by Alan Rathbun
Have you noticed that we talk about what we care about?
Are you a sports fan? You probably have your ear tuned to sports news and are ready to talk about it with fellow fans of your teams. Are you a movie buff? You likely know when the hot, new movies are being released and you can’t wait to talk about them with your friends. Do you have a green thumb? You’re probably happy to share your best gardening secrets with others and to learn about their tips as well. Political junkie? You probably love debating political news and views.
All of this makes sense, right? It’s easy for us to talk about what we care about. That’s why all the people in our churches are always talking about Jesus with their family, friends, neighbors and coworkers.
Except they’re not. In fact, most people in our churches would say they find it hard to talk about Jesus with their family, friends, neighbors and coworkers.
“Whatever the reason, as pastors and church leaders, we cannot allow ourselves to be content with the hesitancy our people have to share their hope in Jesus.”
If it’s so easy for us to talk about sports, movies, gardening and politics with others, what makes it so hard for us to talk about Jesus? If Peter and John confidently exclaimed, “We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard”, why are we so hesitant?
We claim to love Jesus. We claim to have a personal relationship with Him that satisfies our souls. We love singing about Him at church. We believe His good news that through Him we have extraordinary forgiveness and freedom. We have tasted the love, joy and peace of His kingdom.
So why isn’t normal for people in our congregations to proclaim His good news?
Is it because they do not fully believe that their family, friends, neighbors and coworkers need Jesus more than anything else?
Is it because they don’t really believe people who don’t trust Jesus will be eternally separated from God in hell?
Is it because they are afraid of losing their social standing or of being labeled as a fanatic?
Whatever the reason, as pastors and church leaders, we cannot allow ourselves to be content with the hesitancy our people have to share their hope in Jesus. It wasn’t just to leaders that Peter wrote, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” He wrote these words to encourage all believers to talk about the hope they have in Jesus and to be ready to explain it.
That’s why one of the breakout sessions we are offering at our upcoming district conference is “Making Evangelism Normal in Your Church”. We will explore what is keeping our people from sharing the good news of Jesus as well as beginning steps we can take to turn the tide. I hope your discontent with the widespread hesitancy to share the gospel, will motivate you to sign for this breakout session. Together, we can see increasing gospel impact and begin to see our people proclaim the gospel with clarity, boldness and joy.
For more information about this year’s district conference and the breakouts available, please visit our District Conference page.