Prioritize Sharing Christ
Personally Prioritizing Sharing Christ
One of the realities that puzzles me the most as a follower of Christ is that it takes unusually too long to consistently obey the command to tell others about Christ and to teach them how to follow Him. (Matthew 28:19) We do so many things in our church to cultivate motivation, equip us for the task, and to encourage effort. Yet, with spurts of motivation comes only spurts of obedience. The real problem is that if we do not prioritize, it will not sustain. How do we prioritize enduring obedience to share Christ? The simple answer is, I don’t know.
The only way I could begin to answer this is to ask myself: How do I prioritize enduring obedience to share Christ? Here are a few things that have helped me along the way.
1. Consistently Pray: Weekly praying for the lost, for opportunities, and for boldness.
2. Make Effort Where the Ice is Broken: Following up with people I’ve shared with in the past (call, text, visit). It’s easier to initiate & keeps me in the habit.
3. Share the Gospel Even in My Fear: Courage is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to face our fears. I can’t wait until I’m not afraid, because I’ll never do it.
4. Don’t Always Try to Do it Alone: I’m always more confident when I’m with someone else who will push me to action.
5. Be Sensitive to Others’ Needs: Caring for people always opens a door to tell them my “why.” I’ve unsuccessfully changed a tired just to share about Christ.
6. Get into the Habit of “Trying”: One of the greatest practices that helps to open a door for Christ is to be prepared to ask intentional questions to get my foot in the door: “Do y’all go to church anywhere?” “What are your thoughts on Jesus?”
7. Sharing from the Overflow of My Heart: When I consistently pursue the Lord & talk to other believers about what I’m learning, that will overflow in my conversations with those who are lost.
8. Go on a Short Term Mission Trip/Take Opportunities with Strangers: Cultivate bold obedience with strangers in order to pursue intentionality with your “neighbors.”
9. Initiate a Relationship to Initiate Conversation{s}: Very few people hear the Gospel once & believe. The first conversation does not have to be a homerun, I just need a base hit that allows me another opportunity.
10. Make a Goal & Establish Accountability with Others: When I set goals & someone else knows, accountability will motivate me to action. Accountability prevents missed opportunities from piling up. There is a difference between perfect obedience & enduring obedience. Enduring obedience pushes through missed opportunities.
