This is exciting! God has placed on your heart the desire to share the gift of salvation with your friend. There is no one better to do this than you and we think Growing as a Christian 101 by Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz is a book that you've just got to read. It's fun and enjoyable reading, but more importantly it will help give you the confidence you may need to share your faith.

"Here are Six Steps to knowing God that you can share when the time is right:

• Step 1 – God loves you and wants to have a relationship with you (John 3:16).
• Step 2 – You will never satisfy God's perfect standards (Romans 3:23).
• Step 3 – Jesus did something you could never do: He died for your sins (Romans 5:8).
• Step 4 – The only way to God is through Jesus (John 14:6).
• Step 5 – Jesus is knocking at the door of your heart (Revelation 3:20).
• Step 6 – You need to personally receive Jesus Christ into your life (Romans 10:9)."
  
  Taken from: Bruce & Stan's Guide to Sharing Your Faith / Copyright © 2000 by Bruce Bickel & Stan Jantz, Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR. / Used by Permission.

More encouragement to go ahead and send that invitation – Romans 10:14-15 "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!"  

Verses You Can Use

Look for verses that you think will most relate to your friend's current needs or circumstances. A Bible concordance will help you in this process, as well as a topical Bible. We recommend the Premier Reference Series Zondervan NIV Exhaustive Concordance by Goodrick & Kohlenberger and the Zondervan NIV Nave's Topical Bible by John Kohlenberger. If you prefer, you can link here to an online Bible to research the scripture verses you would like to use. Please do your best to keep your email message conversational, simple and as brief as possible. Your goal is to show God's love and that you sincerely care. Don't preach. Don't condemn. Do love.

• John 3:16-17 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."

• Ephesians 2:8-9 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast."

• Romans 3:23 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"

• Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us"

• John 14:6 "Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

• Revelation 3:20 "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."

• Romans 10:9-13 "That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame. For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile – the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

• 1 Timothy 1:15-16 "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life."

• John 12:44-47 "Then Jesus cried out, "When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it."

• Luke 19:9-10 "Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

• Acts 4:8-12 "Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is 'the stone you builders rejected', which has become the capstone. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

• Hebrews 9:24-28 "For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him."

• Mark 16:15-16 "He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned"

Sample Evangelism emails to Jump-Start Your Thinking

• Hey Bob,
  
  How's it going? Great, I hope. Whether you realize it or not, you have been an important friend of mine for a number of years. I really value our friendship and that's why I wanted to share with you something that's been on my mind for a long time. This may come as a surprise, but I want to tell you about how God has given me a true sense of inner peace, a sense of purpose and direction. He has completely removed years of guilt and over time, I've developed a relationship with Christ that is simply amazing! Hey, I know this may not be an easy read, but it would mean a lot too me if we could talk more about how God can do the same thing for you. What do you think? Lets keep up this discussion by email or better yet, let's meet at Starbucks this Saturday at noon.

• Denise,
  
  It's been a while since we have spoken and I do hope all is well with you. Each time I think of you, I start smiling about the times we use to spend together with the old gang. I wonder where everyone is today and what their doing? As far as my life, I want you to know that something has definitely changed. It's just amazing and can you imagine, I am in love! No kidding! It may sound corny, but I'm in love with Christ. Okay, pick yourself up from the floor. I know, I'm the last person you would ever expect to say anything like that, but it's real and my relationship with Jesus Christ has given me a peace of mind like I never had back in the old days. You have always been a special friend and I really would like to see you, so I can tell you more about the new love of my life. Lets meet at Barnes & Noble's this Saturday, say at 9:30 AM.

• Bill,
  
  What'd you think about the game the other day? Can you believe those Atlanta Braves, what a team! I get so excited every time I watch them play. Hey, let me throw you a curve ball. You know, we haven't spoken about church in a long time. I remembered you saying something about trying out a church in your neighborhood and you didn't have a good experience. Please don't let your disappointment in a local church stop you from pursuing the interest you had in learning more about God. He does love you and He wants you to have a relationship with Him. Believe it or not, knowing Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior is much more exciting than clubhouse level season tickets to the Braves! Lets talk more about this over breakfast at McDonald's, so I'll see there this Saturday morning at 10:00.

