Part 5?  Yes!  The other four parts are here.

Hopefully you want to tell your story … not because you think you are so interesting, but because your story is about Jesus and what he has done for you. 

So you get your chance … you are sitting at the coffee house.  Your friend is sitting across from you.  You’ve asked some good questions, like “Did you grow up around here?  What did your family do for fun when you were a kid?  Did your family have any faith tradition that you embraced?” And they have opened up.  They have told you about growing up with parents of different faiths and how that left them confused.  They mentioned the college years that they wish they could do over.  They have told you about how they believe all religions are basically the same and that they are spiritual without being religious.  Now it’s your turn.

What in the world do you say next?

If you felt a sinking feeling in your stomach as you imagined that moment, you are not alone.  Most of us fear that moment when we get exactly what we have been praying for: an opportunity to share!  Here are some simple tips to make it easy to share your story when the moment is right:

• Say a quick prayer, Nehemiah style (Nehemiah 2:4-5)
• Use the Acts 26 model (My life before Christ, how I met Christ, my life since I met Christ)
• Weave the gospel into the story (1 Cor 15:3-11)
• Avoid using Christian jargon like “saved”, “sanctified”, etc.
• Remember to smile: what you are sharing really is GOOD NEWS!

Douglas Cecil, in his book Seven Principles of an Evangelistic Life, gives us the ABC’s of sharing our faith:

• Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as you speak
• Be brief
• Center on Christ

Relax, people want to hear your story.  And you never know, God might use to change someone’s life!

For more on sharing your story, see our free resource entitled Sharing Your Story: Your Most Valuable Tool for Sharing Christ.

By Michael Smith

Community Pastor

Fellowship Bible Church of NWA

mismith@fellowshipnwa.org