(Part 1 of the Jesus Talk Series)
We are trained as children to never discuss religion in public. But how do you square Jesus’ command to, “Go and make disciples” with “Don’t force your religion on me”? Is it possible to abide by the rules of culture without foregoing the commands of Jesus? In short, yes. Use these three simple ideas on how to talk Jesus and you’ll be surprised how easy it can be to share your faith without breaking cultural norms.
Find Open People
If your friend says he doesn’t want to hear about God, then drop it. What are you going to accomplish by forcing it on him? If a family member’s eyes gloss over every time you mention Jesus, get the hint. They are not yet ready. No amount of Bible thumping will win her over. Introduce Jesus to people around you. Talk about your faith with others. Don’t ever stop doing these things, but if someone makes it clear they are not interested, move on and tell someone else. There is someone out there who wants to know. They will ask questions, be eager to hear your story, want you to pray for them, or give off a host of other tangible social cues that they are interested. When you find that person, focus in on them. Don’t worry about all those who are not yet interested. Focus on those whom God is hard at work in their lives. And don’t just take my word on it, even Jesus said that if you get rejected, dust yourself off, move on, and go find someone who wants to hear (Luke 10:1-11).
Share Your Story
For every person who wants to listen to your sermon, there is a crowd who’d rather hear your story. There is a time and place for laying out an organized and lengthy presentation of Jesus but your friends’ locker at school or cubicle at work is likely not one of them. What the average person really wants to know is not what you believe, but why you believe it. They want the story. How did Jesus become so important to you? Why have you dedicated your life to a God you can’t see? What has he done in your life that makes you such a big fan? When you answer these questions in the context of a personal intimate story, they are much more likely to say “Who is Jesus,” rather than, “Who do you think you are?” Just look at Jesus in Mark 5. The people demand that he leave their region after Jesus heals a demon possessed man. Jesus sends that same man back to his village to share his story and the next time Jesus visits, the people couldn’t get enough of him (Mark 6:53-56). Want help in learning how to share your story? Join the My Second Story Challenge (LINK) launching next week, September 30.
Pray for Them
Afraid of how you’re going to spring the Jesus on some unsuspecting stranger? Well, start with a prayer. When your waiter or waitress brings your food, ask them how you can pray for them while you thank God for your meal. When your friend starts unloading about his terrible day, take ten seconds and pray for him right then and there. You will be surprised at how easy spiritual conversations can flow once you offer a meaningful prayer. Just think, most of the people around you have likely never had someone stop their day and take a moment to pray for them specifically. Be the first, show you care, and you’ll quickly see that the people around you are likely much more spiritually open than you think.