Ask God to give you the words to use when writing to your friend. He does answer prayer and don't worry about whether or not you have chosen the perfect thing to say or scripture to share. Allow yourself to be used by God to show His unconditional love. Just start sharing with your friend about what Christ has done in your life, what He means to you and what He can do for them; then let God's Holy Spirit take over. Remember, Ephesians 2:8-9 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast."

If Your Friend Accepts the Lord...What's Next?

Encourage your friend to read the Bible on a regular basis. There are a number of modern translations available that contain study helps. Help them find a translation that they can easily understand. Don't be legalistic about telling a new believer that they must read the Bible on a daily basis, rather let them know that studying God's Word as often as they can will help keep their excitement for Him alive in their heart and they will grow closer to Him by doing so. You might want to recommend that they read Bruce and Stan's Guide to the Bible by Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz. If possible, start a Bible study with your friend by email, phone or in person.

Ask your friend to think of God as someone who wants to speak with them on a daily basis. Talking with God is a Christian's way of praying to Him. Prayer is an important part of a new Christian's life and these conversations will help strengthen their relationship with the Lord.

Help your friend locate a Bible-based church in their area that desires to lead them into a growing relationship with Jesus. They will need the encouragement that can only be found from being with fellow believers. Go to church with your friend as often as you can.

Don't be surprised when your friend wants to tell others about the new life they have just found in Christ. God wants your friend to spread the good news of salvation and of the life changing love, forgiveness and hope that can only be found by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Books We Like

• The Holy Bible by God
• The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer
• A Light for My Path by Dr. Ken Boa
• The Daily Walk Bible by Walk Thru the Bible Ministries
• 20 Compelling Evidences that God Exists by Dr. Ken Boa
• Conformed to His Image by Dr. Ken Boa
• Faith Has Its Reasons by Dr. Ken Boa
• I'm Glad You Asked by Dr. Ken Boa
• Intimacy With the Almighty by Charles Swindoll
• Who I Am In Christ by Neil T. Anderson
• Growing as a Christian 101 by Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz
• How to Give Away Your Faith by Paul Little
• When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties by Norman L. Geisler
• Know What You Believe by Paul Little
• How to Share Your Faith by Greg Laurie
• Witnessing Without Fear by Bill Bright
• The Master Plan of Discipleship by Robert E. Coleman
• Lifestyle Evangelism by Joe Aldrich
• Out of the Salt Shaker & Into the World by Rebecca Manley Pippert
• Talking Truth Next Door by David Faust
• Finding Common Ground by Tim Downs
• Nothing But the Truth by John McArthur
• Disappointment With God by Philip Yancey
• He Still Moves Stones by Max Lucado
• Jesus Freaks by dc Talk and The Voice of the Martyrs
• Grace Walk by Steve McVey
• Bruce & Stan's Guide to How it All Began by Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz
• Bruce & Stan's Guide to God by Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz
• The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel
• Evidence That Demands A Verdict by Josh McDowell
• Jesus Among Other Gods by Ravi Zacharias
• Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics by Norman L. Geisler
• Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words by W. Vine
• Like A Rock by Andy Stanley
• Ambushed by God by Kelly Talamo
• Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala
• The Sacred Romance, Drawing Closer to the Heart of God by Brent Curtis & John Eldredge
• Wild at Heart by John Eldredge
• The Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert E. Coleman
• About My Father's Business by Regi Campbell
• I Am With You Always by Chip Ingram
• God As He Longs to See You by Chip Ingram
• Holy Ambition by Chip Ingram
• The Life You've Always Wanted by John Ortberg
• Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
• My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers

DVDs, Tapes & CDs That Will Make Your Ears Perk Up –