Many Christians want to share the gospel with others and make disciples, but they do not know how. In our sermon today, we shall discuss a practical method[1] that we can use to regularly share the good news of Jesus Christ with others.
What Do I Say? My Story.
Every Christian has a story to tell. This story is comprised of three parts: 1) Before you met Jesus, 2) How you met Jesus, and 3) After you met Jesus. Write out your story on a piece of paper and practice sharing it with another Christian. Pray that you would present it clearly (try to avoid rambling), succinctly (try to keep it under 5 minutes), and compellingly (this is important to you).
My Life Before Christ. While it is not wise to dwell on the past, there is wisdom in remembering what your life was like before you met Jesus Christ. Remember your sinfulness so that you can reflect on the amazing grace of Jesus that saved you.
How I Met Christ. When did you hear about Jesus? Who were some influential people that brought you to church or told you about Jesus? Make sure you share how you became aware of your sinfulness and your need for a Savior. Tell them about your sins being forgiven and the peace you have since you are now a follower of Jesus.
My Life Since Christ. The last part is an honest telling of what your life has been like since you met Christ. Without going into too much detail, share with them that there is still a struggle with overcoming sin, but God helps you and sustains you daily.
Who Do I Tell? My3.
Every Christian has a story to tell and every Christian has someone to tell. You can start with “My3”. My3 is a simple way to share your story with three of your friends and/or family.
List All Unchurched I Know. First, sit down and prayerfully ask God to reveal to you all the names of people you know that are unchurched. An unchurched person is someone who rarely (if ever) attends a local church service. They may or may not be a Christian and they may or may not be a member of a local church. What concerns you is that they are not connected to a local church so you feel burdened to share your story with them. This list of unchurched is important because it is now a prayer list for you. You can make it as long as you wish (In fact, the longer the list the better).
Ask God to Reveal My3. With your list of names before you, pray and ask God to reveal to you three names that you should start with. Circle these names because they are your first three people for you to share your story. Pray that God would give you an opportunity to boldly share your story with clarity. Eventually, your goal is to share your story with everyone on your list. But for now, start with My3.
Tell My Story to My3. The next step is to meet with the first of your three people. I highly recommend having other Christians pray for you and encourage you to do this. When you meet with them, share your story (three parts) then thank them for taking time to listen to your story. If they say they are a Christian, follow up by inviting them to your local church or a church close to their home. If they say they are not a Christian, follow up with something like: “That’s how I came to know Jesus. Would you like to know more about becoming a follower of Jesus?” If so, share the gospel with them.
Why Do I Share? My Motivation
Every Christian has a story to tell and has someone to tell the story to; but unless they see the need to tell the story, they never will. What motivates a Christian to share their story with their friends and family? What would compel a Christian to open their mouth and boldly share with others about Jesus? The answer is love and obedience.
Love Motivates You. While there are many reasons to do something, the greatest motivation is always love. If you were to ask me about my favorite pizza, I would quickly and passionately tell you about it and urge you to try it. If you were to ask me about my favorite sports team, I would zealously seek to convince you that my team is the best and you should consider becoming a supporter as well. If I can be so passionate about food and sports, then I must be more passionate about someone much more important: Jesus Christ. Your motivation for sharing must be rooted in your love for Christ and this love is fueled by His great love for you (John 3:16).
Obedience Motivates You. Another motivation for sharing your faith is obedience. Jesus, your Lord and Savior, commands you to share the good news of the gospel with others. In Matthew 28:19, Jesus tells us to “Go”. In Acts 1:8, Jesus said: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Consider the words of Paul in Romans 10 and let us be obedient to share: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” Take your beautiful feet and share!
[1] This sermon has been based largely on Training for Trainers (T4T). Find out more about T4T here.
First Baptist Scott City, MO 