i was wondering if someone could help me with a question

um, i'd advice taking him to events where the Reverend explains what is Christianity and how it relates to us. I took my friends to one that was designed for my age specifically (with a drama involved too), and they gradually became interested in coming to fellowship. or you can invite him to fellowship first (mostly people do it this way), start from the day when you guys have games or outings, then see whether he'll be interested in attending for other topics.

how to share faith? that's probably the hardest bit, some people listen and keep refusing to believe (i mean, look at the meaning behind it), but it won't hurt to try i suppose. Best to start with how God has changed your life.

well pray, and ask God to show him first off.
one very powerful witness is our own lives. when people see power and truth in us, and respect us, then they begin to respect our beleifs.
you teach what you know.
but you impart what you are.
youll never preach a greater sermon than your own life in the eyes of your congregation.
i have found that when men have begun to love me, and respect me, and trust me, then that is when they begin to open themselves to what i beleive.
i do not beleive it is the will of god for his church to think that you have to, or need to bring the unsaved to your church to hear your pastor, in order to get them saved. we should have that power within ourselves, and be able to bring them to god ourselves, i beleive that only then will the church of god be multiplied. people arent getting saved as much as need be, becuase so few can get them saved, and people have to bring the sinners to their pastor or to someone to get them saved.
i think the church should be sending people out to the world much more than asking the world to come to church.
why do we do that? is it becuase we dont know how to get them saved, and that we need our pastor to doit? i hope not.
i am not agaisnt sinners coming to church and being saved, but i think there should be no less salvation outside the church doors than inside it.
we should be able to go into our work places and societies and save people ourself, and not have to bring them to our pastors.
it is wrong, when people cannot be saved unless they come to your church and hear your pastor.
your pastor should equip you, so that you can go and preach to people outside the church and get them saved out there.

pastors and most youth pastors tell their people "bring the unsaved, bring the unsaved, and then they'll get saved if they hear me preach"
and yes that does work, but they are not teaching their people how to save sinners by themselves, if they did, then we would not have to get them all into the church.
one key to being effective in saving sinners, is that you better know how to doit all by yourself, outside of your church.

Always talk to God about man before talking to man about God. And remember- They will know we are Christians by our love.
In Christ: Patrick

Does he read? There are a lot of good books about the faith.

Anne Graham Lotz books are excellent for helping people who are unfamiliar with the faith!

Show him the love of Christ. Be a great friend. Serve him.

When he sees Christ in you, he will want that same relationship with God that you have. It goes back to that old saying "they don't care how much you know until they know how much you care"

Pray for wisdom friend.
Peace

hey Alenci,

so you've never been to fellowship before? it's really good to get support and sharing from people of your own age.

I am having the same dilema brother. I have a friend who thinks he can gain his way to heaven his way, I'm not totally sure by what he means though. Different I guess.

Do you have a youth group?

If yes then try to organise activities I dont know what sort of attractions you have near you. But organise days out and bring them along they will start becoming freinds with other members of the group and make chistian friends. Once this has happened it is usually easier as a group to bring them to christ

I always find that just dragging someone along to church is not usually going to work most peeps do tend to be board you just gotta find a way of making christianity fun for them

If not then maybe you should have a word with your pastor about setting up a youth department or linking up with other churches that may have.

Dave put it well...live what you believe and he may see that you have something. Be constantly in prayer, because it is an awesome responsibility to live a Christ-like life. Just remember that you aren't perfect, just forgiven.

I also agree that you should involve your friend in youth-oriented Christian teachings. Try youth group activities, contemporary services, and Christian concerts.

He is lucky to have a friend like you.

See, that's the thing. I'm a friend of Alenci's (real-life) so I can explain a bit of what she meant in previous posts.

It's not that we haven't been to youth groups. We have.

She just doesn't like youth groups. Well, not youth groups per se, but they're usually way too contemporary. Too loud, too aimed at teenagers. We're teenagers, but it doesn't mean she likes things aimed at 'em.

i still remember how i got saved vividly it took many people witnessing to me over about 4 or so years (i was realy stubborn) but i don't think that taking him to church is bad unless you seem bored too but when i got saved my now best friend invited me to church and i was bored and sorta freaked out at some of the stuff but he was realy into it and it got me to thinking maybe there is something to this God thing and it got me asking questions ........ and you get the idea also remember the word of the lord does not return in void and as others have pointed out pray alot i know i had many people praying for me when i was getting saved and up untill recently i didn't realize the full power of prayer but it is a powerfull weapon use it and good luck

Originally posted by Alenci
lambslove: i had never heard of those books before. thanks for telling me, it may be useful now or sometime in the future

Click to expand...

While you're taking book recommendations, if you're friend's interested have them check out Finding Faith by Brian McLaren.... I havn't read this, but I've read 2 or 3 others by him, and he's very good at cutting through the "Christianese". Incidentally, he also has a great little book called More Ready Than You Realize on evangelism and "Spiritual friendships".....

DaveKerwin: i really try to act like a Christian (we all ought to all the time anyway!) but sometimes i still get in disagreements and such. but i try to always apologize afterwards, and i often volunteer to help him with his homework. i think that reflecting God in our lives really IS the best way to bring people to Christ...

Click to expand...

Amen :-D

Also, don't put a timetable on this or anything.... God is working even when we don't think He is. Just take what comes your way

-Elias