This is for my students that recently attended an evangelism equipping weekend called Dare 2 Share. We learned that there are 3 levels of sharing your faith. The first was telling. The second is explaining. The third is discussion. Greg Stier used (overused IMO) a surfing term “shredding the gnar” for taking the hard but best road of discussing your faith and being willing to engage in the difficult questions and doubts that will arise. Students were asked to immediately share their faith even before the weekend was over. The Lord moved in our lives and in the lives of the people we have been talking to about our God.
Students and other fellow evangelists, I have some words for you. Some things not to forget:
1) John the Baptist and Jesus both preached repentance and baptism for the sake of the Kingdom. Repentance is leaving life as you knew and and being baptized is joining with Christ as a part of his Kingdom as a forgiven person. Saying some words is not the same as walking out of a life of death into a life of freedom and light. As you tell people about Jesus, don’t forget that he told us that we would probably die, suffer, be made fun of, and be misunderstood for following Him. Are they ready to do it for real?
2) The Kingdom is good news indeed. God wants things to be right between you and him, you and others, and even the whole world. His way is what we are signing on for. It is not our way, but much much better. Sometimes we can’t see that, but trust Him.
3) You are being saved from hell and being released from sin, but you are also being brought into a life of faith that is lived out in love and obedience. God’s will for your life is about today as well as tomorrow.
4) The Gospel means a personal relationship, but it also means joining in doing things God’s way and having the privilege of being a part of a movement and purpose existed before time and has changed the lives of millions already.
5) If you don’t have answers, it doesn’t mean your faith is worthless. We were made to search for God together.
6) The power that raised Christ from the dead is alive and works through us.
7) If God is asking you to tell someone about Him, do it. Do it well. That is your part. It is the Spirit’s who changes hearts.
I love you guys and am amazed at what God is doing through you.
May the Lord’s will be done,
CWillz
Tags: dare 2 share, dare2share, evangelism, faith and culture, gospel, greg stier, repentance, the Bible, the Kingdom, theology, youth ministry
Well said. Jesus calls ius to count the cost and carry the cross. It is so important that we give a full view of what Christ is inviting us to.