Share the Gospel — Getting Started
Let’s just suppose it’s been a while.
A while since you’ve “shared the gospel.” But now, you’d like to take a fresh step. Perhaps even to be more prayerfully aware of the opportunities which the Spirit may open up for you.
You’re willing to try. Where would you start?
May I offer a couple of “can do” suggestions.
1st – YOU CAN MEMORIZE A VERSE OF SCRIPTURE
Why not memorize, stone-cold, John 3:16-17? To someone who says, “I have never been successful at Scripture memory!” I reply, “Butyou are successful at memory!” You memorize your phone number, your street address, your children’s names, how to drive to work, your social security number…(need I go on?).
So what’s the difference? You memorize what you use. So it really boils down to taking a verse or two of Scripture, “using it” over and over again (by saying it out loud, repeatedly), and even sharing it with others.
Memorize John 3:16-17. Put it on a 4X6, tape it to your bathroom mirror, your car dashboard. Take a picture of it and put it on the screen background of your smart phone. Say it out loud repeatedly until it comes off your tongue like your favorite song.
2nd – YOU CAN PRACTICE EXPLAINING WHAT IT MEANS
Imagine you share with a friend that you are memorizing two verses of Scripture, and you’d like to practice on him/her. “Okay,” she says, “Go for it.”
You rattle off the verses. Her brow furrows. “Good!” she congratulates. “But what do those verses mean?” she asks.
What would you say? The Spirit just opened the door for you, so how would you unpack the meaning of those verses?
I offered recently the 4 things those verses teach
God has loved every person in the world
He sent God the Son not to condemn us but gave Him to rescue us
anyone can be rescued (saved) when he/she believes in God the Son (i.e., in Jesus)
believing brings eternal life to someone; not believing means someone will perish
Your friend may even ask more questions. (e.g., “Do I need saving?”)
You don’t need to have ALL the answers. But you’ve started a conversation. Wow…and it gets more exciting after this. And you can find the answers, and God can use you as His ambassador.
This all could be, of course, a very fun family exercise. Start at home. Around the dinner table, pass out the verses and say them OUT LOUD together. Then practice saying the 4 things these verses teach.
Why not?
3rd – YOU CAN PRAY ABOUT CARING AND SHARING WITH SOMEONE NOT YET FOLLOWING JESUS
What is cool about our heavenly Father is just this. If we ask for bread (Jesus taught), He won’t give us a stone. If we ask for a fish, we won’t get a snake. God loves to say yes to His children.
So…why not ask Him to open up a door for you to care for, and then share with, someone in your relational network who needs to understand God’s great love for him/her? You can do that!
‘Tis the season! Celebrating the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus.
Memorize it. Explain it. Share it.
Yes, you can.