Have you ever ordered a dish at a restaurant and believed it tasted so good that you wanted the person you were with to try it? When we care about people, we want them to experience good things. And when you have tasted the goodness of Jesus, you undoubtedly want others to experience His goodness as well.
When it comes to reaching our neighbors with the good news of Jesus, many of us may find the idea of sharing the gospel with them intimidating or challenging, but it does not have to be this way. Sharing the gospel message of Jesus with our neighbors may not be as hard as you think. Sharing the good news with our neighbors can feel natural and effective. It is as easy as Pray, Care, Share! Prayer for others leads to opportunities to care, which opens a way to share.
Prayer is a foundation for sharing the gospel. The scripture tells us that apart from Jesus, we can do nothing, but with Him … all things are possible. Never underestimate the power of prayer when it comes to helping others discover the love of Jesus. We can start by simply praying for our neighbors by name, praying they would come to know the goodness of Jesus, and praying that God would show us how to care for them, and in His perfect timing, share the good news with them.
It has been said that people do not want to hear what you have to share until they know that you care. In a world that is skeptical about God to some degree, our embodiment of the gospel is of upmost importance. I have heard it said that we should preach the gospel at all times … and sometimes we can use words. When we embody the gospel, we - like Jesus - show care and concern for our neighbors. Caring for our neighbors demonstrates God’s love for them, and they will be more likely to listen to us because they know we genuinely care for them and have their best interest at heart. Caring for our neighbor may be providing them a listening ear, meeting a need that they have, making them a meal, or inviting them to do life with you in some way. Caring for our neighbors is not just a gospel strategy, it is the 2nd greatest commandment according to Jesus: to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Sharing the good news of Jesus is something we do with people we care about. God does not want anyone to be separated from His love and He has chosen us to share the good news of Jesus with others. If sharing the good news from a verbal standpoint is difficult for you, just remember that God is always at work drawing people to himself. Understanding that reminds us that it is God who draws people to Himself, and we never know what He might be doing on the inside of our neighbor’s heart. In other words, we should live with an incredible amount of curiosity when God crosses our path with someone else’s. God may have placed you in this person’s path to be the one He has invited into His work. Be curious! And remember, you have what it takes to share the gospel with others if Jesus lives in you. You do not have to feel so afraid of the process.
for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord… 2 Timothy 1:7-8a
You also do not have to worry about what to say or how to say it. God will give you the words if you ask Him. The Holy Spirit can do more through you than you ever thought or imagined.
do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Matthew 10:18-20
So do not lack confidence. Jesus has moved into the neighborhood, and He lives in you. Trust God to help you. Simply ask them if you can share your story with them, and then tell them how you came to know Jesus and perhaps ask them if they would like to receive Jesus, too.
-Pastor Robert