song by Warren Barfield "Mistaken" Live your life as if you wanted to be mistaken for Jesus. Love everyone, and just show them the miracle of God's Grace. God will lead you to those that He wants saved. We can only plant the seed, and a seed planted by example can do so much.
2007-08-16 18:18:16 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, be genuine. Show them first and foremost that what you care about is them - not trying to get them convinced and not trying to win them over. If they get the impression that you truly and genuinely care for them they will see that you love them and will possibly be more willing to listen. Additionally be patient. Allow the conversion to be the work of God. Pray constantly for them because conversion is a work of the grace of God. The Lord may use you in the process and you may be part of His will at work but He has to give them the grace of conversion to faith in Christ. Read St. Augustine. He speaks about how we must pray for others to be converted because it is a special gift of grace they need to come to faith in Christ and follow Him. Be patient.
Listen to them. If they have objections and if they think differently, don't immediately attempt to shove what you believe in their face. Be quiet and listen to what they think and then respond accurately to what they say. And, again, respond in genuine love for them.
Also, read and learn. Get into theology and understand better the issues others have. Understand your faith more. Learn more about Scripture and the theology Christian tradition.
2007-08-16 19:09:58 · answer #7 · answered by Web work 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Actions speak louder than words.
2007-08-16 18:25:09 · answer #8 · answered by batgirl2good 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The best way is by example, help others, stay positive. Invite them to church just once.
2007-08-16 18:18:11 · answer #9 · answered by morris 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just love the hell right out of them. Pardon the pun.
2007-08-16 18:17:44 · answer #10 · answered by A Voice 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