Will You Say Something?

Posted on 01. Jun, 2009 by frank in evangelism

How much do you have to hate them to not say something? That was a question that came from our message this Sunday.  Can you really not say something when the hearts and souls of other hang in the balance?  Here are a few things to consider when sharing your faith:

1. Look for opportunities – You have to be ready for every opportunity that comes your way because they don’t happen often.  Someone at work will engage you in a spiritual conversation, or bring up a religious holiday, or talk about a family member that is dying.  Life happens, and when the tough stuff comes around and people will talk. It is during these moments that you have a chance to listen and then share what God has done for you.
2. Listen first – Some of us need to learn to shut up to be effective at sharing our faith.  I know that sounds counter intuitive but its true.  If you really listen to others around you, they will notice that you care.  Then when you speak they will want to hear what you have to say instead of simply tolerating your opinion.
3. Don’t be weird – Please don’t hand out gospel tracts.  Your waitress at the diner wants a tip for her service, she doesn’t want you to try to save her from eternal damnation.  People have a hard enough time living in the present, and we have remember to be relevant if we want people to listen.  People find God through relationships with others, not pieces of paper that tell them they are going to hell.
4. Create opportunities – We have to be intentional about engaging people far from God.  Make new friends, volunteer at for a non-profit, get to know your neighbors.  When we increase our circle of influence we can be there to help people when the hard stuff in life happens.  Jesus modeled this for us when he regularly ministered to those that were suffering.  Suffering is universal and that is why Christianity is universal. 

Lifeway recently put together a video on reaching young adults and I think there are some principles about being relevant in our culture that we can apply to reaching any generation.  Take a look…