7 Ways to Love People into the Kingdom
By Kristi Stoughton
We want to tell people about Jesus. What in life could be better than knowing Him? I’m sure that, like me, you want so badly for every single person on the planet to know the freedom and joy and peace and forgiveness and sheer transformation that comes from life in Christ.
But let me be real here for a second. People are sometimes wary of Christians. And they don’t respond well to being pushed. You may be hesitant to share because you’re concerned about inadvertently pushing people further away. And it’s true that we won’t convince anyone by hitting them over the head. So how do we go about drawing people into the outrageously good news of the gospel?
We love them. Love and love and love and love. That’s how they’ll see Jesus.
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And [Jesus] said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” - Matthew 22:36-39
The answer is love. This is the big idea. Jesus says so.
So what does loving your neighbor look like in everyday life? Here are 7 ways to love people into the Kingdom:
We love them. Love and love and love and love. That’s how they’ll see Jesus.
1. Get outside the Christian bubble.
For some of us, all our closest friends are Christians. And that can be great … we have Jesus in common. Our hearts are set on the same things. But if we don’t have real friendships with people who don’t know Jesus, we’re missing out on the opportunity to reach those who need to hear about Him. Every one of us should have dear friends who do not yet know the Lord. It’s part of our calling, and it keeps us from becoming stuck in the Christian culture.
2. Invest in the lives of people who don’t know Jesus.
We’re pretty good at doing Meal Trains for church friends who need support. We visit them in the hospital, babysit their kids, and rejoice in the good things together. We should invest in our non-believing friends in exactly the same way. Help them move. Go to a spin class together. Be there when they’re sad. Be part of each other’s lives and serve them humbly.
3. Live transparently.
Living victoriously does not mean leading a perfect life. Life, even the Christian life, can be hard. Let your non-believing friends see when you hurt and question. It’s important to be real with them. That way, when they struggle, you can be a safe place for them. And they will be there to see first-hand the difference that God makes in your life.
4. Love with no agenda.
If our non-believing friends get the impression that we’re only friends with them so that we can convert them, they may feel used or manipulated. So, keep loving them, sincerely and with an open heart.
5. Pray.
God invites us to be involved in His work, and one of the ways that we can partner with Him is to pray for our friends. God is faithful to listen and answer when we seek him.
6. Tell them about Jesus.
This is sometimes the scary part! But if you’re listening to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, he will prepare your friend’s heart, tell you the right timing, and provide the right words.
7. Trust the Holy Spirit.
It’s never us that brings people into the Kingdom. It is always, only, the work of the Holy Spirit. So be a light to your friends but be patient, trusting that the Holy Spirit is working.
When we love people actively, consistently, and authentically, they will be drawn by what they see. Second Corinthians 2:15 says that we who believe give off the fragrance of the Spirit to those around us, and that sweetness will draw those who are seeking. They will see Jesus in you, and when they ask, you can be ready to share the reason for the hope that you have (I Peter 3:15).
Kristi Stoughton is the Associate Director of By Design. She is a native of New Hampshire, where she currently resides with her husband Brian in a little lakeside cottage. They take great joy in their two sons, daughter-in-law, and baby granddaughter. As a Christian speaker, Kristi has a passion for people to know God’s love deeply. She is an MDiv student at Fuller Seminary and is enjoying every minute. Kristi loves playing her guitar and singing on her church’s worship team as well as serving with her musical “sister chicks” as the worship team for women’s retreats and other events.