One of the #1 reasons Christians don’t share their faith in Jesus Christ with the people in their lives is simply because they don’t know how to start the conversation. Some say that they don’t want to come across like a “Jesus Freak”. Other people feel like they freeze when an opportunity arises. Believe me, I understand I’ve been there before, and that’s why I want to give you some simple tips to overcome this problem! These are things you can and should start doing TODAY.
Simple tips to help you start talking about Jesus:
1. The Overflow of Your Heart Rule:
The Bible says, “Out of the overflow of your heart your mouth speaks.” This rule works for everything. If your heart is bitter, unforgiving, skeptical, fearful, obsessed with Beanie Babies…etc. your words will reflect this! My heart is in love with my amazing husband David, and my words reflect this! The same is true with Jesus, and this is where we must begin, my friends.
Who or what has your heart?
I think this is a valid question to ask. Maybe the reason it’s hard for you to talk about Jesus is because He’s not the center of your life and heart. The more that Jesus Christ is your love, your strength, your joy, your peace, and your life, the more you will naturally and easily talk about Him with others.
2. Be Aware:
Realize that every day God really does have someone for you to share Him with. Ask Him throughout the day who that person/s is! Life is pretty pointless if we aren’t sharing Jesus, and God doesn’t have a pointless life in store of you.
3. Know Your Testimony.
Ask yourself these questions-
What has Jesus saved me from?
What has Jesus done in my life?
How has his love changed me?
What does my relationship with Him look like?
Now write your answers down. Sometimes a little clarity goes a long way. Spend time reading over or even memorizing your answers. Eventually someone else will ask you one of those questions, and you will know exactly what to say!
4. Small Talk:
Serve in a local church and be a part of a smaller Christian community. This is important because you will be around people who talk about Jesus. They will ask you questions about Jesus. It’s good practice and it’s good input. Good input creates good output.
5. Evaluate What You Depend On:
For strength, peace, joy, hope, in good times, and in bad times depend on Jesus Christ. If you already do, take note of that. At some point someone is going to comment, “Why are you so happy?” “How can you have strength when things are so bad?” Jesus is your answer.
6. Pain:
Pain is a universal language. Pain is the reason that Jesus came, to save us and set us free. When you see pain, you should see a conversation about Jesus. You should see how he answers and heals all of our pain when we come to Him.
7. Good Advice:
If you are a Christian you will be asked for advice. The wisdom and peace and confidence of Jesus compel others to ask for your advice when you need it the most. This may seem daunting, but if you have good advice this could be a great conversation. And let me say, YOU HAVE GREAT ADVICE. Jesus really is the answer to any problem. Look past the outside and go straight for the issues of the heart. Jesus is always the answer to the longings of the heart.
8. Nature:
“The heavens declare the glory of the Lord.” Nature is always a pointing towards redemption, a move from death to life in Jesus. Creation sings the praise of our Creator. It’s an easy proclamation of Christ; use it!
9. Romance:
Romance tells the story of Jesus. The Bible says that marriage is a picture, a metaphor, of the love of Christ. (Ephesians 5) Unfortunately in the broken world there is so much brokenness in the name of love. Luckily Jesus’ love is the perfect love and answer to every broken heart.
10. Conversation Starters and Follow Up Questions:
Come up with your most comfortable way to start conversations about Jesus with new people, and use it frequently. They can be as simple as:
“What do you believe about God/Jesus?- Would you like to hear what I believe?” ,
“Do you attend church?- Would you like to go with me some time?”,
“What are you passionate about?- Why are you passionate about that?” ,
“What is your story?- Would you like to hear my story?” ,
“What/where do you feel like your purpose in life comes from?- What is your purpose?” ,
“Do you know Jesus?- Can I tell you about Him?”
Now start talking!
There are many more, but these are what I use to help me. How do you talk about Jesus? Comment with your tips below.
I have a question about this post…its awesome, but
What if the person is very defensive about religion or Christ? How would you approach that.
I read somewhere that keeping your faith to yourself, as well as your knowledge of God, is as useful and not knowing God at all.
I have tried to remember this, but it seems like the people I encounter about this subject sometimes close their ears the very second I mention God.
I think that our responsibility is not in the reaction of people, but to the gospel. Keep up the good work! Some of the people in my own life who have been the most defensive to me about my beliefs, I later learn have the most respect towards me for standing for something rather than nothing at all.
God’s Word, Jesus Christ, never comes back void, but accomplishes what it was supposed to always. Because in this world, we really do have something in us that’s different.
I tend to talk about Jesus at my job (Cheddars). There is this girl that I always see that is always sad and feeling hopeless. I told her once that if she wants hope I can tell her where to find it, but she has to be willing to fight for it. Every time I see her she is always having a “bad day.” Every time I see her I am always having a good day. She knows I have hope, but until she has a willing heart towards the Hope that I have, she will just have to watch me have it and I will continue to pray that she asks me for it. She sees me live it, though.
There is another guy I work with that wants what I have. He told me yesterday that he has been trying to read the bible more… I told him its one thing to be bound by something you hate, but its another to be bound by something you love. I read not out of obligation, but because I want to.
These are just a couple of ways I get to share my faith.
Good job!
One thing that helped me was when I told God that I was going to stop being frantic about sharing and I just left it in His Hands and now every day since then I just ask Him, “How can I help?” As I share at work things that God has done for me, I notice that I (or God!) has the attention of 2 or more people! They hear about Jesus for the first time, that Jesus is more than a man in a book…I just share the truth about my life and they see how having a relationship with Jesus is a real thing!
Sometimes its hard being kind to someone that are mean to you.