Pray for them
(2 Cor 4:4 NIV) 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, who is the image of God.
Matthew 13:19 (NIV) When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
Our friends and relatives, who are not believers, have been prevented from seeing the truth by the devil that has blinded them. We therefore need to pray that the deception over their lives be removed and that they will see the truth.
Acts 26:18 (NIV) to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
“Preach” through your lifestyle
(Mat 5:14-16 NIV) “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. {15} Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. {16} In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Through your lifestyle, others will be curious and want to know why you are different. Don’t stop there. Tell them about Jesus.
It is not enough to stop at good deeds if we do not have the boldness to tell them directly the way to God. Some people find this intrusive but there is really no other way. We need to present the message of salvation, although we need to do it tactfully.
(Rom 10:14 NIV) How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
Meet felt needs
(Acts 2:44-47 NIV) All the believers were together and had everything in common. {45} Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. {46} Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, {47} praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Even people who are resistant to the gospel will drop their hostility if Christians are kind to them. The early Christians gained favor among the people through kind acts and unselfish sharing.
Let’s have enough faith to use miracles to meet the felt needs of people. When someone shares with you his problem, besides helping out in tangible ways, let’s tell them that we will pray for them for a miracle to come true and for God to intervene in their situation.
Answer their questions about God
(1 Pet 3:15 NIV) 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,
Opportunities may arise for us to tell our friends and relatives about Jesus through their questions. When your friends know that you are a Christian, they may ask your views on certain issues in life. Or they may be suffering and want to know more about God. All these present us with opportunities to tell them about Jesus through our answers to their questions.
Share our testimonies
(Mark 5:19 NIV) Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”
There are many people who will not respond well to a challenge or an argument but will be touched when they hear of how God is working in your life.
A person who used this approach effectively is Joni Erickson Tada, a quadriplegic woman whose account of how God helped her through her tragic accident points people towards Jesus.