We are very grateful that from time to time we are able to post articles written by experienced Christian workers who kindly grant their permission.
Here evangelist RON HUTCHCRAFT shares helpful advice.
When you belong to Jesus Christ, you start to do some “eternity thinking” about the people you love. You begin to wonder, “Will they be in heaven with me?” Yet the people we most want in heaven with us are often the hardest to talk to about Christ.
There are steps we can take to more effectively communicate Christ to those closest to us.
1. Let go of the pressure.
We tend to become either pushy or paralyzed. As you share, you can depend on God to answer the prayer that “whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me” (Eph. 6:19).
Leave the pressure for rescuing your loved one where it belongs—in the hands of God.
Yes, you have a responsibility to represent Jesus to those close to you, but you are to do it with opportunities, words, and persuasion that all come from God himself.
2. Pray the 3-Open Prayer.
Paul taught us how to pray for opportunities to present Christ. “Pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ…pray that I may proclaim it clearly as I should” (Col. 4:3, 4).
With your loved one in mind, ask God to:
1. “Open the door.”
Ask the Lord to provide a natural, unforced opportunity to talk about your Jesus relationship.
2. “Open his/her heart.”
Believe that the One who died for this one you care about will supernaturally soften and prepare his/her heart.
3. “Open my mouth”
Ask God to help you to talk about Jesus in a way appropriate to the situation. See it through their eyes. Ask the Lord to help you see what they see and feel what they feel as they look at and listen to your faith. If we pray for sensitivity to the perceptions of the one we are trying to reach, we can more effectively avoid the pitfalls of their pride, their misconceptions, their insecurities.
3. Approach them with gentleness and respect.
“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” (1 Peter 3:15).
Don’t try to change their religion, win the argument, or attack their lifestyle just gently and respectfully explain the Jesus difference.
Don’t “preach” – which talks about you, the unbeliever, and tends to close a heart. Rather “share”—about me, my sin, my broken relationship with my Creator, my need for a Saviour, and you will likely find an open a heart.
4. Start with common ground.
Jesus had almost nothing in common with a promiscuous Samaritan woman he met at a well, except being thirsty. So he made water his starting point (see John chapter 4).
Look for a common starting point from which to share the Gospel—such as the value of their spiritual search, overcoming stress, or discovering what it takes to be a good parent.
6. Show them the Jesus difference.
Ask yourself, “What change in me would my lost loved one be sure to notice and respect?” If they get a better child or parent or mate or sibling because you know Jesus, you will be speaking the Jesus message in their language!
7. Stay focused on Jesus.
Do not let yourself get detoured into discussing religion or beliefs or lifestyles. Jesus’ invitation is, “Follow Me” not follow his followers, follow his leaders, or follow his teachings. It’s all about JESUS!
Keep bringing the conversation back to Jesus, what he is like, what he offers, and, most of all, what he did on the cross for us! Always talk about the relationship. This is about a Person, not religion, rituals, or rules.
When you have sown the seed, let God make it grow. Talk to God about the one you love far more than you talk to the one you love about God.
Give your loved one enough space to have the dignity to choose Jesus on their own, without having to feel they have surrendered to you.
By God’s grace, one day you will experience what you have prayed for, and even wept for, the beautiful harvest of the one you love coming to Jesus Christ!
Ron Hutchcraft is an impassioned contemporary evangelist, speaker, author and radio host. As President of Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Ron and his team specialize in developing authentic, relevant and creative tools to, as Ron says, “Bring the lost to the Cross.”
© Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc., USA. This material may be used in uts entirety, with no adaptation, and for no commercial purposes. Used by permission.
You can learn more about Ron’s varied ministries and free resources here.