Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.

Colossians 4:5 (NIV)

If your group of friends is predominantly Christian for any reason, it is wise to widen your friendship base. Build and maintain genuine connections with your unchurched friends, taking advantage of every opportunity to bless and do good for them.

What pulls people away from the church is that the way we do church is often intended for churched people rather than unchurched people. But the good news is that most churched individuals are acquainted with unchurched people, and God has strategically placed them in a position of positive influence and impact.

The Apostle Paul tells us to act wise and behave in a sensible way, especially if we want to influence and impact our friends and neighbours for Christ. Be genuine and real, and not be afraid to share your struggles and even failures, as well as how you follow God through them. Unchurched people are not looking for perfect Christians but for honest Christians.

The unchurched will feel safer and more comfortable hearing the gospel for what it is when they can see you for who you are and how honest you are with them. That is God's power at work, bringing salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16).

Sharing the good news is more than preaching it, it involves living it.

This is most helpful because we don't want to turn our friendship with the unchurched to become a work or a project. That is, we are only interested in them becoming Christians, but rather we want to grow a trustworthy relationship with them that will bless them. True friendship is never based on an agenda. Even if they won’t receive Jesus as their personal Saviour, we must continue to care for them and make ourselves available to them. We are thereby trusting God for whatever outcome He thinks best.