5 Tips on Having Courageous Conversations About Jesus

By Live Salted Contributor

My experience following Jesus has not been one where I’ve constantly been surrounded by like-minded people or believers who encourage me in my faith. In fact, it is quite the opposite. I have a few friends who are Christian, but most of my friends aren’t sure what they believe, and some are actively against religion.

When God moves in my life—when there is an answer to prayer, a significant God moment, or incredible peace in His presence, I want to share those things too. But it’s hard to share without feeling like I am pushing my religion on others, or like I am trying to convert them. I don’t ever want someone to feel uncomfortable or cornered; I just want to share my experience. If this sounds familiar at all, or if you want to collect some tips on how to talk to non-believers about your faith—read on!

5 Tips on Having Courageous Conversations About Jesus

1) Be Brave in Conversation

If someone asks you “how are you?” or “what’s your highlight this week?” don’t be afraid to mention how the Lord is working in your life. If the honest answer is that you had an answer to prayer, share it. If you’ve had a tough few months because you lost touch with the Lord and haven’t felt his presence in a while, say that too. We don’t have to be afraid to mention the Lord in conversations with people who aren’t Christian.

I still struggle with answering honestly all of the time, but I am working on sharing more confidently about what’s happening. Here are some ways you could talk about your values without feeling like you’re pushing an agenda.

Tell them what’s on your mind: when people ask me for podcast recommendations I tell them about a sermon series I’ve listened to on my commute to work. You’d be so surprised at how mentioning the Lord can reroute the initial conversation in a beautiful way.

Ask questions: if you’re feeling brave and want to be the one to start the conversation, try by asking an existential question like “what do you think happens when we die?” or “do you believe in a greater power?” This can kick start a deeper dialogue and can make it much easier to mention your faith.

Integrate Jesus in small ways: normalizing your relationship with Christ to those who don’t believe can be tough, but take it step-by-step. Start with small conversational opportunities to mention what God has been up to in your life.Keep in mind that every conversation about the Lord doesn’t have to be your testimony or life struggle. You can keep it light if it feels right for the situation.

2) Be Sensitive + Respectful

People have said to me, “that’s dumb, why do you believe that?” and “how could you actually believe in something like that?” Those things hurt to hear. Knowing how it feels to have my beliefs dismissed, it’s important to me that I never hurt anyone for their unbelief. Here are some tips on being sensitive in conversation.

Ask questions first. Without asking, we never know someone else’s history with the church or with religion, and it’s not fair to make assumptions about their experiences**.**

Use “I statements. Use “I” statements in conversation ensures that I don’t inadvertently pressure the other person into believing what I do. Conversing this way has been a fantastic gateway to building authentic conversations about my beliefs. For example, “I believe in the grace of God, and that is why I’m going to forgive her.” Phrasing it this way allows the person I’m talking to the freedom to reply however they wish. By not imposing my beliefs on them, I make it easier for them to hear what I have to say.

Approach conversations with the other person’s heart in mind. You would never want to turn someone off from a conversation about the Lord because they’re feeling judged or forced into something.

3) Listen

In today’s society, it often feels like everyone is waiting for someone to finish talking so they can get their two cents in. This is not a conversation.

We need to bring back the art of listening. Clear your mind and be present in the moment. ****We want to listen to what people say, engaging with their thoughts to deepen our understanding of who they are. Be mindful of talking at them, rather than listening to how they’re processing what you’re saying.

Take time during these conversations to be silent. Let your words wash over your friend and allow them space to process and ask questions of you. You may not have an answer, but by giving them space to think about what they’re hearing, you might reach them. Silently listen to their concerns, questions, and misconceptions. Listen to their criticisms. Stay actively engaged in their words and prepare meaningful responses that show you’ve been listening. Let the Lord give you the words to use in reply. These are the moments that God can show himself to others through your words and actions.

4) Be Inviting + Encouraging

There will be conversations where you will mention your faith or how God is working in your life and people will move right past it. That’s OK! But when you get the opportunity to share your faith a bit more with someone, go for it! We are called to share the Good News. We are called to bring people into the Kingdom. Invite and encourage your friends to come with you to church, join a Bible study, or read the Bible with you. Invite them into your relationship with God. Show them what life is like with Him. Just as we are more likely to try a restaurant or café if a friend recommends it, someone is more likely to dip their toe into the Gospel if it is encouraged by someone they know.

Talking about the Lord to someone new if you aren’t used to it can seem daunting, but you CAN DO THIS!! We challenge all of you to bring up the Lord in conversation with one non-believer this week and see what happens.

If you want to share your conversation, please email us at livesalted@gmail.com. We’d love to hear about it!

5) Memorize Encouraging Verses to Share

These are some of my favorite Kingdom-building verses.

“Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in Heaven.”  Matthew 5:16

“Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20

“Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20

Words of Encouragement as You Go

Talking about Jesus to people who don’t believe in Him can be scary! We hope these 5 tips help you bring Jesus more naturally into conversation with those around you.