Make it clear you respect their quests. People shy away from Christians whose superior attitude and speech make it clear they view non-Christians as projects. Bergquist relates how a street person felt cared-for because her husband looked him in the eyes. Together they can work out the intricacies of language so real communication is possible. They ll figure it out.
Friends do that.
Weave scripture into the discussion naturally, using appropriate passages to illustrate points you re making. Although their knowledge of the Bible may be shaky or nonexistent, they may have the sense of how the Bible is supposed to sound steeped in history and language. However, others may feel more comfortable with a contemporary Bible translation such as the Contemporary English Version and the New Living Translation . These Bibles and others geared to nontraditional readers or seekers are culturally sensitive without changing the biblical message. If you re unsure what version to use, ask your pastor or someone at your local Christian bookstore for suggestions.