How Do I Talk To My Friends About Jesus?

In an episode of Real Truth. Real Quick., Rick Smith and Todd Wagner tackled one of the most common questions Christians face: How do I talk to my friends about Jesus?

Start with Love, Not Weirdness

“Don’t be weird,” was Todd’s very first piece of advice. “Let’s share joyfully, authentically, and out of love. This is how you do it.”

Todd went on to emphasize the importance of treating friends as friends—not projects to be completed or people to be pressured.

“You love them. You’re not going to be more loved by God if you convert them,” he said. “In fact, I never have this conversation with someone like I’m trying to convert them—because I’m not. God is the one who brings about transformation.”

It’s Not You, It’s the Holy Spirit

Todd pointed to John 16:8, which says:

“He will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment.”

He explained that it’s the Holy Spirit’s job to convict and change hearts. Believers are simply called to participate in what the Spirit is already doing—by loving well and living in a way that sparks curiosity.

“What I’m going to do is love them and live before them in such a way that they would be curious,” Todd said.

Relational Evangelism

This approach is known as relational evangelism—building real friendships and sharing the Gospel naturally through those relationships.

“People I engage with in life, at some point in our friendship, I want them to know about the things I’m most passionate about. If I’m a friend, and I have something that’s a blessing to me, I’m going to share it with you,” Todd said. “Friends share blessings with one another.”

It’s Less Awkward Than You Think

Rick added that in his own experience, conversations about faith were almost always more natural than he expected.

“I find a lot of times, in our own minds, we make it seem more awkward than it really is,” he said. “Most of the time, when I engage with someone, it ends up being better than I thought it would be. They were glad that someone, in the middle of talking about the Mavericks or the Cowboys, took a moment to ask them something deeper.”

Share the Good News

“Because people want good news,” Todd said. “As followers of Christ, we shouldn’t forsake gathering with other believers, but we should also be developing authentic relationships with those far from God—and love them joyfully. Share with them what matters most to you.”