2. Keep it simple

Nervous about introducing people to Jesus? No need to be! Discover how to keep it simple and embarrassment-free.

STARTER

GUIDE

HERE’S A WAY TO PRAYERFULLY FOLLOW JESUS:

Find one or more Christians who share your interest
Discover a simple way to love people round you so that you can all live a fuller life
Build friendships with those involved
Share your faith, as part of helping each other toward a richer life.

Feel awkward about that last step? You won’t know what to say? You’ll look stupid? Don’t worry! Sharing your faith can be as natural as recommending a good hairdresser or telling a friend about a good deal.

Here is how.

IF YOU ARE INVOLVED IN A MISSION ACTIVITY…

Add a spiritual dimension.

A weekly luncheon club met at the back of one rural church. Hardly any of the regulars worshiped on Sunday. The leaders invited guests – with no pressure – to gather after lunch round the holy table, which they’d moved into the body of the church.

They lit a candle
played some Christian music
read a story from Scripture
had some silence
read one or two prayers

– no more than 15 minutes in all.

Almost everyone stayed behind. The start of a new congregation?

OR PERHAPS YOU ARE STARTING SOMETHING NEW

Issue a welcoming invitation.

Imagine Jane teams up with Jalal. They give free croissants and decent coffee to their work colleagues each Monday morning. This provokes conversations and strengthens office relationships.

When asked why, they say something like “We’re into practical spirituality, and this is what we do.”

When pressed, they add, “If you want to know more, we meet after work on Tuesdays and for three quarters of an hour we explore spirituality. Jesus is known as one of the world’s greatest spiritual teachers. We look at stories he told and see if we agree with them. Why don’t you come and see what we do?”

ANYONE COULD DO THIS!

Say Gary accepts the invitation.

One of the group photocopies the Bible passage, and explains that they look at the story over several weeks. “We let it seep into our lives and see what happens.”

They prayerfully read the story and ask, “If this story happened today, what would it look like?” They have fun re-imagining the story in their context.

Next time they re-read the story, recap their previous discussion and ask, “What does this story show me?” (What am I getting out of it? What’s it about?)

In the third week they discuss, “Could the story make a difference to my life? How?”

Someone explains, “We’ve said we’re into practical spirituality. So we see if the story does make a difference and report back next time.

“We are cool about this. It’s an experiment. So by definition it might work, it might not. Either way, let’s share what happened when we meet again.”

They share their experiences by asking, “Did the story make a difference? How?”

Here is an easy way to introduce people to Jesus – just four enjoyable questions.

If this story happened today, what would it look like?
What does this story say to me?
How could the story make difference to my life?
How did it make a difference?

Gary’s not embarrassed. It is easy for him to join in.

And sharing your Christian faith is simple: “How did the story make a difference to your life?”

DON’T BE AN EXPERT!

Worried that Gary would ask questions you can’t answer? Or that he’d find good reasons to disagree with your answers and you’d look stupid?

If so, you don’t have to answer people’s questions! If someone asks a factual question and you’re not sure of the answer, invite the group to Google it. (After all, this is a 21st century way of following Jesus!)

You can discuss which are good sites to visit.

When someone asks a question of opinion, reply: “From what we know about Jesus so far, what do we think he would say?”

Suggest people prayerfully consider their responses, and then share what they think God has said to them (if they believe in him). Encourage people to listen to, rather than correct each other. Remind them that the church is full of different views, and this diversity can give us a broader glimpse of God.

Keep responding like this and you will teach people the wonderful habit of grounding their thoughts on Christ. Our eternal destiny does not depend on getting the “right” answer. Far more important is to learn the habit of taking our bearings from Jesus.

And especially important is this key principle: you are introducing people to Jesus in a way that leaves room for the Spirit and empowers the explorer.

A PATH TO MATURITY

As soon as you can, ask Gary to lead the discussion.

Give him the story. He knows the questions. All he needs do is to watch the time, keep the group on task and give everyone a chance to talk – time, task, talk.

When people need more solid food, point one person to a website with background information about the Bible passage and another to a different website interpreting the story. They share what they’ve learnt before the discussion.

Or discuss a podcast or YouTube video by a recognised Christian authority.

The group is now accessing wisdom from the wider church. Encourage members to connect with the wider family in other ways – e.g. to join activities with a local congregation or church the community is linked to.

Members come to rely on the Spirit through Scripture, one another and the church at large.

‘Gospel-lite’? No way!

THIS APPROACH HAS BIG ADVANTAGES

Anyone can do it.
Enquirers easily join in.
The Bible tells people about Jesus, through the Spirit
Christians share their faith almost without knowing
People exploring faith see how the Bible and the Christian family make a difference
Leadership is shared with newcomers, increasing their commitment to the group
New Christians learn how to study the Bible on their own, apply it to their lives, share it with their friends, and find helpful resources
If the leader moves on, the group has the means to keep going – sustainability is built in.

To start a new Christian community, you don’t need lots of theology, nor to be able to answer difficult questions!

Trust the Spirit!

And – vitally important – respect the other person!

STORIES

Flik and Sam describe how sharing your faith is is as natural as telling a friend about a good deal.

Tim describes how the Discovery Bible Study questions are an easy way to introduce people to Jesus.

ACTION

BIBLE

If you are in a group, try Discovery Bible Study yourselves. Choose a story about Jesus (or one he told) and prayerfully ask the four questions in the Guide. (You may need to do this over several sessions).

Then review your experience.

Did you enjoy studying the Bible in this way?
What are the strengths and weaknesses of this approach?
Can you imagine doing this with people who are exploring the Christian faith? How might you adapt it?

FOR DISCUSSION

1. Either as a group or as individuals, select an aspect of your life outside the church that matters to you.

Prayerfully imagine you have a dream about that part of your life, prompted by the Spirit. In it, you and your Christian friends are loving others in a way that really excites people round you.

What would be happening to excite people?
Who would be most excited, and what would they be saying and doing?
What questions would they ask you?
How would you frame your reply to include an invitation to explore Jesus?
How would you help them to explore Jesus – when would you meet? Where? For how long? What would you do?

2. Download the free fresh expressions-stories app (from Apple or from Google Play) and post a question. For example, ask what experience people have had of introducing Jesus in their new Christian community.