One thing I wish I knew before I started sharing my faith was… when preaching the good news we need to be excited! IT’S GOOD NEWS!
For want of a better analogy, imagine you are selling a product. You want the listener to know firstly that they want it, and secondly that they need it, and one of the best ways to do that is to show your enthusiasm and excitement for the product.
Now sharing the good news is not like selling something, you don’t need to convince the listener about it or put on a song and dance (ultimately, it is God who does the saving, not us). However we can so often get bogged down in wording or presentation that we easily forget that the good news of Jesus should make us passionate and excited. It is forgiveness and new life, life with the creator of the universe now and life with God for all eternity in heaven. It doesn’t really get any better than that!
Now I like my food. Do you? When I go into a restaurant I struggle to decide what to have unless it’s has a great photo or description and even better still if it’s been recommended by a trusted friend. If it then comes out and is presented well with some creative garnish, we’re well we are on a winner! So why can’t we present the gospel well and lavish it with enthusiasm from someone who’s tasted it and knows that it’s good. Again, this isn’t about showing something in a false light or putting on anything untrue, it is simply making sure when we talking about Jesus and what he’s done for us, we put it in the light it should be – one of joy and hope and excitement.
Romans 5:2 says, “…we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we BOAST (get excited) in the hope of the glory of God.”
If you have really grasped how amazing this gospel is for yourself then speak from your heart and your own personal experience and you shouldn’t go wrong.
Questions
1- In what ways has Jesus changed your life?
2- Is there anything that stops you from fully thinking that Jesus is good news?
3- How might you make sure when you next share your faith joy and excitement is what is shown?
Emma Owen is a former member of The World Wide Message Tribe, former God TV presenter, leader of the North West Message Hub and Founder and Manager of Respect ME, which delivers sessions on self-esteem and relationships from a Christian perspective. www.respectme.co.uk
