Sharing Your Faith

Topic: 

When you know about something great you want to share it with other people. When you watch the best movie or learn about the newest band you start telling your friends about it and using your influence. Sharing our faith should be the same idea right? A lot of people get shy and scared to talk about their faith with people for a lot of reasons. They are worried about offending people, hurting relationships, or being categorized in the “Christian box.” There could be many other things that come up. Students sharing their faith should come out of caring for others and wanting God to work in others the way he has worked in them. By forcing someone to watch a movie they might be turned off to it, but when you share how great it was and that you think they would like it they are more likely to give it a chance and respect your thinking about them.

Purpose: 

Christians call sharing their faith evangelism. This means telling people about what God has done by sending Jesus to forgive our sins and changing our lives so we live in a relationship with God.

What the Bible Says: 

The Bible is filled with examples of people sharing about the amazing things God is doing in individual lives all the way up what he is doing and will do for nations. After Jesus rose from the dead he told his followers “go and make disciples of all nations (share your faith), baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you (help them grow)” (Matthew 28:18-20). The book of Acts looks at how the disciples, who followed Jesus when he was on earth, share their faith and grow the early church. Read about Peter preaching to thousands of people in Acts 2:14-42.

Where to start: 

Students should start with what God has done in their life. Share how God was changed them. What were they like before you became a Christian? What is their life like now? What is important to them now? What is God teaching them now? Not every conversation had to be about God, but we want our students to be ready to share about him when it comes up so others can be transformed. The people in our students 8 to 15 need hope and forgiveness and our students know where they can find it. Many people life by the motto "Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary, use words." This means that our lives should demonstrate who God is, but sometimes using words helps people get to Him faster.

What others might say: 

It’s okay to not have an answer to every question that comes up. Students may want to share their own questions and doubts and how God has answered them or look for more information with/for them to help their own faith.

Where to learn more: 

You can learn a lot by trying. Have students give sharing their faith a chance. For more details and help check out:

Dare2Share for leaders or for students.

Just Walk Across the Room by Bill Hybels

Tongue Tied No More by Don Ashcraft (Satch has a copy of this)

Why Should I Talk About My Faith At School?

How Do I Evangelize Without Turning People Away?