Evangelism. Sharing the Gospel. Telling others about Jesus. Whatever you call it, for many Christians it can be a nerve-wracking topic. Even if we are fully convinced that we have been commissioned to the task (Mt, 28:16-20), we can be reluctant to do it.
However, as I was reminded recently when reading through the Gospel of Matthew, sometimes our focus on evangelism strategies and tactics can distract us from the essence of what we have been called to do. When John’s disciples came to question Jesus about whether He was the Messiah, He told them to go back with John with 2 things – what they have heard and what they have seen. These two things are helpful to us when we want to share about Jesus too.
What We Have Heard
We can share with others what we have learned at church or through a biblically-based book or podcast we are listening to. This is one of the strategies I often use in my classroom. I tell my students how God is challenging or shaping me through a book I am going through or what I learned from my pastor’s weekend sermon. I do this through devotionals to start the class, weekly “announcements,” and through conversations that will occur spontaneously as we discuss that day’s scheduled topic. This doesn’t require a public platform though. Every Christians can share what they have heard; it can be as easy as answering the question “how was your weekend?” by focusing on what you learned at church rather than responding with a simple “fine.” The “fine” may get you out of the conversation quicker but if our goal is to reach lost people with the message of salvation, ending the dialogue with rapidity really shouldn’t be our objective. Instead, let us use every opening we have to share what we are learning about Jesus. When we share what we have heard from the Word of God, rather than from the latest TV show or the most recent political gossip, not only will our conversations likely be richer and more full of meaning, they will help another person have a better understanding of who God is and how much He loves them.
What We Have Seen
Another way to start an evangelistic conversation is to share what we have seen. When we tell people how we have witnessed Jesus at work in our lives or the lives of others, this is inevitably going to incorporate Gospel truths. Again, this doesn’t have to be a planned presentation with 4 key points. It can be as simple as telling others about the grace of God that I experience through my kids or how I have seen a friend going through a tough time rely on Jesus to be their comfort and strength. We frequently tell stories about our lives; how much more powerful will those accounts be if we focus on Who is at the center of those stories, rather than giving a canned and trite response that avoids vulnerability or transparency? When a Christian truly shares what is going on in their lives, rooted in the truth of God’s Word and confident in His goodness and love, the answers to everyday questions that are part of normal conversations will necessarily point people to Jesus. We can see God at work through the beauty of His creation, through our joys, and through our pains. And we should share what we have seen of God’s goodness, power, majesty and love, with the people whom God has sovereignly ordained for our lives to intersect.
In sharing what we have seen and what we have heard, we, of course, should also be prepared to present the Good News of Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf and His resurrection from the grave. However, while this may be where the evangelistic conversation gets to, it is likely not where they conversation will start. Commencing that conversation may just depend on us sharing what we have seen and what we have heard, conveying how God is at our work in our lives, responding thoughtfully to those who ask how we are doing or how we invest our time. Answering conventional questions about our day with a mind that is fixed on eternity, may just help the person you are talking to see their need for the hope we have in Jesus. Sharing what you have seen and what you have heard may help someone turn and put their faith in Christ.
