Sharing your faith can feel intimidating. You might wonder, What do I say? or What if I don’t know all the answers? We’ve all been there. Fear of rejection, not knowing how to respond, or just the worry of getting it wrong can leave us feeling hesitant. But what if sharing your faith isn’t about having all the right answers, but about showing genuine love and offering the truth of the gospel?
Let’s break this down and simplify the process. It all begins with a conversation.
Start with a Conversation
When you share your faith, the first thing to remember is this: you’re talking to a person, not a project. People respond to authenticity, so start by simply having a conversation. Say hello, smile, ask about their life, and build a genuine connection. It’s not about hitting them with a prepared speech but treating them with respect and kindness. I have always had the best encounters when building the relationship with the person preceded my gospel presentation.
Asking questions is a great way to get to know someone’s beliefs. You can ask things like, Do you go to church? or What do you believe happens when you die? These open up natural pathways to talk about faith in a way that feels conversational rather than confrontational. And as they share, listen. Really listen. You’ll be surprised how far simple, friendly conversation can go.
It’s Okay Not to Know Everything
A lot of Christians worry that if they can’t answer every question, they’ve somehow failed. But here’s the truth: you don’t need all the answers. It’s okay to say, I don’t know. If someone asks a tough question, you can always offer to find the answer later. Let’s face it, none of us know everything about the Bible, faith, or even the mysteries of life. And that’s okay.
Sometimes the most impactful thing you can do is ask a thoughtful question in return. If someone shares that their beliefs are atheistic, ask Why? If they believe in something else, ask why that resonates with them. Often, it’s not about having all the right answers, but helping someone reflect more deeply on what they believe and why.
If you focus too much on having the perfect response, you might miss the real goal: pointing people toward Jesus.
Sharing the Gospel Clearly
Once you’ve built that connection and had an honest conversation, it’s important to share the core of our faith: the gospel. This doesn’t have to be complicated, either. The gospel is the good news that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose again (1 Corinthians 15:1-6). It’s not about self-improvement or offering people a better life rather it’s about offering eternal life through Jesus.
We can share that by walking through a few key Scriptures, like:
- Romans 3:23—We’re all sinners.
- Romans 6:23—The penalty for sin is death.
- Romans 5:8—God loves us even while we’re still sinners.
- Romans 10:9—If we believe in Jesus, we will be saved.
It’s simple but powerful. The gospel isn’t about promising people an easier life. In fact, following Jesus often comes with challenges. But the hope of the gospel isn’t about comfort in this life, it’s about the eternal hope we have through Jesus.
The True Motivation: Love
The most important thing we can do when sharing our faith is to love the person we’re talking to. That might seem obvious, but it’s a step we often forget. Sometimes we can get so focused on presenting the gospel or defending our beliefs that we miss the heart of the message. Love should be the driving force behind every conversation.
Think about it: if you truly believe that your friend or coworker’s eternal future is at stake, that should motivate you to share the gospel, right? Not out of fear or obligation, but out of love. When we love someone, we want them to experience the same grace and forgiveness that we’ve found in Jesus.
And love speaks louder than any argument. Even if someone disagrees with everything you say, they can’t deny that you’ve shown them respect, that you’ve listened, and that you genuinely care. In a world where debates are everywhere, love cuts through the noise.
The Power of Simple Love
Let me share a story to illustrate this. A woman once shared her faith with a man who didn’t believe in Jesus. He asked her tough questions about the Bible concerning contradictions and suffering. The woman didn’t have all the answers. In fact, she simply responded, I don’t know, but Jesus loves you.
At first, the man was frustrated and even mocked her. But she stayed consistent. She didn’t argue or get defensive. She kept telling him, I don’t know, but Jesus loves you. A week later, the man showed up at the church she had invited him to, asking for more. He didn’t come because she had the perfect answers, he came because he saw love in her life. A love that he didn’t have but knew he needed.
This story reminds us that sharing our faith isn’t about winning arguments, it’s about loving people and offering them the truth of the gospel. Love is what ultimately draws people to Jesus. It’s not the depth of our knowledge or the strength of our arguments. It’s the love we show, a reflection of the love God showed us.
Conclusion: Love, Share, Trust
As we share our faith, we need to remember three simple steps:
- Have a Conversation: Build a genuine connection. Ask questions, listen, and care.
- Share the Gospel: Be clear and simple. Tell them about Jesus and why they need him.
- Love Them: Let love be the foundation of everything you do. People will notice when you care.
It’s easy to feel like you need to have all the answers before you can share your faith, but the truth is, it’s your love and honesty that will make the biggest difference. Share the gospel, yes, but share it with love, and trust that God will do the rest.
As Ephesians 5:2 reminds us, “Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us.” It’s that love that draws people in, and it’s that love that will make your conversations about faith meaningful.
Good section once again I feel like I do the majority of the things that you talked about in a section. I do have one question or confusion I guess when you were stating the Key scriptures in Romans. In reading them, I feel like they kind of counteract each other when talking about the penalty for death as sin, but then turning around and saying. God loves us no matter if we are sinners I guess if you can maybe help me understand that a little more I would appreciate it.
This is a great question, and it’s something a lot of people wrestle with when trying to reconcile God’s justice with his love and mercy. Let’s break it down and see how these verses in Romans actually work together rather than contradict each other.
Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
This verse establishes a foundational truth: we’re all sinners. No one meets God’s perfect standard, and that means we are all guilty before him. Sin creates a separation between us and God, which brings us to the next key verse.
Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
This is where we see the justice of God. Sin has a consequence, and that consequence is spiritual death—separation from God for eternity. This verse reflects God’s justice: because he is holy and perfect, sin must be punished. In this sense, the penalty for sin is indeed death.
But that’s not the end of the story. The second half of Romans 6:23 introduces grace: “but the free gift of God is eternal life.” God provides a way out of the penalty of sin through Jesus. While we deserve death for our sin, God offers us the free gift of life through Christ. That’s where Romans 5:8 comes in.
Romans 5:8 – “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
This verse explains God’s incredible love. Even though we deserve death for our sin, God loved us so much that he sent his Son, Jesus, to take that punishment in our place. The key here is that God doesn’t wait for us to get it all together or become “good enough” before offering us salvation. While we were still sinners—at our worst—God made the ultimate sacrifice for us.
How It All Fits Together
The justice of God demands that sin be punished, and that punishment is death (Romans 6:23). But the love of God steps in and offers us grace instead. He doesn’t ignore our sin; he deals with it by sending Jesus to take the punishment on our behalf (Romans 5:8). In other words, God’s justice and love are not in conflict—they work together.
Through Jesus, the penalty of death is paid, and because of that, we are offered eternal life as a free gift. So, God’s love for sinners doesn’t cancel out the need for justice—it fulfills it through Jesus’ sacrifice.
Does this help clarify how these verses in Romans fit together? Let me know if you want to dig deeper into any part of this!