Telling the Good News

Chuckle: Lawyer to defendant: “Do you wish to challenge any of the jury members?” Defendant: “Well, I think I could take that guy on the end.”

Good Quote: “Evangelism is not an activity at all. It is rather an attitude of mind behind all Christian activity. --Bryan S. W. Green

"Through Christ, all the kindness of God has been poured out upon us . . . and now he is sending us out around the world to tell all people everywhere the great things God has done . . . so they, too, will believe and obey him" (Romans 1:5 TLB). "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9 NIV).

God wants each Christian to be His witnesses to those around us. But many of us find it difficult, scary, and unnerving to share our faith with others. We conjure up all sorts of excuses to justify our shortcomings in this area. Here are some common expressions:

"I'm afraid -- I won't know what to say." We make it much more difficult than Jesus intended it to be. As you know, a witness is someone who has seen or heard something and tells it to another -- gives testimony. "We saw it, we heard it, and now we're telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son" (I John 1:3 MSG).

The most powerful witness is your own personal testimony. If you know Jesus, you know enough to tell others about Him. You don't need to have memorized a lot of Scriptures. Just tell what Christ has done and continues to do in your life. As time goes on, you can learn to augment your testimony with specific Scriptures you have learned. 

"I'm afraid -- I just don't have the courage." Jesus said in Acts 1:8, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you." You see, if we lack courage, we are depending on our own strength. God has promised us His power will give us strength. The same power that created you; the same power that performs miracles; the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to us through the Holy Spirit. His power is more than adequate for our fears. Just trust His power to give you courage. Even when they were commanded to stop speaking and teaching about Jesus, with threats of prison and beatings, Peter and John said to the Jewish Sanhedrin (religious rulers): "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard (experienced)"  (Acts 4:19-20 NIV).

"I don't really know any unsaved people." As we attend church and associate with other Christians socially, we become further and further removed from people who need to hear about Jesus. Jesus set the example for us when he purposely made his way into the company of "sinners." Remember, there are lost people everywhere, beginning in your own family and community. We must get to know them, make friends with them, and reveal Jesus to them by the way we live and with our own testimony/words.

May I suggest you make a list of people that you're not sure know Jesus. Then begin to pray for them. Ask God for opportunities to share Jesus with them. God will answer your prayers and give you those opportunities. Then trust him to give you strength and courage to share your faith with them. There is no greater joy than to have someone come to Christ in response to your personal witness!

Love, Jerry & Dotse