It’s been a long day at work and you walk through your front door, throw on a pair of sweats and toss yourself on the couch. With a sigh of relief, you think to yourself, “Finally, I can relax.” You look at your phone and start scrolling mindlessly through social media and see you have a direct message from an old high school friend. “Aw, I haven’t heard from them in forever!” you say aloud. With anticipation, you open their message and read…
Hey!
Long time, no talk! How have you been?
I have a really cool business opportunity that can help to make your life easier and better! I’d love the chance to talk more about it with you…
A new business opportunity? You haven’t spoken to them in years, but now all of the sudden this person wants your attention. Yeah, no thanks.
Friends, this is the literal equivalent of Christians (*cringe* myself included) inviting old friends to church on Easter Sunday. It can be highly ineffective and impersonal. We mean well and want to share about Jesus with our friends, but an invitation without relational investment is a sales pitch.
[bctt tweet=”An invitation without relational investment is a sales pitch.” username=”p4cm”]
We don’t need to be ordained ministers to share the gospel. We just need to care enough about the people in our lives to introduce them to Jesus. It’s the Great Commission that Jesus gave to you and to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20, NIV)
Jesus gave His life, not just for us, but for the people who are waiting on us to tell them. So, why is our faith so difficult to share about?
I think of all the Lord has done for me. He died on the cross and rose again for me, forgives me of my sin continually, provides for me constantly, and speaks peace over my mind. The Lord has given me breath in my lungs, a purpose, passions, my family; He’s given me everything I could have wanted and more. God has given so freely of Himself and yet I withhold my voice in telling people the very thing that will absolutely change their life forever – salvation through Jesus Christ. Why?
I often find myself making up excuses in my mind like “It’ll be an awkward conversation” or “What if they view me differently?” When it comes down to it, I’m afraid to share my faith because of how I may be perceived. It’s selfish, really.
Yikes.
So how do we evangelize? How do we introduce people to our Jesus and not suck at it? Here are a five things to keep in mind…
People Are Not Projects
I cannot emphasize this enough – you must maintain a relationship to share about Jesus with someone. Your pastor may give a killer message on Sunday, but you’re the one taking your friend out to lunch afterwards. (Hopefully. Don’t be cheap y’all). You have the personal relationship, not your pastor.
Engage in good conversations, truly care about them and the things they care about. Ask about their life, share about yours, be a friend. Remember, invest and invite. You must invest into the person, and then invite them to your church and a conversation about Jesus.
Live an Attractive Life
Does your character mirror the fruit of the spirit? Ugh. This is such a spirit check for me.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23, NIV).
Living an attractive life causes people to ask “why” and “how” questions that point back to Jesus’ work in your life. Make people want to ask questions about your life, like:
- “How do you have peace during this tough situation?”
- “Why are you so happy?”
- “Why are you always so concerned with doing the right thing?”
- “You really didn’t go off on that person when they wronged you, why?”
The only way to live an attractive live is by relying on God and His people for direction. Read your Word regularly, pray, apply what you learn to your life and live in relationship with other believers who can build you up and keep you accountable to being who God called you to be.
Now, while we do want our lives to exemplify the Fruit of the Spirit…
Don’t Act Like You Have it All Together
People want to see REAL, not PERFECT. They want to know that you mess up too. I tend to turn a listening ear toward people who are actually vulnerable about their shortcomings, it makes me feel connected to them. We have to remember that we live a redeemed and forgiven life. Because we are sinners we don’t deserve Christ’s sacrifice for us, yet, even in our sin, Jesus died for us anyway (Romans 5:7-8, NIV). (I know that’ll preach!)
Let the Holy Spirit Do the Work (And You Are Not the Holy Spirit)
You are not this person’s therapist and you ain’t their momma (unless you are, then okay). You don’t have to point your finger at them and list out what’s wrong with their life. Hint: they already know [what’s wrong with their life] and are actually hanging out with you, so (respectfully) shut-up, listen to them, and speak to them in truth and with grace.
As you live an attractive life and their “why” and “how” questions come or they share challenges in their life, you can lovingly share with them the answers you’ve learned from God and other believers in your life. Then let God reveal himself through the way you live your life, and through your relationship with the person you’re trying to introduce to Jesus.
Know the Basics
If someone asked you what it meant to be saved, could you respond in an articulate and confident way? Here are the basic points to discuss as well as how to pray:
- We are all sinners, and no one is perfect. Admit to Jesus that you are a sinner. (Romans 3:9-10, 3:23, NIV)
- Believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay for all your sins; and that you believe He came back to life on the third day. (Romans 10:9-10).
- Repent of your sins and turn toward Jesus as the model for how you should live. (Acts 3:19)
- Ask Jesus to forgive you and ask him to change you.
- Tell Jesus that you commit your life to following him.
A simple way to go through it all is to read Ephesians 2:1-10 with your friend. It lays sin, repentance and salvation through Jesus out clean and clearly. You can even have them read some too and ask them what they think it means. It’s a great way to have a discussion about becoming a Christian.
Please friends, don’t make Jesus your sales pitch. We can do so much better. Let’s introduce people to Jesus and be cool about it.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20, NIV)
May boldness, love, truth, and grace be with us all as we share the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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This is such a great article! So eloquently written by my girl Christina and with such practical wisdom. I love the 4th point, “You Are Not The Holy Spirit”. Sometimes as Christians its so easy to feel responsible for saving everyone which can easily just turn into controlling and judging others when they stray away. But remembering that we aren’t the holy spirit and we are just tools to guide people closer to it, is such a good perspective and reminder.
Wow!These points are right on. I love the very first point about people NOT being a project. We (including me) do this way too much. Let’s just love people with the genuine love of Christ!
Awesome!!!
Just kept it ????
Thank you, Maria! Hope it was helpful to you!
I love this article. I pray that i will follow these. And so do i have to build myself up to a certain level in Christ before i can tell people about God. Since it says Know the Basics.
Annie- just now seeing your comment. Forgive me! Thanks for the comment and the love. I don’t believe there a ‘level’ of Christianity to attain. The second you believe is often the most powerful time to share about Jesus. And as a new Christian, it seems that you yourself have already walked through the basics- so you know them. It’s okay to have to reference them again. Remember, God knows the heart, yours and that of your friend(s). Perfect verbiage isn’t as important. The general idea is understanding, repentance, acceptance and commitment. Hope this helps! – Christina
In order to be able to maintain a relationship you must know how to initiate and maintain a relationship. I have high functioning autism. I do not know how to initiate or maintain a friendship. So what can I do to share the gospel?
Jon, my apologies for not responding to this MUCH sooner! Since I don’t know you personally, I’m not sure how exactly to respond to your question, but I can say this… I think you have a beautifully unique role in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Take some time to pray and meditate on your natural gifts and ask God how he can help you use that to glorify Him. In doing so, I believe that opportunities will arise to share the gospel. Hope this helps!