Sharing Your Faith
Matthew 28:18-20
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
As Christians, we have a great commission to go and tell others about the Good News of Jesus. Now it can be intimidating to share our faith with others. The very thought of it may bring all sorts of emotions—anxiety, fear of what others will think of you, feeling incompetent to share or to answer any questions, etc.
However, in addition to a great commission, we have a great promise that Jesus is with us to the end, and through His Holy Spirit, He will empower us to do everything He calls us to do. Let these 3 steps serve as a framework to help you share your faith in Jesus with neighbors, coworkers, friends, and family.
Bad News
-We all have sinned “missed the mark” of God’s good and holy laws. All of us are guilty and are now separated from God.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
Good News
-However, Jesus paid the wages of our sin on the cross through his death. He rose again so that we can be forgiven, be reconciled back to God, and experience the fullness of life in him forever!
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1
-We receive this gift of salvation simply through faith. We exercise this faith by confessing our sins to God, turning away from our sinful ways, and trusting Jesus to rescue us and run our lives.
“That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Your Story
Briefly (1 min or less) share your own story:
Life before Jesus was….
I put my trust in Jesus….
Life with Jesus now is…..
Next Right Step
Option 1: Lead Them into Prayer
-Some may be ready to pray right then and there, so feel free to lead them through this prayer if you think they are ready.
Example prayer:
“Father in heaven, I know that I have sinned against you and am deserving of punishment. But I believe that Your Son Jesus Christ took the punishment that I deserve so that I could be forgiven.
God, with Your help, I turn away from my sin and place my trust in You for salvation. God, I give You full permission to run my life. Holy Spirit fill me and help me walk with You. Thank You Jesus for Your wonderful grace and forgiveness - the gift of eternal life! Amen!”
-Make sure to follow this up with an invite to a Sunday morning and/or to your City Group/Huddle meeting!
Option 2: Invite Them into More
-Others may not quite be ready to pray this, and that’s okay!
-A great next step is to grab their number, invite them to a Sunday morning, City Group/Huddle, or out to coffee. Keep the conversation going!
-Be praying for them as you continue to follow up!