I’ve been a Christian for a while and one of the things I have learned over the years is the importance of having Christian friends.
The reality is that the people you interact with on a regular basis will have an impact on you….whether you realize it or not.
But those are not just my thoughts or words. Look at what the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 15:33 (NIV):
Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
Therefore it is very important that you choose to spend your time and life with people who have good morals, values and beliefs that are in accordance with the Word.
I’m not saying you shouldn’t talk to non-Christians.
But you should ensure that the persons who you spend the majority of your time with are Christians who are actively trying to live according to the Word.
Since you are reading this article, it’s safe to assume that you want to make Christian friends. And I’m glad you have made that decision.
In this article, I will share you:
- A few benefits of Christian friends
- Tips to make friends
- Activities you can do with your friends
Benefits of Christian Friends
We are social beings and we have a natural desire to connect with others. So friendships are vital for our well-being.
Friendships provide several benefits but in this section, I decided to highlight specifically how friendships with other Christians can benefit both you and your friends.
Here are a few benefits of Christian friends.
1) They will provide social support
Being a Christian often requires you to walk a path that is different from the one that the world promotes. And let’s be honest, sometimes it can get lonely on that path.
However, when you have friends who share your values and beliefs, it can serve as a great encouragement and help you to keep going.
You also get to encourage others and help them to have a sense of belonging and connection.
Imagine being able to share what you are learning in your Bible study with a friend who is excited to hear and even give you more insight and tips for application.
Christian friends can relate to your spiritual walk with the Lord and that is a very comforting feeling to know you’re not alone.
2) They can influence you positively
Christian friends can help you to grow in your walk with the Lord. This is especially true if they prioritize their relationship with God.
If your friends are reading the Bible and praying daily, it’s highly likely that you will want to do the same.
If they are dressing modestly and guarding their hearts then you may be even more encouraged to do the same.
Likewise, if they are discussing Bible studies or discussing topics from a Biblical perspective, it’s highly likely that you will study the Bible so you can partake too.
We all want to have a sense of belonging and sometimes that desire leads us to conform to peer pressure.
Peer pressure can be good or bad. If you have good friends then the peer pressure will most likely be good and have a positive influence.
Recommended Article: 5 Simple Ways To Share The Gospel
3) They can help you to walk uprightly
If you share your life with Christian friends, they can help you to walk uprightly before the Lord. If they see you falling in sin or compromising your values then they can call you out and help you.
You can also provide accountability to your friends which can greatly help them to grow in their walk with the Lord.
4) They help you to grow
One of the benefits of having Christian friends is that you can help each other to grow.
This may look like growing in terms of character. The reality is that friendship is a two-way street.
You can’t expect to only receive from the friendship. You have to pour into the friendship. And one of the ways you do so is by serving each other.
Friendships also provide an opportunity for you to grow in love, patience, forgiveness, gentleness and selflessness.
The friendship can also have an outward focus where you partner with each other to serve others. You can volunteer together so others can experience the love of God or hear the good news of salvation.
How To Make Christian Friends
Here are some tips that you can follow to help you make new Christian friends.
1) Go to Church
One of the best places to make friends is at church because Christians normally gather together weekly at a designated location.
There are many people who attend church on a regular basis so you can find at least 1 friend there.
Remember your friend doesn’t have to be someone who is the same age as you. You can make older or younger friends.
2) Participate in Church Activities and Ministries
Another way to make friends is to participate in church activities and Ministries.
Are you the type who goes to church, praises the Lord, listens to the sermon then goes home?
If so, it may be time to get more involved in the activities at church.
And you can do so by serving in one of the Ministries at church. This could be in hospitality, children ministry, media team, outreach Ministries etc.
If you’re not sure where to start, you can speak to your Pastor or a leader at your church.
3) Join a small group
Many churches have small group meetings that help members to get to know each other better in a less formal setting than the typical service.
These small groups are typically formed based on your geographical location. So people living in a certain community or town are more likely to form a particular small group.
They may meet weekly, fortnightly or monthly to discuss various topics from a Biblical standpoint. They may also meet up occasionally for fun and fellowship with each other.
