7 Tips to Overcome Fear of Sharing Christ

Go into all the world and preach the good news to everyone (Mark 16:15) rings loudly in my conscious.  But really Lord, even the grumpy Wal-Mart clerk? Does the Lord feel pain when I don’t pay attention to His teaching?

Does he remember the crucifixion, when I doubt whether the person will listen? I mean seriously, they didn’t even say hello when I greeted them. 

Does he mind when I tell people that I will pray for them when they approach me with something wrong? Praying in the middle of a store, just seems weird, doesn’t it?

Whenever I choose worthless worldly things instead of spending time sharing Christ; does it feel like a slap of rejection? Is He anxiously waiting for me to step out on faith in the same way we watch for our children’s obedience?

Posting about Christ on social media, saying “Bless you” to a co-worker, and talking to people about Christ just doesn’t flow naturally from me.  But when I fail to speak about Christ to my co-workers,  am I withholding hope from them?

It’s almost like I’m holding the vial of medicine tightly in my grip, but can’t open my hand. Sounds stingy, doesn’t it?

So how do I overcome my fear of sharing Christ?

1. The first tip is to evaluate your own relationship with Christ.

Do you have a secret unbelief? Maybe you believe in the existence of Christ but not in the power of prayer. If you aren’t certain whether God answers prayers, you might hesitate to pray with people. You know, just in case it didn’t work out.

Whatever the reasons, consider when you do feel comfortable sharing Christ with others and when you don’t.  Look for patterns.  And then work to increase the opportunities when you do feel comfortable sharing Christ.  For example, I’m not comfortable sharing Christ with adults during a face-to-face conversation. However, I do feel comfortable sharing Christ with children.  So, I joined a team of volunteers that share the gospel at a local public school. You just need to find your niche!

2. The second tip is to trust God implicitly to be with you, work through your words, and in the listener.

I desire love and friendship. This world does not love Christ. When I take a stand for Christ, I fear many people will unfriend or unfollow me.  But Jesus is a friend of sinners and will never reject me. He will never reject you if you confess Him to be your Lord and Savior. So draw strength from 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”  And draw courage from Jeremiah 1:8, “Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord.

3. Seek the companionship and strength of a mentor so you may share Christ together. 

If you are scared that people may ask you questions that you don’t know, then ask a wise person to go with you. But it’s okay not to know everything.  God only requires us to share what we do know.  If someone asks a question that you don’t know, be honest and tell them that you will get back to them.  Then once you find the answer, you can follow up with them. Proverbs 15:22 reminds us that Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. It’s okay to ask others for counsel, but don’t forget to ask God questions as well!  “I (God) will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you” (Psalm 32:8). 

4. Make a commitment to God.

I do not like the scripture of the suffering servant. An innocent being mistreated appalls me and a fury rises up within. I desire to protect life!  I struggle with how God could allow his precious son, Jesus, to be treated in a vile manner. I question how this could be God’s great redeeming purpose.

But I know all my guilt, misery, and ingratitude has been laid on Jesus’ pure soul.  Still now enormous gratitude and an unspeakable sorrow swells within my heart. I acknowledge God’s ways are higher than mine and am thankful Jesus presented his body as a sacrifice. As my own act of worship, I’ve made a commitment to God to share Christ with others, despite my fear and discomfort.  If you make a similar commitment, be certain to share it with others!

5. Be faithful in sharing the small things.

It’s amazing that Christ who spoke the universe into existence still desires to meet with me and you daily to cleanse our hearts from sinful acts. He still allows us to reach out and touch his cloak. His power flows out to remove all our unloving and unholy thoughts.

Think of a small way you can share His great love, perfect holiness, and holy words. Maybe it is simply pressing share on a social media post, donating old items to the thrift store, or thanking God aloud in a public place.

6. Take a course in evangelism through your own or another church.

If your church doesn’t offer help learning about evangelism, then you may consider Free online bible classes like this one at Asbury Theological Seminary.

Christ Jesus was a man, but He was also God and is our goel- our kinsman. According to Hebrew law if an inheritance is lost, the next of kin has the right to redeem it. Sin enslaves us and causes us to lose our heavenly inheritance. But Jesus redeemed us, because it is His right (C.H. Spurgeon).

So why do we hesitate to share the good news about us being redeemed?

Is it because we are fearful people will think we are crazy?  Jesus’ own brothers called him a madman.

Are we fearful of people attacking us or tormenting us with words? Jesus endured the mocking of the Roman soldiers and the crucifix for us.

Christ not only delivered us from sin, but He is transforming us to understand God’s will for His life.

 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down.

And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! Isiah 53:4 NLT

Jesus lived a perfect sinless life here on earth as a human. The scriptures show him to be an obedient Son, a loving friend, and a gentle-hearted brother. He was called a wise and moral Teacher.  So He did not suffer for his own sins. He suffered punishment of our sins, so that through what He has done, we may be forgiven. Jesus conquered death and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.

Even now Christ’s suffering remains a mystery to me, but God reveals as much as I need to understand.

I know it was necessary to restore us to His favor.

His purpose is loving because we are cherished treasure deep in the heart of the Holy Father.

God saw His lost and rebellious children, and chose to save us from sin, a diseased spirit, and foolish wandering.

7. Pray for a consuming compassion for the lost.

Jesus’ consuming passion was so great that He was pierced for our rebellion,  and willingly crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. Isaiah 53:5 NLT.

If I do not have compassion for the lost, to willingly share Christ….then I need to pray that Christ may give me a consuming compassion for the lost. For I was once lost, and how grateful I am that writers shared their knowledge of Christ. What a difference a teen girl made in my life when she simply invited me to her church youth group. If that middle school girl had never told me about Christ, my life and family relationships would not be as healthy as they are now.

Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News! 1 Corinthians 9:16 NLT.

May I pray for you?

Heavenly Father, we praise you LORD because you are Grace, Strength, and our Confidence. We thank you for the work you do in us and through our experiences. I ask you Lord, to remove our fears of sharing Christ Jesus with family members, co-workers, and even strangers.  Help us to remember that You are with us. Give us courage to be faithful to you in the small things. Reveal a person who could act as our mentor and fellow evangelist. Give us a consuming compassion for the lost, so we would be compelled to follow through.  Thank you Lord for hearing us, and delivering us from all our fears. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

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References:

Graham. B. (2013). The Billy Graham Christian Worker’s Handbook. Billy Graham Evangelistic Association: NC.

 

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