Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 4/26/2004

Question
I am 16 years old and I love and believe in Jesus, but I have a very good friend who does not believe in Jesus or God. How can I help him find God and accept Jesus?

Answer
Hi Brandon,

Thanks for this great question.  

There are a few things that I would recommend.

1.  Demonstrate Christ in your life.

Matthew 5:16
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

2.  Love your friend.

Matthew 9:36-38
36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.  37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

3.  Ask for Holy Spirit power to witness.

Acts 1:8
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.  
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Luke 11:11-13
11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? 12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?  13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

4.  Share the truth every chance you can.

2 Corinthians 5:11
11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

5.  Reach him where he is.

1 Corinthians 9:18-22
18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. 20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. 22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

I hope that I have helped you.  I also believe that you should get him to your church...perhaps a youth group, or function.  Show him that Jesus is real in your life, then he may believe that Jesus could be real in his life.

I hope that I have helped you.

In Christ,
Pastor Don