Why can family evangelism be difficult? Why don’t those we love most want to know what is on our heart? It may help to remember that this was true even for Jesus. His neighbors and even his family balked at the idea of him being a special man of God. Your family and those close to you may say the same sort of things about you, especially if they are older than you are. So how do you share the gospel with them?

Andrew is one example. Andrew got to know Jesus and the first thing he did was go to get his brother Simon. Notice that Andrew does not have complicated reasoning or techniques. He simply tells what he knows. "We have found the Messiah." The rest was up to Jesus and to Peter. From several texts of Scripture we know that it took time for Simon the fisherman to become Peter the fisher-of-men. It may be the same for your family. It may take a while for the gospel to reach their hearts. Don’t be discouraged. Continue to share Jesus as you have opportunity. And pray. Remember that it is God’s job to change hearts. Don’t fret—pray!

Sometimes sharing our faith with those close to us does not go smoothly. Nathaniel was not Philip’s brother, but they were obviously close. Philip is very excited and he shares with Nathaniel his excitement about Jesus—he is the Messiah we have been waiting for. But Nathaniel is not receptive. He says some cutting things. He implies that Philip must be foolish to want to follow Jesus of Nazareth.

I can hear the disdain in Nathaniel’s voice as he responds to his excited friend. "Nazareth? Nothing good comes from Nazareth! A carpenter’s son? What is wrong with you? I have been studying God’s Word and following the real experts. Don’t tell me about a carpenter from Nazareth. Really, Philip, I’m disappointed in you." Nathaniel’s response is against Jesus, but it is against Philip too.

Have people talked that way to you when you told them about Jesus? "What are you, some kind of fundamentalist, religious nut (read: ignorant uneducated bumpkin)? How dare you presume to talk to me about spiritual and religious things? Why aren’t you asking me for the correct way to look at things, since I have studied the trendiest thinkers? Religion is just a crutch and you must be an emotional cripple."

People will have all sorts of reactions when you tell them about Jesus. Sometimes they are negative, patronizing and even mean. When that is the reaction of a family member or close friend, it hurts. What do you do? Well, you hurt. Sometimes we defend ourselves.

"I’ll show him that I am not an ignorant bumpkin or a simple child. I will answer those objections. I will find scholars to cite. I will show that I am not emotionally unbalanced." And you go to prove him wrong. But this is not sharing Jesus as much as defending our own hurt. Will this bring them to the Savior? Answering honest questions may, but trying to combat their defense mechanisms (and here their best defense is a good offense) is not what they need. They need to actually meet Jesus.

Look at Philip’s response to Nathaniel. "Come and see." No defense. No answer to the charge that he was foolish for following a nobody from nowhere. He simply invited Nathaniel to meet Jesus. And that is what we should do as well. Philip knew that he found something special in Jesus. How did Philip answer Nathaniel? He pointed to Jesus.

Of course Nathaniel could have continue to scoff. He could have refused to meet with this carpenter’s son from Nazareth. People are like that. If they will not look at Jesus, they will not know who Jesus is. As long as they don’t know who Jesus is, they will not be born again. But they may see Jesus in you. Often, that is what they need whether they admit it or not. So keep pointing to Jesus as the opportunity arises and pray.

So often we are so concerned that our loved ones know the Lord that we act a little desperate. Don’t be impatient. God is in charge. Don’t be anxious. God is in charge. Have faith in God and pray for their salvation. I have seen the faithful prayers of a father bring back the prodigal son. I have seen the prayers of the son turn the heart of the father to the Lord. Sometimes it takes a long time. Be patient and trust in God. When they truly see Jesus, they will be changed.

One of the places that they will find Jesus is in you. As we spend more time with Jesus, he will be evident in us. The other matters of knowing what to say, focusing on Jesus rather than on our image, whatever is needful—will fall into place. We need to say, "I have met Jesus and he has changed me. Come with me to Jesus." Have you met Jesus? Has he changed you? Is he still changing you? Show that to others and Jesus’ light will shine through you so others can know him and be changed.