RevWrites - Feb 22

Fear. Something everybody knows. Fear of telling people the gospel. Something most Christians know.

Last week we thought about fear of rejection and fear of embarrassment. You might remember that Peter Jensen suggested the solution to both these fears was trust in the Lord Jesus.

But many Christians also fear something else. They fear not knowing enough. How much do you need to know about the gospel to tell others? What if they ask a question that I don’t know the answer to?

I know I’ve been to theological college and am an ordained minister of the gospel and therefore know everything! You may be wondering how I could possibly understand how you feel when you feel inadequate.

You have probably worked out by now that I don’t know everything. And often in conversation with others about God-stuff, I really don’t know much about what they’re talking about so have real trouble “locking in” to where they’re at. And sometimes, just sometimes, people ask me a question I haven’t been asked already and that I don’t know the answer to.

When it comes to feeling inadequate, there are some things that help.

First, conversion to Christ is almost always a process. Someone sows the seed. Someone else waters it, etc. (Check out Matthew 13.) Bev Menzies used to tell me people needed to hear the gospel 7.3 times before they accepted it! (Or some number like that.)

The point is that people hear lots of stuff about Jesus before they turn to him. You need to remember that your conversation with someone may only add a bit along the process.

Secondly, conversion to Christ is all about meeting a person – Jesus. I can tell you stuff about my wife Robyn. You can get to know all sorts of stuff about her but never get to know her. You need to be introduced to Robyn personally before you can know her. It’s the same with Jesus. Jesus, through his Spirit, comes to people when we tell them the gospel.

Thirdly, you don’t need to know all that much to tell people the gospel. Almost all the members of NAC know more about the gospel than the average pastor in Africa. Yet the church in Africa is growing at an amazing rate.

Fourthly, when we tell people the gospel, even if it’s only in a very limited way, Jesus comes to people. Jesus and his gospel are linked together. Sometimes he comes in judgment. Some people reject the message of Jesus and so bring judgment upon themselves. But others accept the message and in the same action accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.

We don’t know how Jesus is going to come to people, in judgment or with salvation. That is Jesus’ concern and Jesus’ responsibility. Our responsibility is to tell people the gospel so that Jesus can come to them.

Even in the New Testament the apostles tell people the gospel in different ways according to their audience. We will tell people the gospel in different ways according to whom we’re speaking.

Don’t worry if you don’t cover everything when you talk to someone. Don’t worry if you forget something. Remember, it’s a process and if your conversation is meant to lead to someone turning to Christ, then God will give you enough of the gospel so that Jesus can come to them in person through his Spirit.

Why don’t you write a short list of points that you think must be included in the gospel when you tell it to someone. Next week I’ll give you my list!

Neil Macken