“For we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20, HCSB).
Have you ever noticed how people talk about what just happened? Whether it is a news headliner, what’s happening in
If we are wondering how to share the Good News in today’s culture, “what’s current?” should give us some insights into what people want to know. So let’s think about that. What is God doing in your life today? What is current in your walk with Christ? How can we communicate that as we go?
Let’s see what we can learn about being current in sharing our faith from the Bible. Take a brief look at Acts. In the early church, people were hearing about the resurrection of Christ and the church was growing. These believers were enthusiastic about sharing their faith. They knew in Whom they believed and were focused on the difference that Christ made in their lives.
“And every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple complex, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved” (Acts 2:46-47, HCSB).
These early worshippers must have been doing more than just getting together and praising God. In Act 2:46-47, we see that they met in the temple complex and then broke break from house to house. They gathered and then they scattered to praise the Lord about what He had done. Others saw what was happening as the believers overflowed with the love of the Lord. They were obedient to come together and praise God and were obedient to go and share the Good News. Many more believed and the church grew daily because people were being saved.
In Acts 4, Peter and John were arrested for “teaching the people and proclaiming in the person of Jesus” (Acts 4:2, HCSB). When brought before the Jewish leadership, they responded that they were unable to stop speaking about what they had seen and heard (Acts 4:20, HCSB). They knew God was at work and had given them a message. They were so excited about that message that they were compelled to tell the story of what Jesus had done for them.
As we think back on the stories in Acts about the early church, we don’t have all the details but we know that these followers worshipped together and then they went out house to house. We can do the same thing. Often we are good at gathering together as believers but not as good at going into our neighborhoods of non-believers to share the message of Truth. We can become so busy that we don’t even have unbelievers in our lives. We don’t have to go from house to house but we can look for ways to be involved in our communities. In this day and age, unbelievers can be found in online groups and networks or in more traditional forms of interest groups. As a young adult, I found unbelievers in my work networks and through friend connections. When I was married with a child, there were even more opportunities to meet people through my daughter and her school friends and their families. Now as an empty nester, I have to make a concerted effort to look for ways to meet lost people. Sometimes it is through a volunteer effort, sometimes through crossing paths with people as I run errands, or in my travels. People who need Jesus are everywhere and God desires for us to more than just cross paths with them. He desire for us to share His truth as we go.
One way I have found to share Christ is to focus on a truth from God’s Word and to share that truth with others as I go about my day. Making my conversations about what God is doing in my life this week and especially today, is what people are interested in. They are even more interested in what God could be doing that involves them. It is exciting to see how God weaves what He is doing in our lives with what is happening in theirs. He knows just what we need; but He also knows who else needs to hear it. Somehow He puts us at just the right place at just the right time to be able to make a connection.
To share Christ on a daily basis, try these suggestions. Every day…
1. Find a Truth from God’s Word.
We can begin by allowing God to do something in our lives. We know that He is always at work but we start by renewing our relationship with Him. A good Bible reading plan and set a time to read the Bible every day is essential for each of us as believers. Sometimes devotional books can help us get started. Allow some time to read the Word and ask God to give you truth for the day. It might be a new thought or a reminder of something we already know. Whatever that truth is, concentrate on that truth during the day.
For instance, maybe you are reading through Psalms and God shows you the truth of being joyful and expressing joy to the Lord. It might be that you are going through a difficult time financially and God reminds you that He is the provider. There are so many truths we find in the Word of God. As you allow God to work in your life, you will have many truths you can share with others. Choosing one truth for the day will help you have something to say when the opportunity presents itself.
2. Pray for an opportunity to share the truth with an unbeliever.
If you know that you will see lost people during the day, pray specifically for those people. Pray that God will give you the words to share with them. Pray for an opportunity to share the truths that the Lord is teaching you. I have found that I am much more aware of the Holy Spirit working when I have sincerely prayed for an opportunity to share.
As you spend time with God each morning, ask Him to give you the time and words and situations where you can tell others about Him. Sometimes you may encounter someone in a phone call, sometimes in an email or on Facebook, and sometimes it may be face to face when you least expect it.
As you pray, pray specifically for those who you know but also pray for God to open the doors to tell anyone about Him who needs to know.
3. Share the Truth as God opens the door.
These truths that God teaches you will naturally flow into conversations you have as you go throughout your day because the Holy Spirit will open the doors. Often we share things the Lord is doing with our lives with other Christian friends but shy away from saying them when we talk to the lost. As God does things in your life, try sharing them with someone else.
Look for ways you can engage unbelievers in conversations. Some days you will see more people than others. If you find yourself with church friends all day, pray for God to show you how you can get involved in activities with those who might need the Lord. Volunteering, visiting in area hospitals, and even grocery shopping are all places where people gather. Ask God to make you sensitive throughout the day for someone to share the Truth with.
In conclusion
Wouldn’t it be great if we committed to be current in sharing our faith? Can you imagine what God could do if each person would share a truth from God’s Word every day with an unbeliever? God does so many exciting things so what a joy to be able to share them with others. We should not be able to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard in our lives today!
“Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us that God may open a door to us for the message, to speak the mystery of the Messiah—for which I am in prison— so that I may reveal it as I am required to speak. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Your speech should always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person” (Colossians 4:2-6, HCSB).
Reprinted from LifeWay's Deacon Magazine, April 2010.
