Many leaders ask if relational evangelism is a biblical method of evangelism. When I read the New Testament, I see the good news moving along relationships, whether that is family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors sharing what they discovered about Jesus. Some call this friendship evangelism or relationship evangelism. Other forms of evangelism might include proclamational evangelism or servant evangelism. Both of these support and are supported by the influence of relationship evangelism.
Here’s how I think about it and where Scripture points to this pattern.
Arguments against relational evangelism
Some critics say there is no biblical evidence for a relational approach. A quick search reveals common objections:
- The primary method in the New Testament is preaching or proclaiming.
- Jesus and the apostles didn’t befriend sinners first and then wait for a sharing moment.
- Relational evangelism takes too long and the urgency of the gospel is lost.
- Paul didn’t bother building friendships before sharing the gospel.
- The unregenerate are enemies of God, with no interest in spiritual things.
- Relational evangelism makes the Spirit’s work dependent on a friendship context.
- Some never get around to sharing because they value the friendship more than the message.
- “Friendship with the world” violates commands to be set apart (e.g., James 4:4).
Some of these objections to relational evangelism identify real pitfalls to avoid. They aren’t reasons to dismiss relationship evangelism altogether.
What I mean by relational evangelism
Living your life so your faith is evident, while being intentional to talk about the gospel inside your everyday relationships, over time.
Think of it as two rails working together: expressing our faith (life) and explaining our faith (content).
Read More: What is Relational Evangelism?
Relational evangelism in the Bible
Let me re-frame the question: Is there New Testament evidence of the gospel spreading through relational networks?
That’s a question of context—where and when sharing happens—more than a single method. The New Testament gives many snapshots of witness moving through existing relationships.
This is a question of context of where faith is shared, not a question of a particular method.
A focus on method will feature the how (teach, preach, share), where a focus on context focuses on the where and when.
Relational evangelism is focused on spreading the gospel through relational networks.
That might be through your current friendships.
That might be through intentionally making new friendships if you have been a Christian so long that you have no non-Christian friends.
Relational evangelism is intentionally positioning oneself in a network of people for opportunity to share the good news.
Relational evangelism assumes that the believer is looking for God-given opportunities to talk about faith in the midst of existing relationships.
Read More: Divine Appointments
9 Examples of Relational Evangelism in the New Testament
Let me lift up a few examples of how the gospel spread through personal relationships:
- Andrew brings Peter (John 1:40–42).
- Philip brings Nathanael (John 1:45–51).
- The Samaritan woman tells her town (John 4:28–30, 39–42).
- The healed man tells his friends in the Decapolis (Mark 5:19–20).
- Matthew’s dinner with friends creates conversation space (Matthew 9:10–13).
- Jesus eats with Zacchaeus—a relational encounter (Luke 19:1–10).
- Cornelius gathers relatives and close friends to hear Peter; a household responds (Acts 10:24, 44–48).
- Household belief—Lydia and the jailer (Acts 16:14–15, 31–34).
- Ongoing conversations with Felix over time (Acts 24:24–27). Paul spent nearly two years talking faith with Felix.
Also see what it means to serve as an ambassador for Christ in your daily relationships.
Other New Testament Hints of Relational Networks
As I skim through the book of Acts, there is a lot of preaching and proclaiming of the gospel in public setttings. Luke’s focus is on the rapid spread of the gospel. Verbal sharing is a primary methodology.
But evangelism through relationships is hinted at in various places where social networks are in place.
Acts highlights public proclamation, yet growth also moves through social networks.
For example, in Acts 2:46–47 believers gather in homes and enjoy the favor of the people; the Lord adds to their number daily.
“The believers met together in the Temple every day. They ate together in their homes, happy to share their food withjoyful hearts.They praised God and were liked by all the people. Every day the Lord added those who were being saved to the group of believers.”
Members of the early church were known for their good works, being “highly regarded by the people.” (Acts 5:13).
At the same time, they were obeying God’s command to “tell the people the full message of this new life” (Acts 5:20).
In Acts 13:44–49 those who heard Paul invited others the next Sabbath.
In Acts 17:1–9 Paul reasons in the synagogue over several weeks—plenty of time for friends to discuss the message between meetings.
In many places in Acts, there is a phrase after a healing story that is similar to:
“News about this spread around the town and people became followers.”
News spread through personal networks in those days.
Healings were a triggering event that led to conversions later in time, though the text is not explicit in how people heard the content of the gospel in these cases.
As I read Acts, I’m struck at how the gospel spreads from friend to friend, through social networks.
People hear the message and then share it with their friends.
People hear the good news and invite their friends to hear the next message.
People hear or see the life change in their friends. After considering the impact of the gospel, conversations will lead to more.
Read More: Is there relational evangelism in the Old Testament?
Why relational (friendship) evangelism fits a biblical model
- Trust opens honest questions. Known relationships lower fear.
- Testimony travels through networks. People naturally share what God has done.
- Households multiply impact. When one believes, others explore (Acts 10; Acts 16).
- Proclamation remains central. Relationships create timely moments to explain the gospel.
Don’t dismiss evangelism through relationships
If Christians withdraw themselves from the world, they will lose their relational connections with people apart from Christ.
They will lose an available means to credibly share their faith.
