Why does it seem that some believers suddenly turn away from God? I believe one of the biggest reasons Christians fall away from Jesus is because of un-confessed sin.

Without keeping a clear conscience before the Lord, it’s easy to drift away from the faith. You become hardened to the Spirit of God, and eventually you stop listening to His voice altogether. Sin blinds you and enslaves you. It’s a horrible place to be!

Perhaps this describes your situation. Are you struggling with a sin that’s keeping you from a right relationship with God? If so, Galatians 5 gives a very clear remedy. Verse 26 says, “Those who belong to Christ have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.”

If you belong to Jesus, then there’s only one thing to do with the flesh: Crucify it. Get rid of it. Be ruthless. Don’t play games. Deal with your sins once and for all by crucifying them on the cross.

That means you admit your sin to God, repent, ask forgiveness, and turn the other way. Ask the Holy Spirit for strength and He will help you! By crucifying the flesh, you will be empowered to live what Jesus calls the ’abundant life.’ Your life will be a powerful witness to your world of God’s forgiveness and grace.

My friend Mark Mittelberg has taught evangelism training all over the world. Mark says he’s noticed a consistent thread that’s present in all cultures: “Friends listen to friends,” he says. That’s why establishing relationships is so important when it comes to sharing our faith.

A great example of this is in the Gospel of Luke. We’re told about Matthew, a tax collector, who became a follower of Jesus. Matthew was in a perfect position to reach out to his buddies who were also tax collectors. So what did he do? He threw a party, man! He invited his friends, Jesus, and the disciples over for a meal and discussion. Great idea, don’t you think?

Colossians 4:5 tells us to “be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.” Matthew certainly did that — what about you? Try building relationships with your co-workers, students in your school, or another mom down the street. Then, host a “Matthew party” of your own! By establishing trusting relationships with this generation, they’ll be more willing to hear about Jesus Christ. Not only how he changed your life — but how He can change theirs, too!

Many ’postmoderns’ don’t necessarily want to hear Christian doctrine or theology. Those topics can actually be real conversation-stoppers if that’s how you start out. But your personal story is different. It can be a powerful way to open up spiritual discussions with your friends. Why? Because no one can dispute your claim of how God has radically transformed your life. There’s nothing to argue about. And actually, from my experience, most people will listen with interest.

The blind man in John chapter 9 is a great example of sharing a personal testimony. When questioned by the religious authorities about Jesus, this man didn’t argue theology or philosophy. He just told them what happened by sharing his story: “One thing I do know… once I was blind, but now I see.”

Think about how God has rescued you from a life of spiritual blindness. Remember how He brought you into a relationship with His son, Jesus. Why not invite a friend to coffee and talk about your life stories. As you share about your own experience with God, you’ll be planting seeds of truth. Prayerfully, those seeds will lead to a harvest of righteousness in their soul!

When missionaries train for cross-cultural ministry, they take classes to prepare them for living, and sharing Christ, in a foreign country. Among other things, learning the language of the people is essential to effectively share the Good News.

You and I also need to learn the right ’language’ to communicate with today’s postmodern generation. It’s important to realize that these people have little to no church background or Bible understanding. There is a basic ignorance of Christian beliefs and doctrines.

We must be careful to not speak in ’Christianese’ terms, which can be confusing to them. Instead, try communicating the Good News using language they understand.

For example, when talking about your relationship with Jesus, try using words like ’rescued’ and ’changed,’ and ’spiritually alive.’ Even simply saying you’re a follower of Jesus, instead of a Christian, may be easier for someone to grasp.

St. Paul challenges us in 1st Corinthians 9 to, “become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.” As you find creative ways to communicate your faith, those listening will better understand – and hopefully receive -the Good News of Jesus Christ.