There’s an old saying about the three steps of evangelism: Prayer, Care, Share. That’s the perfect way to proclaim Christ to someone who’s hostile to Christianity.
First, PRAY for your friend. Only the Spirit can open his or her heart to see their desperate need for Jesus. No arguments, invitations, or strategies will work until the Spirit brings life to a spiritually dead soul.
Second, show your friend you CARE. Find tangible, appropriate ways to demonstrate your love and concern for your friend. The most basic (and often most powerful) way to do this is to ask them significant questions about their life, and take the time to actively listen. Everybody’s looking for a friend who will listen.
Third, find the right time to SHARE the gospel with your friend. The right time is different for each person, but it will probably come sooner than you might think.
Last year, someone in our church was telling me about how she shared Jesus with her atheist co-worker. She let the people in her office know she was a Christian, and one guy in her office always made fun of her about it. He teased her regularly for her faith in Jesus.So she just kept living her life as an unashamed Christian. Then the pandemic hit. And everyone at work started going a little bit crazy. Guess what this guy said to her on Zoom a few weeks into lockdown? “You’ve been so calm and peaceful through this thing. I’m a wreck. I want to know more about your faith in Jesus.” Amazing!
Her strategy was simply 1 Peter 3:15: “Regard Christ the Lord as holy, and be ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.” Just live your life as if Jesus Christ is in charge of your life. Don’t try to hide it. When people ask what you’re doing this weekend, tell them you’re going to church to enjoy the worship and fellowship. They might think that’s a little weird. But if you keep eventually, something will happen that will make them see how different you are, and they’ll ask you, “What is it? I want it!”
Then you need to be ready to explain the difference Jesus has made in your life through his death on the cross, resurrection from the grave, and loving reign over your life. And boldly invite your friend to receive the grace of Jesus by repenting of their sins and putting their trust in Jesus to be their savior and king.