It could be that a healing triggers a spiritual curiosity to hear more (e.g, the woman at the well in John 4).
It could be that the teaching about Jesus triggers an invitation to a friend to hear more next week (Athenians in Acts 17).
It could be that God reveals himself to a leader who brings others to hear the message of the good news (Cornelius).
As a follower of Christ, I want to be in the place and time where I can share the good news with people.
Continue learning about relational / friendship evangelism
Do you want help in Personal Evangelism?
Start here with this MP3 Download on Evangelism Training from the store to help you see where you need to grow.
In this 70-minute MP3 AUDIO recording on personal evangelism you will learn:
- How church invitations are part of evangelism
- How to discover and share your own journey to faith
- What you can say about the gospel message.
- How to personally lead someone to faith in Christ.
It’s a 70-minute audio file that takes just a few minutes to download, but it may help you answer the question:
What can you do in the next 90 days to grow in your evangelism skills?
A Coaching Tip for Practicing Relational Evangelism
Let me encourage you to take one simple step this week. Think of one friend, neighbor, or coworker who may not know Christ. Pray for them by name. Ask God to open a natural moment where your faith story can enter a normal conversation. That’s how relational evangelism—sometimes called friendship evangelism—starts to feel natural instead of forced.
If you’d like help identifying those connections, read Spheres of Influence or Make a Prayer List of Friends. These articles will help you notice the people God already placed around you.
Remember, evangelism isn’t about memorizing scripts, though that is helpful when the moment happens for sharing the gospel. Personal Evangelism begins with noticing people and joining what God is already doing in their lives, giving you a context to share your faith naturally.
Editor’s Update: This article was first written in 2013 and refreshed in 2025 for clarity, smoother flow, and stronger biblical examples of relational evangelism in the New Testament.
How to Prepare the Welcome Greeting for Your Church
Where in Luke 19 does it say that Zaccheus threw a dinner party for his invited friends?
Kelly,
Thanks for dropping, by. I’ve gravitated towards relationship evangelism as my primary style, because I’ve seen the impact that it makes in making disciples. I don’t neglect the more up-front contact evangelism (in fact, I teach it in mission schools), but I’m not sure how effective it is in helping resulting believers grow.
Is results the way we measure? That’s an entirely different question than what I’m addressing in this post – got to put that in the hopper for a future article.
I enjoyed reading about relational evangelism. I agree that we cannot dismiss evangelism through relationships and likewise we cannot dismiss evangelism because a deep relationship has not yet been established. The Word of God instructs us how to live in a world where some people do not love Him and do not love us. He tells us to love people. Everyone is made in Him image, although that image has been marred by sin. Romans 12.14-21 and 1 Peter 3.8-15 are two passages which deal with relationships with people. We should be ready for opportunities to share regardless of the relationship status and we should show the love of God to others in our relationships with them with the hope that they will one day get it.
The Bible shows us that different ways exist to preach the same Gospel, that those preaching another Gospel will be accursed, and to be glad that the Gospel is being preached… in whatever format : )
Matt:
You put a great point forward about the extreme of relational evangelism, and that is, lifestyle only. I agree with you on that, the famous quote supposedly by Assisi was wrong:
https://www.evangelismcoach.org/2009/did-saint-francis-of-assisi-get-it-wrong/
I am in agreement with that. Actions alone are not sufficient. In fact, actions are open to misinterpretation:
https://www.evangelismcoach.org/2008/is-neighborhood-outreach-evangelism/
I’m not sure an “Actions only” approach is an excuse as much as it is a fear of rejection, fear of the other person, or maybe even a lack of confidence in the gospel.
You’ve got the right direction I’m moving in: Share the gospel where God puts you. It’s evangelism where you live.
I think Jesus spent friendship time with the disciples, and it took them a long time to understand the gospel. Jesus spent time with Mary and Martha, spent time in the home of Pharisees, and spent meal time with tax collectors and sinners. I think he did evangelism where he lived, not just with the strangers who spoke to him.
Chris,
I appreciate your article. I have a few thoughts I want to share.
When I think of relational evangelism, I typically think of the quote “Preach the Gospel always, and if necessary, use words.”, often miss attributed to Francis of Assisi. This closely mirrors Matthew 5:16 that you shared in your “What is Relational Evangelism article. The problem is, people use this as an excuse to NOT share the gospel explicitly, which just isn’t Biblical. Keep in mind, this is not what I heard you say, it just how I think many others define relational evangelism. That definition is where i think many of the criticisms above are targeted.
I recently heard Mark Spence of LivingWaters.com address this very topic. Someone asked about sharing the gospel with a person they met at a coffee shop. I believe he said, if you feel like you to need to meet with them 16 times before you share the gospel, fine, but you’d better hope they don’t die after your 15th meeting. I believe he also addressed the fact that this takes significantly more time and less people can be reached.
I think your article talks about a relational evangelism that is about sharing the gospel wherever God puts you. Your workplace, softball team and neighbors all come to mind. I think this is absolutely Biblical. I think evangelism to those you have relationships will look somewhat different that evangelism to strangers. After all, you have to see these people in the course of your daily life. That does not mean though we should not be sharing our faith with those we do not have relationships with, or having relationships with people and not sharing the gospel.
Thanks for what you do.
Matt Case