How to Share Christ
We often find it challenging to share our faith with others, don’t we? Some of us find it awkward to initiate conversations about Jesus. It doesn’t help that our culture lifts up the value of “having it your way.” “You do you!” In a world that tells people to “do whatever pleases you,” it can feel intimidating to share Jesus.
We don’t need to be intimidated! In this study, we will see both the importance and the responsibility of sharing our faith in Christ. The goal of this study is to better equip us to share about Jesus in practical and engaging ways, and to extend an invitation to others to know about the priceless gift we have received.
Join me in seeing ourselves as a “newsfeed” of what Jesus has done for us. In the same way we look to news outlets to keep us informed about what’s going on in the world, so we can also be a newsfeed, revealing the message and story of Christ through the pages of our own lives. Our lives add to the chapters of HIStory!
How to Share Christ
- Our Commission Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21
- Start with Prayer 1 Timothy 2:1-8
- The Message Romans 10:8b-17
- Live the Message Colossians 3:1-3,12-17
- Share the Message Acts 17:16-18,22-23,30-31
- Trust God to Work Matthew 13:3-8,18-23
Question 1:
What’s the biggest news you’ve ever had to
try to keep secret?
THE POINT
God sends us to tell others about Jesus.
THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE
It wasn’t an easy business; in fact, it could be dangerous, depending on how people responded to the “bad” news we delivered. It was important for both our clients and the recipients, though, that we deliver the message.
Plaintiffs could not move forward with legal action if all parties were not notified. And if defendants weren’t properly notified, they would be unaware of the legal proceedings and their need to respond, causing further legal action, debt, or even incarceration.
God expects His followers to carry His important message to the world. Though it may be challenging and not always received well, it’s vital to provide an opportunity for others to respond to a life-or- death situation. What we’re sharing is not bad news; however, it’s good news!
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
Matthew 28:18-20
18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Consider the word “commission.” The prefix com-, means together, with, jointly. The word mission means a specific task a person or group is charged with doing. A commission, then, is a task we are given to do together. This passage is commonly referred to as the Great Commission, so in light of the word “commission,” we should see Jesus’ command as a command to join together with Him in the specific task of making disciples.
Jesus gave this command to the disciples before He ascended to heaven to help them understand they would have a task and purpose after He left. Knowing what to do and knowing how to do it can be quite different, though. The disciples may have been wondering: How are we supposed to accomplish this and make disciples? Many of us today may wonder the same thing.
Look at the first thing Jesus told the disciples in these verses. He didn’t focus on their abilities or confidence. Instead, He focused on the authority His Father had given Him. Before even giving them the command to disciple others, Jesus assured them He had all authority “in heaven and on earth” (v. 18). As the Father had given Jesus authority, Jesus now gave authority to the disciples—and to those who would follow them in faith. By Jesus’ authority, we are enlisted and empowered to go and continue His mission.
Jesus didn’t leave us to figure out this mission on our own. The second part of Jesus’ commission was His charge to His disciples—and it was a charge to action.
Question 2:
What are some obstacles to people
engaging in the Great Commission?
Fulfillment of the God-given Great Commission is accomplished in this way:
- HOW—We do it by His authority.
- WHAT—We make disciples, which includes baptizing and teaching them to observe all that Jesus has commanded us to do.
- WHERE—“Go” calls us to make disciples wherever we are.
- WHO—Anyone and everyone—we are to “make disciples of all nations” (v. 19).
We need to trust in His authority and abide in His presence to fulfill the commission of making disciples. Making disciples can appear a difficult task, but we can overcome fear and discouragement as we stay focused on the promise of Jesus’ authority and continual presence. Our goal is to be obedient and disciple others as we go through life, whether we immediately see the fruit of our efforts or not. We have the privilege of joining the original disciples as God’s instruments in accomplishing His divine plan.
16 From now on, then, we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective. Even if we have known Christ from a worldly perspective, yet now we no longer know him in this way. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come! 18 Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. 19 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us.
Ever noticed how excited people get about a new relationship? A guy can’t wait to tell about the girl he met. It’s the same for followers of Christ. Our life-transforming encounter is something we don’t want to keep to ourselves.
The story of our encounter with Christ is a powerful word-of-mouth “review.” Think about your experience. How did you hear about Jesus Christ? Most of us know about Jesus because someone told us.
We’d be selfish if we didn’t share the saving knowledge of Christ with others—but many of us are hesitant to do so. Some of the reasons we don’t share are: fear of rejection, fear of offending, and fear of not being able to share effectively. We have these fears because some people see God as an enemy. Jesus is not of this world, and neither are His followers, but we need not be afraid because we are not left alone when we talk to others. As we saw in the Great Commission, Jesus is with us! In addition, Jesus transforms us. The old self may feel inadequate, but your encounter with Christ means your life changes. As you grow in your relationship with Christ, He changes everything about you: your focus, your priorities, and your values.
