Six Ways Anyone Can Share Christ
I don’t consider myself an evangelist and I’m not an overly outgoing person. Yet, over the years, God has given me numerous opportunities to lead people to Christ. I vividly remember when our neighbour Cathie prayed to receive Christ in our living room. We had prayed for her, loved her, and when she was ready, we shared the Gospel with her.
In a previous blog, I shared eight biblical reasons for sharing Christ. In this post, I would like to share six practical and powerful ways that any Christian can share Christ.
Pray
Several years ago, a guest speaker at our church preached on the importance of praying for the unsaved people in our lives. He challenged us to pray for five unsaved neighbours, for five minutes a day, for five days a week, and to continue this for five weeks. He encouraged us to BLESS our unsaved friends and family by praying for their:
Bodies – health, protection, strength
Labour – work, income, security
Emotions – joy, peace, comfort
Social life – marriage, family, friends
Spiritual life – salvation
As the five weeks of praying regularly for my unsaved neighbours turned into months and years, I was amazed by how God answered those prayers. Cathie was one of the people who was on my prayer list. As Hudson Taylor once said, “We need to learn to move [people] through God by prayer alone.”
Love Each Other
When Christians love each other (I’m talking about a deep, sacrificial, life-on-life kind of love), it sends a powerful signal to a world that is desperate for love. Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35).
Be a Blessing
I remember walking to church one Sunday morning. I was a pastor at the time. One of my neighbours came out of his house just as I was walking by. He was dressed in his painting clothes and seemed quite agitated. He told me that he was hard-pressed to get some painting done before a contractor arrived to do some work for him. Part of me wanted to help, but I couldn’t just abandon my church responsibilities. So I wished him well and continued my trek to church.
Even though I probably couldn’t have helped my neighbour right then and there, I realized that I had become rather selfish in my interactions with my neighbours. I didn’t really want to get involved in their lives. That day marked a turnaround for me as I attempted to be more of a blessing to my neighbours.
Being a blessing to others can be as simple as giving them a smile, taking the time to listen, wheeling an empty garbage can back to someone’s garage, being extra polite to a restaurant server, and so on.
I remember a news story about a Winnipeg public bus driver who saw a homeless man on the side of the road one day. He stopped the bus, took off his shoes, and gave them to the man. This act of kindness went viral and made the national news (you can watch the story here). Our society is not used to blessing others, so that when it happens, people notice.
Build Relationships
Of course, one of the best ways to bless others is to befriend them. Jesus said to love our neighbours even as we love ourselves (Mark 12:30-31). As we build relationships with unsaved people, they will see Jesus up close in our lives.
Tell Your Faith Story
All Christians have a story about the difference Jesus has made and is making in their lives. Don’t be afraid to share it as a natural expression of something that’s very important to you. If someone gave me a million dollars, I daresay I would want to share the news with people. God has given us something far more valuable – a fulfilling life both now and forever.
Share the Gospel
When we shared the Gospel with Cathie and asked her whether she wanted to pray to receive Christ, she didn’t have to think long before saying yes. God had prepared her heart. She was ready.
The salvation message is very simple. God loves everyone. Yet because of our sin, there is a break in the relationship between God and us. Jesus, God’s Son, died for our sin and rose from the dead. He took the punishment we deserved. Those who accept Jesus as their Saviour from sin and who make him Lord of their lives become children of God forever.
You and I can share this message in conversation with others. There are also tools that can help. Power to Change and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association have booklets that you can use to share the message. For years I have used an approach called Napkin Evangelism where you share the Gospel on a napkin or a piece of paper. I also have an app called God Tools on my phone that goes through the Four Spiritual Laws.
I truly believe that all of us can share Christ with others by praying, loving each other, blessing people, building relationships, telling our faith stories, and sharing the Gospel. And remember, I believe this even though I don't consider myself an evangelist!
What are some ways that you have found helpful in sharing Christ? I, and I’m sure others who read this blog, would love to hear what works for you.
- Randy Wollf