Dynamics In Sharing Your Faith With Others
In Everyday Settings
Bill Black

1. Know your purpose. Consider God’s purpose versus your purpose.

2. Style matters. People are watching and wanting and they do matter and they do care.

3. Other people exist. Everyone is having an experience, created by God, loved by God. God is active in every individual’s life, whether they realize it or not.

4. Behavior (or lack thereof) is not a point for judgment. How do you understand life and faith in terms of behavior? What is your definition of sin? Grace is needed in most settings. Grace that does not preclude judgment and forgiveness, but rather grace that grants acceptance.

5. Intention / Purpose / Initiative. Prepare to enter into the setting through intentional presence. Keep focused on your purpose. Take the initiative to accomplish your purpose.

6. Nobody will listen to you unless they know you like them. Earn the right to be heard (get attention / build relationship / earn right / be heard) with the Gospel.

7. Other people have morality and values. Christians do not own morality. Their morality may speak to other issues they think to be of life worthy importance: community, tolerance, social justice, etc.–calling them immoral is inappropriate.

8. Find common ground. Focus on what you have in common in terms of feelings about life.

9. Revealing the presence of God in surprising settings and in their lives is what we are about. Nobody will listen to God unless they know God loves them. An act of kindness goes a long way to revealing God’s active care and love in their life.

10. Define terms in their language. Christian sayings and phrases carry implied meanings. Speak in everyday language.

11. Don’t let spreading the Gospel feel any different than telling somebody about a love in your life, about your children, or about a great memory. Speak from your heart and with your heart. In telling someone about Jesus you are telling them of an experience in your life, a love in your life, simply share the story of your relationship

12. Revealing the presence of God active in someone’s life is about them, not us. You are seeking to enable them to see more clearly God’s presence, to hear a loving word, to feel the relationship God seeks with them.

13. Be real. It is important to be honest about our lives. Sharing doubts, fears, and failings is as important as sharing commitment, strengths, and successes.

14. Pray for the salvation of others. The work of evangelism is something God lets us watch, but very little of it is what we do. It is not about convincing others of our ideas. It is about a spiritual exchange between a person and God.

15. It is important to make the ask and to make it correctly. When the relationship calls for it, it is important to ask if someone would like to know Christ. Have several ways of sharing how to become a Christian ready. You will know when and how.