Our personal reconciliation to God involves the complete restoration of our relationship with our Creator and Savior. As we have been reconciled to God, He has entrusted us with the ministry of reconciliation. Our “yes” to Jesus as Lord positions us for ministry. All believers in Christ are called to ministry, which includes the ministry of reconciliation. Our objective is to share with others the same gift we received. As those entrusted with this ministry, God has given us the privilege of becoming an agent of good news to others.
Question 3:
In what ways have you been made new as a
result of following Jesus?
2 Corinthians 5:20-21
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf: “Be reconciled to God.” 21 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Sports fans can be a crazy bunch of people, which is why they’re called fans (fanatics). As a sports fan myself, I proudly wear my team gear as though I was a player. Though I know they can’t hear my commentary, words of affirmation, or groans of disappointment, it doesn’t keep me from yelling at the television or from the stands. Whether my team wins or loses, I remain a loyal, die-hard fan. I believe I represent my team well and proudly share my devotion to them with others.
As Christ-followers, we’re entrusted with a far greater responsibility than just being a fan. Yes, God wants us to be devoted, enthusiastic, and committed to reflect how we feel about Him, but more importantly, it’s our responsibility to represent Jesus as His ambassadors. As ambassadors, we are to share Jesus’ love and sacrifice; we are to call others to acknowledge their need and trust Him by faith.
Question 4:
What does it mean for us to be
Christ’s ambassadors?
Ambassadors represent far more than commitment. They’re authorized agents and messengers commissioned by a sovereign authority to represent that authority in dealings with others. As “ambassadors for Christ” (v. 20), we fully represent Him.
Now as His ambassadors, we have been entrusted with calling others to that same love and mercy. We call them to: admit they are sinners, accept their need for the debt of their sin to be paid, acknowledge Jesus as the perfect sacrifice for their redemption, and ask Jesus to be their Lord and Savior.
God desires the fullness of His presence in our lives to overflow into the lives of others. As His ambassadors, we are to let others see Jesus in us. Our grateful response to His salvation should move us to be ambassadors, sharing our joy in Christ so that others can discover that same joy.
Question 5:
What strategies have helped you
share Jesus with others?
SHARING WHAT YOU KNOW
One of the ways believers can tell others about Jesus is simply to talk about what God is doing in our lives. Identify some of the things God has done for you recently that you can share with others.
In your family:
In your work:
In your neighborhood:
In your church:
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
ACTS 1:8
LIVE IT OUT
Telling others about Jesus can be challenging, but He’s made you His own and has empowered you with all you need to carry out His charge. Choose one of the following applications:
- Thank Him. Thank God for His authority and the commission He’s entrusted to you to represent Him and share His good news.
- Trust Him. We can overcome fears by giving them over to God. If you’re challenged with sharing Jesus with others, pray and trust God to reveal and heal these areas. Acknowledge and write down any fears, concerns, or needs you want Him to help you overcome. Pray and trust Him to move.
- Tell of His love. As you meet people during the week, be bold and just ask, “Has anyone told you Jesus loves you? He does and I just wanted to let you know.”
Our favorite teams may never know we’re fans, but God knows each of us intimately and He desires to work though us. How will others hear about Jesus? It starts with you!
Teacher's Notes:
Click Play to Watch
HOW TO SHARE CHRIST
Our Commission
The Point: God
sends us to tell others about Jesus.
The Passage: Matthew
28:18-20; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21
Video: Billy
Graham with Johnny Carson
The gospel of Jesus
Christ is truly life-changing. A follower of Christ knows this because they
have experienced it, but we are surrounded by countless others who don’t know
this but need to.
What did you notice
from this episode of Johnny Carson?
Billy’s final words
were an invitation for Johnny and Ed to come and hear the gospel.
Final words are
important. For believers, the final words Jesus gave before returning to His
Father were a commission for ministry.
Leonardo da Vinci’s The
Last Supper is one of the most recognizable works of art
in the world, but da Vinci would not have created it if he had not been
commissioned to do it as part of a church renovation. This commission led to a
beautiful work, admired by many. Followers of Jesus Christ have been given a
commission too and it can lead to something far more beautiful than a work of
art. Think about it…
What is more beautiful
than seeing lives changed as people place their faith in Christ as Savior and
Lord?
Matthew 28:18-20
18 Jesus came near and
said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe
everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end
of the age.”
What is our commission?
