Sometimes it feels like sharing our faith is a heavy expectation when it should be a delight. A lot of the stress we feel is because of the way we approach it. When there is wrong thinking in how we approach sharing, it can impact what we feel is expected of us.
Here are three reminders that will reframe what it looks like to share your faith and help you feel more excited to tell others about Jesus.
1. Don’t make assumptions about people
You can never really tell what’s going on in someone’s heart. One person may listen intently to you while you share your faith and ask insightful questions, but they’ll never accept that they need Jesus. Another person might come across as argumentative and belligerent when they’re closest to grace’s door.
When we assume to know what someone is thinking, it impacts the way we interact with that person. In truth, we’re a tool in God’s hands to make Jesus known. It’s God who is at work in a person’s heart, moving them closer to following Jesus. It’s not about us; the way someone may seem to receive or reject the good news has very little to do with us. There may be a lot more going on under the surface than we know. Thankfully, God knows it all.
Regardless of a person’s receptivity, we can be encouraged that God is using our testimony. It might help propel them into Jesus’ arms, or it might be part of a years-long process. That’s not our concern. But we can recognize their value in His eyes and share patiently and boldly.
2. Don’t worry about answering every question
We all come to Jesus with differing concerns and puzzles. Some people struggle with a specific question until they receive a response that flips the switch and allows them to believe. Other people come to Jesus with all their questions intact and spend their lives working their doubts out.
You don’t have the answers to every question, and you’re not expected to. Peter tells us, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15). Notice that he says to give the reason for the hope you have. Our reasons for believing are what we’re expected to offer. We don’t have to have an answer to every question they have. No one can argue with you about your experiences.
If someone asks a question you don’t know the answer to, it’s okay to say, “That’s an interesting question. I’m not sure how to answer it.” You might offer to dig into that question further together. Or maybe you suggest a book or someone else who might have an answer, but it’s not completely necessary. In fact, knowing that you believe without the answers can help them see that they don’t need to have all the answers either. Jesus can take them with their questions.
3. Have faith that God is involved in the process
The Great Commission is Jesus inviting us to partner with Him in reaching people. Our job is the telling and the training. We tell them about Jesus, and we teach them to follow Him. The Holy Spirit draws them, eventually capturing their heart. Remembering that the Lord is at work in this process makes the whole thing less intimidating.
Without God’s involvement, we end up believing that the responsibility lies with us. We can feel like we have to give them an airtight argument for why they should believe. It can feel like we have to debate them into the kingdom of God. This pressure means that many people don’t bother sharing the gospel with anyone, not because they don’t care but because they don’t feel like they’ll ever be prepared enough.
One huge outcome of believing that God is the driving force in evangelism is that it makes us more prayerful. When we stop believing that it’s all up to us and our methods, we lean harder into Jesus. We talk to Him regularly about the people in our lives, ask for His intervention, and seek His empowerment.
Developing an appropriate sense of responsibility
As followers of Jesus, we have a responsibility to tell others, but if we misunderstand what’s expected of us, we can end up expecting too much from ourselves—or avoiding it altogether. We don’t have to guess who is ready and who isn’t. We don’t have to worry about having the best argument. We just need to tell others, “I once was lost, and now I’m found.”
When we recognize that it’s that easy and God is doing the work of changing lives, it puts the joy back into sharing the good news. We’re just telling others what we’ve experienced and allowing the Holy Spirit to work in their hearts.
Take advantage of the Jesus Film Project® app
One of the most helpful evangelism tools we provide is the Jesus Film Project app. You can download the Jesus Film Project app for free for Android and Apple devices. This app makes our library of faith-filled films available in the palm of your hand. You’ll find more than 200 feature-length and short films, available in multiple languages.
You can also access our film library right here on our website. With films like the JESUS film or Life of Jesus (Gospel of John), users can access adaptations of the Gospels of Luke and John. But there are also many more films and series to help you generate deep, meaningful conversations with those around you.
