How to Witness to Close Friends and Family

As believers, we are all called to share our faith with others as witnesses of the Gospel. Christ has changed our lives, and we desire to see others experience that beautiful relationship as well! But sometimes, it feels easier to witness to strangers than to those close to us.

Why is that? The fear of rejection from those close to you can be a harder pill to swallow. We are worried we will strain our relationships with friends and family because of the beliefs that have become so dear to our lives.

That’s why I’d like to share with you some helpful tips on how to witness to close friends and family. Are you ready? Let’s dive in!

Wear Your Faith on Your Sleeve.

You don’t have to sit down with your close friend or loved one and have a forced conversation about Jesus. Sometimes, taking a less intense approach can be more impactful. Wearing your faith on your sleeve and letting the joy of Christ radiate off of you can make all the difference.

In this way, your friend or loved one will see how positively your faith is affecting your life. Seeing you living such a happy and peaceful life will inspire them to naturally want to know more about it and open up exciting opportunities for conversations about faith.

The Bible even speaks to this. Matthew 5:16 reads

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. " — Matthew 5:16

Be a Good Listener

Sometimes, we are so eager to share our faith and everything that Jesus has done in our lives that we can forget how important it is to listen as well. Conversations and relationships are a two-way street! For them to be truly impactful, we have to listen just as much, if not more, than we talk. The Bible warns us about the tendency to over-speak and under-listen. Proverbs 18:13 says,

"To answer before listening—that is folly and shame.” — Proverbs 18:13

When we don’t give the other person the opportunity to voice their thoughts, feelings, and questions, they don’t feel cared for or invested in. Those feelings will quickly turn off their ears to anything we have to say.

Live Out Your Faith

Always remember that people will be much more impacted by what you do rather than what you say. You can preach the Gospel all day every day, but if you aren’t living out your faith, no one is going to be interested in what you have to say. Interest in talking to you about spiritual things will more likely come from seeing you living out your faith, how it affects your life, and how it changes the world around you. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says,

"We live by believing and not by seeing. — 2 Cor 5:7 NIRV

We have to live by our beliefs, plain and simple. That’s where our true power as witnesses of the Gospel lies. Jesus lived to serve others, and He calls us to do the same. Serve your close friends and loved ones with the love of Christ and watch how it changes their outlook on faith.

Be Patient

When we are on fire for our faith and eager to share it, we often want to see instant results. This is natural and shows the desire we have to live out Jesus’ calling to share God’s Word with the world. But sadly, it often doesn’t work out that way. Most of the time, sharing our faith with others happens gradually and over a period of time. People need time to process what we share with them to understand how it’s going to affect their life.

Preparing what we are going to say can be a huge help. The Bible encourages us in this! 1 Peter 3:15 says,

"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

Knowing what we are going to say and being patient in finding the right time to do so is our key to success

Conclusion

Witnessing to family and close friends is hard, but it’s worth every bit of time and effort we put into it. Your friends and loved ones are precious to God and He desires for them to find salvation in Christ.

He wants to use you as a catalyst to making that happen, and I pray these tips for witnessing close friends and family help you in that calling.