I love Jesus. He has changed my life in countless ways (all for the good!). I am so thankful for the times He has saved me, comforted me, and helped me throughout my life.
I cannot imagine my life without Him. He has been so good to me.
I encounter so many people who need what I have - a relationship with Him. I want them to know how much God loves them and is on their side.
Sometimes, it’s hard to share our faith. We don’t want it to be awkward, out-of-the-blue, or sound judgmental. As the Bible says:
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect -1 Peter 3:15
How can we share our faith in a way that’s gentle and respectful? How can we start the conversation without turning things awkward?
Share Your Faith with Confidence
You love God and God loves you. Have confidence in that! When situations arise when you can talk about your faith, trust that God has opened that opportunity for a reason.
God works all things together for good. That means your neighbors, co-workers, your route to work, your cashier are all in your lives for a reason - and that reason is good!
Be confident in how you work with integrity, love others with compassion, and live out your hope with joy. People will see the difference in your actions and attitude, and that’s often what will draw them to listen to you and your perspectives.
Related Post: 5 Simple Steps to Write Your Faith Story
Share Your Faith with Authenticity
Without Jesus, I was in big trouble. We all were! We all have things we’re still working on. Nobody’s perfect!
It’s important to share our faith without coming across as perfect or preachy. We desperately needed rescuing and Jesus saved us. We still rely on Jesus every day for hope, strength, comfort, and love.
When others share their doubts, fears, or concerns, we must listen. We need to listen in order to understand and empathize, not just listen to respond or debate. Take this God-given conversation as an opportunity to show genuine interest and love for the person who’s sharing.
The Key to Sharing Your Faith is to Start
As I’ve thought about what my struggle is, it’s often with STARTING.
That’s a trend for many of us, right? Starting to write a paper, starting an exercise plan or any new habit. Starting is often the hardest part.
You may be in a conversation with someone and want to talk about faith, but don’t know how to get there. How can you start shifting the conversation toward faith?
Below are 7 questions that can often open a conversation about faith. Try asking one of these questions and listen intently to your friend’s answer. Really listen to them in order to understand more about them. Ask follow up questions to show genuine interest.
Often times, the other person will ask, “What about you?” and they’ll give you the opportunity to share your answer to the question. In that moment, you can answer any of the questions listed below with an explanation of your faith and who Jesus is in your life.
If they don’t ask you the same question, you can ask, “Would you like to hear my answer to that question?” Once they invite you to answer, you can share with confidence and compassion about God’s love.
Related Post: 5 Apps to Help Share the Gospel
7 Questions to Help You Share Your Faith
Here's 7 simple questions that can turn a conversation towards faith. See which one resonates with you!
"What's the best thing that's ever happened to you?"
"If you could be known for one thing, what would it be?"
“If you could broadcast one message to everyone in the world and it was guaranteed they would hear it, what would it be? Why?”
“What's something you would like to make absolutely certain you do within your lifetime?”
“What are you dreaming about for your life?”
“What's one of the most adventurous things you've ever done?”
“When you think about your future, what are you most excited about?”
All of these questions may not be a fit for you, but some of them may work. The question that will work best for you is the one you can ask confidently and genuinely.
Do you have any questions that you would add, or a story about how you have shared your faith? We’d love to hear about it!
How can questions and questioning help to share your faith?
Contrary to popular belief, questions about faith and questioning our faith are a normal part of our journey with God. Think of some of the greats in the Bible: Moses, Job, and Sarah questioned God. Even Jesus, quoting Psalm 22 on the cross asked,
“My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” - Psalm 22:1
As we engage God with our questions and ask those who we’re in community with about our God questions, we are better equipped to share our faith. At some point within faith conversations, someone usually asks about pain, suffering, sin, or tragedy. It’s helpful to consider our own questions about God and remember our own life stories. When we do, we can be healed by God and then minister to others as we share our faith.
Want to learn more about God's redeeming stories? Check out our blog that dives into the depths of God’s redeeming love: Becoming Uninhibited to Have Faith Conversations
How to respond when someone questions your faith?
First and foremost, questions aren’t always accusations. They could be asking simply out of curiosity. One of the best ways to disarm a tense moment is to simply honor whomever is asking for feeling comfortable enough to ask you.
In a time of division and chaos, having faith conversations can sometimes feel risky. Choose to honor the person who’s asking by saying something like, “I’m so honored that you felt safe enough to ask.” Then, stay humble and calm with your responses.
Remember, if someone is agitated or angry while speaking with you, they're most likely not angry at you. They’re most likely angry at God or the church. Love them with a genuine smile, with love in your heart, and humility.
When someone is asking questions about faith, there are going to be times where you don’t know the answer. That’s okay! If you don’t know the answer to a question, calmly tell them that you don’t know the answer but that you’re going to look into it. No one is walking encyclopedia and no one has answers to every question. Remember, let love lead you as you respond to someone who questions your faith. Even Jesus said:
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” - John 13: 35
Conclusion
No matter where you are in your faith journey, you don’t need to be afraid to share your faith. Your story is powerful, and how Jesus saved you is worthy of sharing.
It is only human to question our faith, seek God for answers, and grow in our understanding of God to be able to answer anyone who asks. Jesus is the GOOD NEWS for all the world!
Fuel your faith today by listening to the Ask About My Faith podcast to hear faith-sharing wins, evangelism face-plants, and true faith stories from Christians in every sphere of society.
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