Sharing Your Faith Series

Sharing Your Faith

John 4:27-42

When someone wants to introduce their faith to someone, there are generally two different approaches. The first approach is the “invitation” approach. This is the type of approach that someone uses when they invite someone to see Billy Graham. There is a ministry called “Fishers of Men”. This is a group of women who go to the places in the world where there are prostitutes. They dress like prostitutes and invite men into their room. Once there, they share the Gospel. I am not saying that you should be part of that ministry, but it is one way that the invitation approach is used.

The second approach is what I would call the “conversation” approach. You take the time during conversation to introduce your friend to Jesus. It is a natural way of sharing Jesus Christ with others who have never heard of Him. It works better than an invitation approach mostly because it is based on a relationship, and not an event. It is also more demanding because you have to take the responsibility to share what God has done in your life and give it to someone else.

When you start the process of sharing Jesus with other people, your conversation can naturally go through a FORM. FORM is an acronym for the subject matter that you will talk about.

Family

Occupation

Religion

Message

This form can happen in one conversation. Or most likely it will happen over a period of conversations. When you normally talk with other people, and become friends with them, you will talk about a range of subjects. Family, work, politics, sports, but eventually you want them to talk about religion.

I asked you to write down seven names of people to pray for the opportunity to share Jesus. I’m not asking you to go around and try to force people to listen. People don’t like that. The Bible says to go and make disciples. It means “as you are going”. This implies a journey and a process. As you build friendships, you will see that they need Jesus. This may happen in one conversation or in a few conversations. You don’t force people. You make friends with people. You don’t change people. You share how you were changed.

Now when I say that you want someone to talk about religion, I mean that you want them to talk to you about it, when they are seeking. You don’t talk about religion if you know that it will cause harm. The Gospel is a Gospel of peace, and it should flow peacefully.

But at some point, you have to gauge the level of a person’s interest in Jesus Christ. You have to know where they stand. The reason you need to know this, is so that you can sense the opportunity to tell others about Jesus.

Now when I mean that you tell others about Jesus, I mean that you are a witness. The Bible says that we are His witnesses. So we are not out to convince people about Jesus, although we are convinced. Our goal in sharing Jesus is just that, sharing Jesus. A witness does not prove the case of Jesus Christ. Attorneys prove the case. A witness does not cast judgment about Jesus Christ. Judges pass judgment on the case. A witness only tells what they have observed. When asked, they only say what they know.

In order to gage whether your friend is ready to hear the testimony, you have to diagnose your friend’s religious beliefs. Just as a doctor diagnoses the patient, to see what is wrong. A doctor will ask questions. For example:

“How do you feel?”

“Where does it hurt?”

“Where is the most pain?”

These diagnostic questions can help you understand at what point or level of interest your friend has in Jesus Christ.

No interest <-----------------------------------------------> Lots of interest

No knowledge Lots of knowledge

I want to share with you three methods of how to share Jesus with your friends. Each of these methods, will use a different diagnostic technique. Once you have the answers to these diagnostic questions, then you can share the message of Jesus appropriately. Two of these methods use the Bible as a way to lead others to an understanding of Jesus. One method can be used without the Bible.

Relationship Method

Diagnostic Question: Do you know Jesus Christ in a personal way, or would you think you are still in the process.

This question politely gages their knowledge of Jesus Christ, not necessarily the Bible. As a result, you can talk to them about Jesus. How do you share the message with them about Jesus?

Look at your bulletin. You will see the “Welcome” side. Look at the four points. You can easily use your bulletin as a simple way to describe the message. These four points describe Jesus Christ as a relationship.