Sharing your faith with Family and Friends Part 3

When thinking about sharing our faith with family and friends, the one mistake that I think we ALL make at one time or another is just trying to share before we invest.  I liken it to taking money out of your bank account before you deposit any in.  I am learning that investing into someone's life will really make a BIG Difference.  Allow me to explain.

I am building a friendship with a young man in our community.  He doesn't believe in God and really doesn't care for the church or organized religion.  SO, I have spent the majority of our conversations directed at him.  Learning what he likes and doesn't like.  I'm finding out about what he really wants to do with his life and what his view points are in life.  I'll report later how it is going, but one young man accepted Christ this past week and I took the same approach for over four months.  

Who are you investing in?  People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.  The mistake we make many times is trying to lead someone to Christ before caring about them personally.  Try it, I think you will find it will make ALL the difference in the world.

Sharing your faith with Family and Friends Part 2

I started a series of post this week on how to share what you believe with your friends and family.  Check out Part 1 here.

Influencing someone that is a good friend of yours is part of friendship.  Let me give you an example.  Today I received a phone call from an acquaintance.  They asked if they could meet with me to share a new opportunity that might bring in extra income.  I wasn't the bit interested because this call came from someone that is not a close friend.  

Now, on the other hand, if the call had been from a good friend then I would give them the time and day.  Think about it, if you want to share your faith then you will have to build a relationship with someone that is outside the faith so they will trust you.  When someone trusts you then you are on the road to influencing them.  Acceptance paves the way to influence --Andy Stanley

Sharing your Faith with Family and Friends Part 1

Yesterday I preached a hard core message on how we need to keep people that are far from God at the forefront of what we do.  Our job as a church is to build believers and serve seekers.  At the end of the message a friend of mine accepted Christ.  So I thought I would share some principles on sharing your faith with family and friends.

First if you don't have a faith in Christ, then it will be difficult to pass on something you don't have.  I believe there are a tone of "christians" that don't really have a faith in Christ.  Have you accepted Jesus Christ????  That is first and foremost.

You and I have to accept people as they are.  Don't try to change them but let God do the changing through whatever avenues He chooses.  Our jobs is to sow the seeds and water them and then step back and allow God to do the Chhhhhhaaaaannnnggggggiiiiinnnnnnngggggggggggg!!!!

As we accept people as they are, then we will have an opportunity to influence them to their core.  That is what we will talk about tomorrow.

Update on Todd

Sunday evening Todd passed away.  This is a very tough time for the wife and kids.  Todd was only 42 years old and he has not health problems to speak of.  I need your prayers because there is so much at stake with friends and family that need Jesus and need answers about eternity.  Pray that God will give me and several others from LifeQuest opportunties to share our faith.

Pray for the family because all of this came on all of a sudden.  Right now everyone is in shock.  Funeral arrangements are being made and we are going to do everything we can to help this family.