Helping Loved Ones Find Christ

A short Bible study with Scriptures and resources that help us share with unsaved loved ones. #BibleLoveNotes #BiteSizeBibleStudy #Biblestudy

Please read When Loved Ones Aren't Saved as an introduction to this Bible study. 

When we've experienced the forgiveness and salvation of our Lord, it's hard to know that some of our friends and family are not saved. 

What can we do? 

1. Believe what Scripture says about salvation. 

It's important that we never forget that Jesus is the only way of salvation and no one who rejects him will be saved. 

See Are there Many Ways to Heaven? and A Simple Misunderstanding

Sometimes people with unsaved loved ones try to convince themselves that God will make exceptions. This makes us less serious about sharing our faith and leads to greater self-deception.

2. Pray! 

Colossians 4:2: Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 

Even if our loved ones don't want to hear about our faith, we can pray for them. Read the parable in Luke 18:1-8 about persevering in prayer. 

3. Share the gospel whenever God gives opportunity.

Ephesians 5:15-16: Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

Sometimes we think we need to push our faith on others, sharing everything at one time and expecting them to immediately repent and turn to Christ. While this can happen, it's rare. Coming to the Lord is usually a process. 

So we can add a little "salt" to our conversations, offering to pray for our loved ones' problems, sharing how God is working in our lives, speaking about things we're learning in Scripture. 

Colossians 4:6: Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. 

It's best to avoid arguments and be patient. Self-righteous attitudes push people away from Christ, not toward Him.

A short Bible study with Scriptures and resources that help us share with unsaved loved ones. #BibleLoveNotes #BiteSizeBibleStudy #Biblestudy
2 Timothy 2:24-26: A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. 25 Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. 26 Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants. 

For more about natural ways to share Christ with our loved ones, see: 
4 Natural Ways to Share Christ 
Name Droppers 
Pause and Listen 
Jesus Asked Questions 

4. Trust God's love. 

God loves our friends and family more than we do, and He will give them every possible chance to follow Him into eternity. 

1 Timothy 2:1-4: I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.

5. Draw closer to God. 

God will give us wisdom, comfort, and peace no matter what happens. We need to take our fears and doubts to Him.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

6. Put Jesus first. 

We can't let disappointments affect our love for God. We don't understand all that God allows, but we can trust His perfect wisdom and love.

Proverbs 3:5: Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

We should never blame God or pull away from Him if our loved ones continue to ignore His offer of salvation.  

Matthew 10:37: If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. 

copyright 2019, Gail Burton Purath, BiteSizeBibleStudy 

Bite Size Bible Study

14 comments:

  1. Please pray for my dad who is not a Christian .My mom passed away December 2 of this year. Dad’s health is not good and he talks about going to be with mom. We have tried to talk to him about the Lord before and he just gets angry. Please pray for him. Also would you please pray for the salvation of my three grandchildren ages 26 22 and 19. Thank you

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    1. I join you in this prayer for the salvation of your father and three grandchildren. May they find the truth that sets them free.

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  2. Please pray for my unsaved husband. It seems his heart gets harder and harder as the years go on.

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    1. Michelle, I join you in this prayer for your husband. May he see the truth and join you in your faith.

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  3. May I too, ask for prayer? Our whole family is a mess.
    I’ve cut off all my friends due to the humiliation.
    We have an adult son who has denounced God living at home and it is a complete stress. Please pray.

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    1. Yes, Marti, I join you in prayer for your family, especially your son, and I ask the you would feel God's comfort, guidance, and strength. In Jesus Name.

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  4. Please pray for mine also. Same issue.

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    1. I lift up your family in Jesus' Name and ask that each member would know the only truth that can set them free.

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  5. Thank you from the depths of my heart

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  6. lord for all these above comments that have lost loved ones oh God please please deliver them from the lies of the evil one who comes to kill steal and destroy! God please surround them all with much Godly influence where according to your perfect will they all can gloriously be saved and how awesome it would be to hear those awesome salvation reports and when all is said and done multiply all of our Joy Peace Contentment and Happiness times billions! We give you all the praise glory and honor that you so richly deserve! In Jesus Name amen!

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  7. I too, join me in prayer for my friend to know Jesus and receive salvation.

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    1. May the Lord be with you.

      CoVid-19 has caused the world to go crazy! My situation involves my 46 year old daughter who just completed her doctorates in Education with a 4.0 GPA and a 2-year Counseling Certification from the blood, sweat and tears of my editing each and every one of her assignments including her dissertation! Before the ink could dry on her diploma, she tells me that she is marrying a WOMAN and my son tells me that he will be attending it in Texas. They both know that I am Christian, and how this act of sexual immortality is biblically forbidden. I suffer alone in vain; as they see nothing wrong with what they are doing. Can you provide me with any comforting spiritual words of wisdom?

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    2. Dear Anne,
      I am so, so sorry about your children's choices. I am so sorry for your pain.

      I hear from so many people suffering just like you, struggling with rejection and even vengeful acts of children whom they raised in the Lord and loved very much.

      I don't think I can give you words that will take away the pain, but I encourage you to hold on even tighter to the Lord. He was rejected by His children and hated for no reason. He understands your pain.

      And I also understand your pain. One of my loved ones with whom I shared God's Word and sweet fellowship has now cut off relationship with me because she claims to be homosexual. When she told me, I told her that I still loved her, but she no longer loves me.

      Press into the Lord, dear Anne.

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