Is it really necessary to share your faith in Christ? After all, doesn’t the Bible say that, ”Everyone should work out their own salvation?” (Philippians 2:12). While the Bible does say that, it does nothing to recuse us from sharing our faith with others. When you accepted Jesus as your Savior, you put your life in subjection to His leadership. One of the greatest commands that Christ gave to His Church was to share our faith with others.
Things that are healthy reproduce. This concept is visible to us simply by looking at the animal kingdom. When an animal is healthy, it mates with other animals, and adds to the population. One of the first commandments that God gave Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden was to be fruitful and multiply. Why? Because God specializes in multiplication.
The only way for the Church to multiply is for people to share their faith with other people. No, you may never stand on a platform on a Sunday morning and spread the Gospel to a room full of people, but you are just as responsible for sharing your faith as your pastor is!
In addition to it being important that you share your faith with others, it’s vital that you understand how to do it effectively. When you discover how to effectively share your faith in Christ with unbelievers, you can take a huge step in discovering God’s purpose for your life.
Don’t take that wrong. God has a specific purpose for your life. He put you here for a reason. However, there are some general purposes that God has for His people which apply to every believer. One of those purposes is to share their faith with others. In Acts 2, the Holy Spirit came upon every believer who was in the upper room. Each one of them began to speak in other languages that they had never spoken in before. Why? Because God was equipping them to share their faith with other people.
Do you want to share your faith with others but you’re just not sure where to start? If so, that’s great, as you’ve already taken the first step by deciding that you want to be a world changer. Once you’ve accepted that you are called to service and that part of that service is to share your faith, you’re well on the road to fulfilling part of your purpose.
Sharing Your Story
John 9:10-11 (TPT)
Finally, they asked him, “What has happened to you?” He replied, “I met a man named Jesus! He rubbed clay on my eyes and said, ‘Go to the pool named Siloam and wash.’ So I went and while I was washing the clay from my eyes I began to see for the very first time ever!”
This story from John 9 paints a beautiful story of Jesus healing a blind man. As was the case in many of Christ’s miracles, the religious leaders of the day were angry about what He had done. They brought the man to the front of the church and started questioning him about what had happened in his life. After all, they knew that he was blind. Suddenly, this blind man who they passed by every day was suddenly walking around with perfect vision.
The man had no theological training. Instead, he could only testify to having a genuine interaction with Jesus Christ. He didn’t offer Christ anything, he simply asked for healing. In the same vein, when we come to Christ, we don’t have a lot to offer. Instead, we are blind in our sins and in need of a Savior who can open our eyes.
The man didn’t go into a sermon that reflected on Old Testament prophecies of a coming Messiah. Instead, he said, “I met a man named Jesus!” Later in the story, he acknowledged that he didn’t even know much about Jesus, but he knew that he was blind and that he had received his sight. In the same vein, we don’t have to know everything about the Bible. Yes, it’s important that you know some Scripture, but sharing your faith isn’t about being able to recite 100 Bible verses. Instead, you can start with telling your story.
You will be amazed at how many people your story can impact. You will be amazed at how many people can relate to your background. When you share the powerful truth of how God has changed your life, you can begin to truly allow God to use you to shape the lives of others.
Being a Carrier of Joy
Proverbs 17:22 (TPT)
A joyful, cheerful heart brings healing to both body and soul. But the one whose heart is crushed struggles with sickness and depression.
One of the most effective ways to share your faith with other people is to carry yourself with joy. It’s important to note that there is a difference in joy and happiness. Happiness is a fleeting emotion that changes based on what’s going on around us. However, joy is listed as one of the Fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. Why is that? It’s because joy is based on our relationship with Christ, not what’s happening in our lives at any given moment.
When you opt to be a spreader of joy, people will be drawn to you, and they will start to ask questions. Joyful people attract people, especially people who are lacking joy in their own lives. Look at the contrast that Solomon drew in the verse that we just read. Joyful people bring healing to body and soul while people who are being crushed by their circumstances are sick and depressed. Sick people want something to alleviate them of their sickness, which means they will be drawn to you.
When people start asking, “How can you be so joyful with everything you’re facing,” you are given a golden opportunity to share your faith with them. The joy that God gives to His people will attract people who need a joy infusion. It’s up to you to share the Source of your joy with them.
Extend an Invitation
John 4:29-30 (TPT)
“Come and meet a man at the well who told me everything I’ve ever done! He could be the One we’ve been waiting for.” Hearing this, the people came streaming out of the village to go see Jesus.
This is one of the most popular stories from the New Testament. Jesus sat down on a well because He wanted to have a conversation with a Samaritan woman who was certainly popular in town. Unfortunately, her popularity was rooted in her failures. She had been through four failed marriages and was now living with a man who wasn’t her husband. Instead of demeaning her, Christ offered her an invitation to step into a new kind of life.
Once she accepted His invitation, she went and extended an invitation to the rest of the town. Why? Because once you’ve accepted Christ, you can’t stop yourself from telling others about Him. Start with something as simple as an invitation. If you’re not sure about leading someone to the Lord, consider inviting them to attend church with you. Many people are just waiting for someone to extend them an invitation to a meeting with Christ.
A Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I want to fulfill the purpose that You have on my life. While I know there are some purposes that are unique to me, I also know there are some purposes that You have for everyone. Help me to be better at sharing my faith with others. Open the door for me and give me the boldness to step through it. In Christ’s name, Amen.