sharing faith

Freakin out!
First up, if the thought of sharing the gospel freaks you out, you’re not alone. Even here at SP we find it tough at times (normally the first 24 hrs of any given day). Sports players get nervous before games, rock stars freak out before concerts, but they don’t let it stop them. Ask God for help – He’s fully there for you! And the good news is, the more you do it, the easier it gets. True!
motivate me
Check your motivations. This isn’t a ‘notch in the belt’ job. There shouldn’t be any double agendas. This isn’t about getting more people in your youth group, getting a new boy/girlfriend or finding someone to swap Supertones CDs with. You should be motivated by love for this person, and what better way to show love than to introduce them to the very source of love – God Himself! This love motivation is why YOU are the perfect person to share with your friends and family. That’s why God chose you. You’ve been commissioned. Congrats.
sharing YOUR faith
Do you know what you believe? You don’t have to know everything, but you do have to know something. Don’t think that evangelism is just for the old crusties. God loves your youthful exuberance, that ‘first love’ enthusiasm.
your best side
Don’t hide your ‘God side’. We shouldn’t be two-faced people. We should be 24 x 7 Christians sold-out for God, after all, God went full out for us. Start by not keeping your Bible turned face down. Don’t turn off your Christian music when friends come around. Write your favourite verse on your letter-box/lunch-box/tool-box.
wanna hear a secret?
The easiest way to share your faith is to not avoid sharing your faith.
Typical Monday morning scenario:Friend: So, what did you get up to this weekend? You: (thinks – don’t mention church!) Uhh, not much. Just watched the rugby.
Better Monday morning scenario:Friend: So, what did you get up to this weekend? You: (thinks – be honest) Watched the rugby Saturday. Went to my church Sunday morning – they had this guy there talking about how he used to be in and out of prison before he met God. Friend: Aah. You: (thinks – a little awkward, but at least I did it!)
Don’t worry – the more you talk about God, the more natural it gets for you.
sky towers for God
Being a witness doesn’t just mean telling people about Christ, it means living Christ. The Bible talks about us being a “city on a hill” whose light can’t be hidden. Be Sky Towers for God.Big responsibility, but don’t be too hard on yourself if you stuff up. Don’t throw in the towel. Nobody expects you to be perfect. People have just as much respect for those who fall flat on their face but then pick themselves up and go hard, as they do for someone who runs a race perfectly.People can spot a phoney a mile away – so don’t be one. Be honest. You don’t have to make out that being a Christian is all roses and bluebirds and tra-la-la happy-clappiness. This is life, not a Disney movie. Share your hurts and hard times, but let people know that you’ve got God to help you through it all.
appetisers
Your testimony. It’s your story, no one can refute that. Don’t embellish it. Don’t dwell on the “old life” stuff (“When I was three, I used to be a homicidal-suicidal druggie nazi gang leader with a bad ‘tude”) Write it down. Practise it. Keep it short and sweet – a couple of minutes. Use it as a starting point, not a three-hour epic. This ain’t “This is your life”, this is “What God did in my life”.
opportunity rocks
Ahhh, Christmas and Easter. Thank God for holidays (literally)! They’re a great opportunity to share something of the gospel. Choose Christmas cards with nativity scenes over those with Frosty the snowman. After all, it’s the middle of summer! The only Frosty ‘round here comes from Mr Whippy. And what about Easter – chocolate is good, but how much more awesome is God dying in our place, then storming back to life for the ultimate comeback! Write a brief note with that Easter egg, explaining how it relates to new life in Christ.‘Seeker’ church services, Alpha courses, etc…Yanno, the reason they have these services is for you to invite your friends to them - it’d just be plain rude not to.How many times have you signed someone’s yearbook, birthday card, broken arm or gerbil? Instead of just writing “Rock on, bro!”, how about asking God for an appropriate verse? (…and then finishing it “Rock on, bro!”)
Some great verses:
Matthew 22:37 - Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.”Matthew 28:19-20 - 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.2 Peter 3:9 - He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.Romans 1:15 - I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.Luke 9:26 - If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.