Why are we so stingy with the gospel? It seems even the teens who are beyond their years in other areas are still pathetic in their sharing of the gospel.
Questioning Yourself
“I don’t have time.”
“I’m shy.”
“What if I don’t have all the answers?”
The questions go on and on, but the point remains the same – there are people all around you running straight for hell, but you don’t have to courage to speak up (Rev. 2:8).
Try replacing, “I don’t have time” with, “It’s not a priority.”
Change, “I’m shy” to, “I don’t trust God to use me and work though me.”
Replace, “I don’t have all the answers” with, “I don’t trust the Bible.”
You see, it’s really a trust and priorities issue.
It is a direct command from God to share the gospel, good news, with everyone. The great commission tells us to go tell the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15)!
Christians are being beheaded in other countries for their faith, and we won’t share the gospel for fear of how someone might view us? God demands ALL of us (Matt. 22:37).
Romans 1:16Open in Logos Bible Software (if available) says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes” (NIV).
Charles Spurgeon once said, “The gospel is like a lion. It doesn’t need you to defend it, it just needs you to let it out of its cage.”
First Peter 3:15Open in Logos Bible Software (if available) says, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. 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” (NIV).
Pray for God to give you clarity of thought and speech as you share with everyone you meet. Remember that sharing Christ is an outflow of a beautiful, authentic relationship with him.
Club Mentality?
I’m trying to make sense of the fact that the church doesn’t care.
We have become more like a club than a church, and we wonder why we are viewed by the world the way we are.
Let’s get outside our potlucks and pews; there is a dying world right outside our stained glass windows. It’s too bad we have become too blind to see it. We care too much about other people’s opinions when we should be worrying about God’s (Matt. 10:28).
You see, our problem is that we have become comfortable. Have you noticed how much padding is on a church pew? We love comfort and easiness.
“Witnessing is too far out of the comfort zone.”
But, if you really knew your Bible, that wouldn’t be a problem, would it?
I want to challenge you to be real, authentic Christians, seeking God and sharing him with the world – instead of throwing every opportunity in the dirt by being too defensive, self righteous, or not letting the person talk and state his/her beliefs.
Let’s make the best of every opportunity God hands us!
Colossians 4:6Open in Logos Bible Software (if available) says, “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (NIV).
Let me make something very clear: The only reason you were created was to honor, serve, enjoy, commune and glorify God. No matter where you are at, what job you have, what culture you live in, you are to spread the gospel.
First Chronicles 16:8Open in Logos Bible Software (if available) says, “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done” (NIV).
First Corinthians 15:3-4Open in Logos Bible Software (if available) says, “For what I received I passed on to you as FIRST IMPORTANCE: that Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures” (NIV, emphasis mine).
Conclusion
But it doesn’t end there. When you do see someone come to the Lord, you should disciple them. The Church seems to have put discipleship lower and lower on the list, and as a result we have fake people going through the motions. So be bold with the gospel! WWJD, right?
