Most people who follow God believe that sharing with others is an integral part of the Christian faith. However, in today’s world, there are many obstacles to evangelism. People who are against religion of any kind are very vocal and often strident. Despite this, believers are still expected to share with unbelievers, with the intent of assisting them in discovering their own personal relationship with the Creator.
There are many ways to share faith without being “in your face” about it. Some of these are discussed below. Regardless how one chooses to share faith, the most important thing is to share!
Be a blessing to others. Show love to those around you. Minister to needs you see. This could be as simple as taking a hot meal to an ailing neighbor, mowing next door’s lawn when you are doing your own anyway, dropping off a treat to someone who has outlived most of their friends. It does not have to be something big to be special. People who are recipients of your kindness may be more willing to listen to what you have to say about your faith, because they have seen it in action.
Build relationships. It is unlikely that an unbeliever will have any interest in hearing about God from a stranger. Take time to get to know people. Let your faith flow into the relationship naturally, and the relationship you have built will encourage the person to hear you.
Forgive. Probably the most difficult of anything on this list, forgiveness is also one of the most important. If a Christian refuses to forgive, how can he relate to an unbeliever the amazing forgiveness of the Savior? Choose to forgive, even when it is difficult.
Have a visible representation of your faith at work. This could be a Bible sitting on your desk (but do not read during working hours). You could have a mug with a Scripture or your church name and logo. Display a small frame with a Bible verse inside. Small things that make known that you are a person of faith may encourage co-workers to start up conversations in which your faith can be shared verbally.
Invite someone to church with you. Instead of being an “undercover Christian,” be willing to invite friends and neighbors to a worship service with you. Those with whom you have built relationships may be willing to come just because you asked. Others may accept out of curiosity. You will not know unless you ask!
Keep it simple. The gospel is simple. Making it complicated helps no one. Tell people in a concise way about God’s love, Jesus’ sacrifice, and the love, peace, and joy that can be experienced through faith.
Know your faith. It is impossible to explain something if you do not know it yourself. Read and study your Bible regularly so you know what you believe and why. The Bible encourages us to have an answer ready for those who ask.
Live like a Christian wherever you are. Remember that you represent Jesus and live according to His example. Be good, kind, and gracious to others. Be honest in all things. Have integrity. Obey authority: both God and the earthly rulers He has allowed to be set in place.
Never compromise your beliefs. This is harder than it sounds, because so many things have gotten to a point where Christians’ beliefs are going against what is being pushed in media and government. However, if something is believed, then it should be acted upon. This does not mean to be belligerent and oppose things for the sake of opposing them and citing a barely related belief; this means to hold to beliefs firmly and do not back down from a sincerely held belief.
Pray for others. God can change things and He can draw people. He wants His people to talk to Him. Pray with others, as well. Allowing people to see and hear your faith can encourage them to seek further for their own.
Present Jesus. He looks good on His own; it is not necessary to make other things look bad for Jesus to look good. Running down someone else’s beliefs, background, or culture will only antagonize them and lessen your impact.
Publicly identify yourself with Christ on social media. Check in at church, if you use Foursquare, Google Maps, or Facebook. Include your faith in posts about general things, such as a picture of a craft and an object lesson that can go with it. Post Bible verses. Share testimony. Be positive. Remember that this means it will be necessary to limit your negative posts and complaints.
Remember sharing your faith is not about you. It should go without saying, but faith in Christ is about Christ. Salvation is about God and what He can do for people. If a person rejects your faith, it does not mean they are rejecting you, so do not take it personally. While sharing personal stories can be a good thing when they point to God and how your faith helped you, remember to emphasize God and faith rather than self.
Share Bible stories. Telling about passages in the Bible that show attributes of God and Jesus can help unbelievers to learn what God is really like. It can show how Jesus taught and how He was our example.
Share gratitude. Be thankful for what God has done, but also for what others do for you. Live a life of gratitude and complaining and negativity will be almost nonexistent.
Share your testimony. Do not glorify the sin of your previous life, if it exists. Talk about what God did. Talk about how He knew you and drew you from the womb. Share how God has offered solutions to your own problems, including Scripture that tells He would. Share Scripture that has aided you in dealing with situations in your life.
Trust the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will nudge and sometimes offer things to say; pay attention to this small voice and follow it whenever possible.
Use questions. Find out what others believe, so you can share in a way that is more understandable and relevant. Invite others to ask you questions about your faith. Remember that inviting questions may mean that it is necessary to do further study. Instead of answering a question you have not considered with “I don’t know,” consider saying, “Let me find out.” Then remember to do some study to find out and get back to the person with the answer.
Use resources. As mentioned before, things like mugs and Scripture verse displays can be a quiet witness. Also consider tote bags, and similar things that can be emblazoned with messages of faith.
Beside displays, resources such as gospel tracts and Christian books can encourage unbelievers to consider the truth. It might be possible to offer to study a book with a friend.
Volunteer. Whenever you offer yourself to assist with others’ needs, this shows the love of Christ.
Wear your faith. Things like hats and t-shirts with uplifting Spiritual messages, jewelry such as necklaces, bracelets, and earrings, can display your faith and inspire questions or conversation about your faith.
Write encouragement that includes Scripture. In this day of electronic communication, handwritten notes are rare. This means that they have more impact now than ever. Write thank you notes and include Scripture verses. Write notes to ailing folks with encouraging Scripture. Write cards to those in bereavement offering hope through Scripture. Taking time out of your day to write to someone is a way to touch their life in a real, tangible, and collectible way.
There are doubtless more ways to share your faith than these, but this should be sufficient to get you started. Do not let fear or reticence keep you from sharing your faith!