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February 3, 2023

Before you start marinating those chicken wings and prepping that queso dip, here’s something for you to simmer on. The Big Game is a great opportunity to connect with friends who may not have a church home and talk about your faith in Jesus.

If talking to your friends about your faith sounds as easy as making it to the end zone in only one play, you’re not alone. It’s not always easy to start conversations about faith, but we want to equip you with three simple ways to do that. Before you know it, you’ll have a game plan ready to go!

1. Invite your friends to church. (Colossians 4:2–6)

Invite your friends to a weekend service, and consider grabbing lunch or coffee afterward to continue the conversation. In a 2021 Lifeway Research survey, two out of three people said they are open to having conversations about Christianity with a friend. Your friends might be more interested in learning about Jesus than you think, and your invitation to church could be the start of their journey to knowing Him and finding a church home.

2. Share your testimony. (1 Peter 3:15)

Share how God has worked in your life, and don’t be afraid to be real. When others hear how God has healed you, brought you freedom, and filled you with hope, it will fill them with hope too. If you feel like you might fumble your delivery, check out our Equip classes on sharing your testimony, including Go & Tell: Evangelism for Everyone. No matter how big or small you feel your testimony is, God can use it to change your friends’ lives!

3. Pray for your friends. (James 5:13–16)

A simple prayer can bring big encouragement. Ask your friends how you can pray for them right now. The Bible encourages us to pray in every situation. Praying with your friends lets them know how much you care for them and opens the door for them to discover how much Jesus loves them. Don’t stress about praying a perfect prayer; just pray from your heart. As Christians, we can trust the Holy Spirit will help us when we pray (Romans 8:26). And if you’re interested in learning more about the power of prayer, take our Equip class Why Pray: Connecting with God.

Talking to your friends about Jesus doesn’t have to be scary; people are often more open to it than you think. When surveyed by Lifeway Research, about 700 out of 1,000 people said they want to hear how someone’s faith has helped them in life. About the same percentage of people said it’s very important to have hope, peace, and purpose in their lives. As Christians, we have an amazing opportunity to share the hope, peace, and purpose Jesus has given each of us.

Take advantage of the time you have to connect with your friends during the Big Game, and watch how God will move. It’s time to cross the line of scrimmage and run the play God has given us. He is with you!