Our role isn’t to bash people with the Good News; it’s to help them see that Jesus can take their struggles and carry them or take their passions and use them. The good news is no matter what we are going through Jesus is always real to deal with and be the solution. Deep down people want to know God values them and wants to involve them, but sadly they feel they have nothing to offer.
Positive Words
In the same way some words lock down conversations, some words open up. Words that affirm and show love will always open people up. I sat with a young kid as he told me about how he loved music and producing music. As we talked, I told him God was so pleased with his creativity and loved to hear what he produced. The kid was amazed I would say such a thing. As I affirmed him, I asked him what he thought about God using his music to bring people together, encourage community and breathe life into others. The kid could not imagine God wanted to do that. We chatted, and I explained God was passionate about using his music and couldn’t think of anything better. He was so affirmed that this conversation became the start of a relationship where he learned about his sin. He went on to learn that before he even knew there was a problem, Jesus had already dealt with the solution. The good news is he is now training to be a pastor.
Sharing our faith doesn’t need to be worrisome or hard—it just needs to be authentic. We don’t need to be clever, but honest, truthful and real. We don’t need more “evangelists”; we need more honest followers of Jesus pointing people to Him. What the world is looking for are people who are willing to tell stories that invite people closer into the place of God’s presence. I’m convinced we can all do that.
Cris Rogers (@Rabbirogers) took on the leadership of an Anglican church that had shrunk to seven people and is situated in one of the toughest estates in London. Cris and his family moved to Tower Hamlets with the desire of restarting the church. Five years later, the church is 160 people strong. He is an executive producer of Intersect: Where Your Story and God’s Story Converge, a resource for those in the church to engage those who might not yet be ready to step foot inside its walls. Visit intersectseries.com for more information.
