Written by Ryan K.
1. Recognize that we do not convince anybody of the Messiahship of Jesus; we simply present the evidence and implore them to consider it. God is the true changer of hearts.
2. Remember that young Jewish people tend to be more skeptical about many of the things they have been told that may have been commonly accepted in previous generations. They might challenge the idea of Judaism or any religion at all. They may value the sciences and hold them higher than the idea of God or the Scripture’s account of history. If they believe in “God,” they often tend towards an idea of universalism that reduces God to a mysterious power that can be sought through a variety of ways, religions, and actions; it often does not match the God of the Bible. With all of these possibilities, sometimes one cannot even begin to share the Gospel from the Old Testament with a Jewish young person because of their skepticism toward God and Scriptures in general. If the God of Moses is not real to them, then Moses’ words will not have much impact.
3. Assert with our words and actions that God exists and that through the work of His Son, we are changed for the better. We should not hide our faith, but instead display how amazing life can be once we put our trust in a loving and forgiving God. We make the Gospel relevant to Jewish young people not by “marketing” the Gospel to them, but instead by living the Gospel so that they can see and experience faith in God and His Son.
4. Seek to understand where our young Jewish friends are in life and what they believe. They often think they know what they believe, but when push comes to shove they are not completely sure about their opinions. When they are open, it is good to ask questions that will get them to think more deeply about the views they apparently hold. It is one thing to show them the truth, and it is another to help them discover the truth for themselves. In order to believe in something, young Jewish people have to feel some ownership of it; they don’t want to inherit it, but rather to experience it.
5. Even when young Jewish people say they believe or don’t believe in something, they still take notice of what we are doing. They will ask why we act the way we act or say the things we say. These conversations are perfect opportunities to share what we know about the God and the Messiah of Israel. A young person doesn’t want to appear as if he or she might be wrong, meaning that they might ask a question out of curiosity, but in reality the way you are living, working, or speaking is intriguing them and causing them to reconsider their worldview.