Christ commissioned us
to make disciples as we go through life.
How are we supposed to
accomplish this and make disciples? I’m sure that the disciples wondered this
as well.
Our lesson said that
fulfillment of the Great Commission would be accomplished in this way:
HOW — We do it by His
authority.
WHAT — We make
disciples, which includes baptizing and teaching them to observe all that Jesus
has commanded us to do.
WHERE — “Go” calls us
to make disciples wherever we are.
WHO — Anyone and
everyone — we are to “make disciples of all nations”
Paul later in a letter
to the Corinthians emphasizes a need for reconciliation. He knew and
experienced the life-changing message and he took Jesus’ commission very
seriously because he knew that people would become new creations in Christ—and
that our witness could lead them there.
Paul was simply telling
them what Christ had done in his life.
2 Corinthians 5:16-17
16 From now on, then,
we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective. Even if we have known Christ
from a worldly perspective, yet now we no longer know him in this way. 17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!
What should we tell
others that Christ has done in our lives?
As believers, we live a
new life in Christ in which one set of conditions and relationships pass away
to be replaced by another set that come from Him and give evidence of His
presence within us.
1.
You are a New Person
Paul recognizes the
change in his own life. Before his conversion, Paul saw Jesus Christ just like
other unsaved men and women did, with a worldly
perspective. Yet after coming to know the Master, Paul and every other
saint cannot see or think about the Savior the same way. Before salvation,
Jesus was just Mary’s son but now He is the Son of God. Before redemption, He
was just a good teacher but now He is the Good Shepherd who gave His life for
His sheep. Not only does one’s perspective change, but his or her thoughts,
feelings, and desires become new. The old has passed; I
was a sinner. The new has come; I am a saint.
The old has passed; I was a child of the Devil.
The new has come; I am a child of the King! I
had an old way, reject Him, but now I have a new
way, surrender to Him. As we are going,
represent Christ as a new person.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19
18 Everything is from
God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ
and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. 19 That is, in Christ,
God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against
them, and he has committed the message of
reconciliation to us.
What should we tell
others that Christ has done in our lives?
Because of our sin, we
were at enmity with God, but He has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus
Christ. As believers we are to do and say those things that lift up the name of
Christ and that call others to be reconciled to Him.
2.
You have a New Purpose
After showing that
Christians are now new people, Paul moves on to demonstrate the new purpose
every saint should have. Paul avoids the excuses up front by communicating that
“everything is from God.” Ezekiel wrote, “I (Yahweh) will give them integrity
of heart and put a new spirit within them; I will remove their heart of stone
from their bodies and give them a heart of flesh” (Eze 11:19). As Paul and the
prophet proclaimed that this new life, new name, new walk, and
new talk is from Him. Furthermore, this God has “reconciled us to Himself through Christ.” God
sent His Son to repair our broken relationship with Himself. Now believers are tasked with the same job or purpose. We
have been given the ministry of reconciliation and has committed to us the
message of reconciliation. As Jesus taught, He did not come for the
righteous but sinners. Now Christ’s mission is our
mission. We must make disciples by going, baptizing, teaching, and
knowing (Mat. 28:19-20).
2 Corinthians 5:20-21
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his
appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf: “Be reconciled to God.” 21 He
made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become
the righteousness of God.
3.
You have a New Position
What does it mean for
us to be Christ’s ambassadors?
We are ambassadors or representatives for Christ. An ambassador is one who
is living in a foreign country, who is representing his or her country of
origin. Therefore, a saint is representing the affairs
of Heaven while residing here on earth. We want
His will or desires to be done on earth as it is in Heaven. We also
speak for our King. We plead on Christ’s behalf, as one who has God pleading
through us calling men, women, boys, and girls to be reconciled to God. With
this new position, our job is also to testify of the
greatness of our God. Paul declared that God made Christ, who did not
know sin, to be sin for us. Isaiah proclaimed it in the Old Testament that God
laid on Jesus the iniquity of us all (53:6). Christ took the blame for our
sins, the pain for our sins, and bared the shame for our sins “so that in Him
we might become the righteousness of God.”
Our responsibility as
Christ’s representatives includes calling others to repentance and faith in
Christ.
Conclusion: As
representatives of Christ, we must let our light shine before those in this
world by living as a new person. As this new person, we cannot operate by the
old way, which is according to the way of this world. The new way is for the
glory of God.
Making disciples is to
be done as one is going along his or her way. Where the disciple eats, works,
and plays, he or she must represent Christ by demonstrating that he or she is a
new person, who has a new purpose, and a new position.
The Point: God sends
us to tell others about Jesus. This is our commission!
No comments:
Post a Comment