How to share your Faith with your Friends
As a teenager in this ever pressurised world it is difficult to reconcile the desire to be accepted with wanting to share one’s faith. When asked what we believe, why do we find ourselves tongue-tied and worried about stumbling through some inadequate explanation?
If you identify with this as you try to find your feet in school or college, maybe the following couple of points will be useful. Firstly, the most effective way to present the gospel is to tell of what Christ has done for you.
People may argue and ask questions you don’t know the answers to, but they cannot deny what Christ has done in your life. Think on your testimony and be clear when given the opportunity to present it!
Then, knowing scripture - the verses upon which your faith is founded - is a good starting point to explaining the four key points of the Gospel message.
1) God created us; He loves us and wants us to live at peace with Him forever.
"then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature" (Ge 2:7).
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly" (Jn 10:10).
2) We have sinned and turned away from God and as a result we are cut-off from Him and subject to His judgement.
"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Ro 3:23)
"but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear" (Isa 59:2).
3) God still loves us and He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to take the judgement we deserve and bring us back to God.
"but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Ro 5:8).
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord!" (Ro 6:23).
"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit" (1Pe 3:18).
4) We must respond in faith by trusting Jesus Christ as our Saviour and committing our lives to Him as Lord.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (Jn 3:16).
"But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" (Jn 1:12).
"because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Ro 10:9)
Wow, Dave, that is so awesome!! I hear God is really doing mighty things in VIA. I am constantly praying for you, wishing that I were there to witness it all….We are working with the youth here and with College kids, and they are really not doing well…so thank you for taking on that “challenge”!! May GOD continue to bless your work!!
Eric&Mira
Comment by Mira K. Bryan — Wed, 8. April 2009 @ 10:59