How do I Share My Faith
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ME
God has said many times that we are to be a witness to others … to share our faith with others.
We
I’ll bet that I am not the only one here that’s struggled to be a bold witness all the time...
God
The good news is that you and I are not the first people to struggle like this…
20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”
2 CO 5
Paul says we are ambassadors for Jesus.
Explain what an ambassador did in Pauls day.
I have always struggled with boldness in that area. I remember taking a course that forced us to go out and witness using a memorized plan of salvation. I did that to improve my boldness.
We
I’ll bet that I am not the only one here that’s struggled to be a bold witness all the time...
The good news is that you and I are not the first people to struggle like this…
Growing up, many people do not have an accurate picture of who God is.
God
27 Jesus and his disciples left Galilee and went up to the villages near Caesarea Philippi. As they were walking along, he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” 28 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other prophets.” 29 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Messiah.”
Mark
Jesus asks the disciples who they heard people saying he was…
Four Pictures of God
Four Pictures of God
Mark 8:
27 Jesus and his disciples left Galilee and went up to the villages near Caesarea Philippi. As they were walking along, he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” 28 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other prophets.” 29 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Messiah.”
1. God is a locked gate.
1. God is a locked gate.
He is there, but you can’t go to him… he won’t let me in. I’m locked out.
Myth: God can’t be reached.
Myth: God can’t be reached.
If you are like me and you have ever felt like that, I have good news for you. That’s not true. God is not far away. he is near to you and in you if you are a follower.
Acts 1
27 so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find him. He doesn’t play hide-and-seek with us. He’s not remote; he’s near.
He doesn’t play hide n seek… he is near us.
2. God is a pile of luggage.
2. God is a pile of luggage.
I need to fix some things first.
I have to get my life cleaned up then I can come to God. I have to get rid of my baggage first.
Myth: God doesn’t want me.
Myth: God doesn’t want me.
This could not be further from the truth. God loves you more than you can imagine… and shows us as well.
8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
Romans 5:8
Another picture people have is.
3. God is an endless ladder.
3. God is an endless ladder.
We see God through the lens of works.
Myth: God requires a lot from me.
Myth: God requires a lot from me.
In , the disciples were asking Jesus what type of works they were going to have to do.
28 They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?” 29 Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”
John
Believe! that’s it. Jesus wants us to put our faith and trust in him.
We are called to faith and works after we get saved because God has a purpose for each one of you. We do those things because we love him, not because we are trying to get him to love us. He already loves us.
All of these create tension in our faith walk and impacts how we share our faith.
Here is a picture of who God really is.
4. God is a free gift.
4. God is a free gift.
God wants to give you something you don’t deserve - grace.
He expresses this that he loves you by giving you salvation and forgiveness for free.
This is (write it down)
The true Picture of God
The true Picture of God
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Once we understand this, it changes everything for us. After it changes us, we can share it with other people. Not just because he tells us to, but because we want to share what’s been happening in us.
The only way we can share with others is by being prepared.
15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.
YOU
Here’s what God wants you to do.
Sharing Your Faith
Sharing Your Faith
1. Connect with People
1. Connect with People
Jesus was the great connector. He connected with us by becoming one of us.
Jesus changed his approach but never compromised the truth.
Sinners loved him because they knew he loved them.
Jesus ministry was one of truth and GRACE.
We don’t want to go out and preach… we want to connect. When people know we care about them, they will listen to us. We listen to them.
ILL - find out what’s going on with others… connect your story to theirs .
Jesus mission was to reach lost people, so he connected with them.
10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
ILL - find out what’s going on with others… connect your story to theirs .
So to share our faith, we have to connect with people.
2. Share my story with people.
2. Share my story with people.
Don’t go around telling people what they need to change.
Live this verse out…
16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
When you are living for the Lord, your life is different than those who don’t know the Lord. People might ask you, what happened to you? or What’s different about you… When you connect your story to theirs, they will want what you have. John elder and me.
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
He promises us the power to share with others.
3. Invite them to a place where they can experience God.
3. Invite them to a place where they can experience God.
John Elder invited me to know Jesus.
Maybe you are at the gym… of the buffet line … or the playground and someone is talking to you and they meton that they are miserable with their life. Connect your story to their story … or invite them to join you for church and lunch the next opportunity.
WE
Imagine what our church would look like if we were all going out and connecting with people at work, on the playgrounds, in stores… hearing their story… sharing our story with them and inviting them to a place where they can know Jesus the way you do.
This week, let’s find someone to connect with and ask God to make an opportunity for us to share our story with them and even invite them to a place where they can begin a relationship with Jesus.