The Skinny on Evangelism

Read This: “But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess. Yet do it with courtesy and respect, keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse you.” (1 Peter 3:15-16)

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Think: Maybe you can relate to some of the characters in this video. Well, maybe you've never grabbed a megaphone and shouted at people to repent, but it's likely that you get a little sweaty at the idea of sharing your faith with someone else, or you hope your clever t-shirts or bumper stickers will do the work for you.

There are classes, seminars, books, and all sorts of tools designed to help us share Christ. It can be tempting to think that there is a simple 3-step process to lead someone to Jesus in 15 to 20 minutes. It’s equally tempting for those who don’t have the “gift of evangelism” to simply go through life just being really nice—perhaps in hopes that someday someone will knock on their door begging for the gospel.

Clearly there’s nothing wrong with evangelistic tools or being nice to people. The fault comes when we begin relying on a formula instead of the Holy Spirit’s leading. Maybe that means taking a break from the script on the back of the tract to really listen to a person’s life journey. Or maybe we take a few moments to explain that our kindness is a reflection of God’s compassion for the world. Out of love for the lost, we should want to share in way people are willing to listen. Getting into arguments or offering oversimplified answers to big questions frustrates people who are desperate for truth but all too willing to give up looking for it.

Sharing our faith is an act of obedience and a spiritual discipline. While it certainly comes easier to some than others, we all should look forward to building relationships with non-believers and speaking truth into their lives whenever the opportunity arises. Maybe it’s a lifelong process with a family member, or a two-hour plane ride next to a stranger. It doesn’t matter how long it takes or how well we know the person. We don’t evangelize to earn a badge celebrating that we led someone to Christ—we do it because it is our privilege to be part of the work God is already doing in someone’s heart.

Ask: Spend some time thinking about how you share Christ with others. What are some ways you can be more proactive with people in your life now? How can you broaden your circle of influence to include more unbelievers?

Pray: Ask God to give you sincere love for unbelievers and open your eyes to opportunities to share your faith in big and small ways.