I want you to bear in mind that some churches refer to their small group meetings as cell group meetings or life meetings.
If you’re not sure if your church has small group meetings, make sure to speak to your Pastor or a leader.
4) Visit other churches
If you want to make Christian friends, you can also visit other churches occasionally like once per quarter to meet other Christians.
5) Go to Christian Events
Another way to make Christian friends is to attend Christian events like conferences, concerts, workshops, crusades etc.
These events may be geared towards Christian singles, aspiring missionaries, Christian women, teenagers, aspiring entrepreneurs, aspiring evangelists, music lovers etc.
If you’re in college or university, you can also consider joining Christian clubs like Campus Crusade for Christ.
6) Initiate more conversations
This tip is a big one that you can apply in conjunction with all the other tips on the list.
If you want more friends that are like-minded, you may need to initiate more conversations.
Think about all the people you see at your church. Now think about how many of them you have spoken with.
The people at your church are potential friends. But someone needs to start a conversation so you can start building a friendship. Why not be the first one to say Hi?
You can also start talking to more coworkers or other people who you see on a regular basis.
7) Be friendly
Another way to make more friends is to be friendly. People are more likely to talk to people who seem friendly and open to conversation.
Smiling and making eye contact can help you to seem warmer and more open to conversation. You can also break the ice by giving a genuine compliment.
If you like someone’s hairstyle, shoes, sense of style, etc, why not give them a sincere compliment?
You can also break the ice by introducing yourself to people who you have seen at church or your workplace repeatedly.
Simple questions are also a great way to start conversations. You can ask something as simply as “How long have you been attending this church?” or “What’s a great restaurant that you would recommend?”
8) Connect with acquaintances who are Christians
The final tip on this list is to connect with acquaintances who are Christians.
Maybe you know a few persons who are Christians but you have never spoken to them or you did so once.
Well, now might be a good time to reach out to them. These may be people you met in high school, university, a former workplace or even “friends” on Facebook and Instagram.
You can start the conversation by giving a genuine compliment, asking a simple non-invasive question or by introducing yourself.
Activities for Christian Friends
When you make your new Christian friends, it’s important that you spend time together to build the friendship. The most common way is to communicate via phone or social media apps.
However, it’s important to have face to face meet ups to strengthen the connection.
So here are a few activities you can do with your Christian friends to build the bond and have fun.
1) Try different restaurants and cuisines
Most people like to eat so why not try a new restaurant and sample a different cuisine?
2) Games evening
You can have a games evening by going bowling or you can play board games at a central location
3) Movie evening
You could also have a movie evening…just ensure that the movie is fitting to watch as a Christian
4) Feed the homeless
Another activity that you can do is feed the homeless. This is great because you get to serve others and share the love of God.
5) Evangelism
You can also meet up and share the good news of salvation with others. You can share it with a mutual friend who is not a Christian or you can do street evangelism together.
Recommended Article: How To Share The Gospel With A Non-Believer (Step-by-Step)
6) Take a walk in a nature park
Another activity you can do is take a walk in a nature park. You can simply observe the beauty of the natural environment or you can do a mini photoshoot.
7) Go to the beach or river
If you like to be near water, you can also hang out at a beach or a river. You can also bring some food with you.
8) Shopping
You can also go shopping for modest clothes, home decor or anything else that interests you. You can also go grocery shopping and introduce each other to new foods, brands and recipes.
Takeaway
I hope you realized that there are many ways you can make Christian friends.
You can meet new people by doing the activities that you would normally do or you can change up your lifestyle and patterns a bit.
Nevertheless, it’s totally possible to have more like-minded people in your circle.
Here’s a recap of how you can make friends and some of the activities you can do together.
Tips to Make Christian Friends
- Go to Church
- Participate in Church Activities and Ministries
- Join a small group
- Visit other churches
- Go to Christian Events
- Initiate more conversations
- Be friendly
- Connect with acquaintances who are Christians
Activities for Christian Friends
- Try different restaurants and cuisines
- Games evening
- Movie evening
- Feed the homeless
- Evangelism
- Take a walk in a nature park
- Go to the beach or river
- Shopping