“Preach the Gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words.” That quote is from St. Francis. We get the point, but there are times when words are indeed necessary. If Jesus has been important to you, and if you know someone who would benefit from learning about what God has done through Jesus, you will need to use words. You will also need to understand your audience. Some have never really heard the story of Jesus. Others have heard the story, but to hear it again makes them feel threatened and defensive.
There are more people than you may realize who have never heard the story of Jesus. We live in a secular society. You can go to school and go to work and listen to music and watch a movie and visit with the neighbors and never hear a mention of Jesus. Then there are those who have heard a little bit about Jesus but what they have heard is inaccurate. If you are going to share Jesus with those who have never heard, you need to simply tell the basic story: our fallen nature, God’s redemption of us through Jesus, and the blessings that await those who believe.
Then there are those who feel threatened and defensive. They have heard the story and rejected it. They don’t like the idea of needing a savior. They don’t like the idea that they need forgiveness. They don’t accept the claims that Jesus makes upon their life. If you are going to share Jesus with those who feel threatened, the message will not be as important as the messenger. They will need to know that they can trust you, that you have their best interests at heart, that you are there to serve them.
In our sermon this Sunday, we are going to look at Paul’s Letter to the Romans and talk about how sometimes sharing Jesus means using words.