How Do I Share My Faith?

Devotional

Day 1: God is the one who ultimately makes faith grow.

We can easily become focused on our own methods and strategies for sharing faith, believing that the outcome rests on our shoulders. This is a heavy and misleading burden to carry. The beautiful truth is that God is the one who works in human hearts, causing spiritual growth and drawing people to Himself. Our role is not to manufacture results but to be faithful servants in His process, trusting that He is the author and perfecter of faith. Our primary calling is to be available for Him to use. [20:51]

So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. (1 Corinthians 3:7 ESV)

Reflection: Think of a person in your life who seems far from God. How does the truth that God is the one who causes growth change your perspective and approach to praying for them?

Day 2: We share Jesus with both our words and our actions.

Our witness is not limited to a single method but is expressed through the entirety of our lives. It encompasses the stories we tell, the conversations we have, and the love we demonstrate through practical service. Authentic faith sharing is a holistic endeavor, engaging both our speech and our conduct. This dual approach reflects the full character of the gospel we represent, showing Jesus to others in a complete and compelling way. [21:59]

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:20 NIV)

Reflection: In your current season of life, which feels like a more natural expression of your faith: sharing with your words or serving with your actions? How might you cultivate a more balanced witness?

Day 3: Our lives must match our message to be credible.

If our daily conduct contradicts the message we proclaim, our words lose their power and can even bring dishonor to God's name. People are far more interested in a faith that is visibly lived out than one that is merely talked about. Consistency between our beliefs and our behavior is the foundation of a credible witness. It is through this integrity that we avoid hypocrisy and show the world the transformative reality of Christ. [27:11]

You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? (Romans 2:21-22 NIV)

Reflection: Is there an area of your life where your actions might tell a different story than your words about Jesus? What is one practical step you can take toward greater alignment this week?

Day 4: The fruit of the Spirit makes the way of Jesus attractive.

The qualities that the Holy Spirit cultivates in us—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—are inherently attractive. They offer a glimpse of a life that is different from what the world often offers. When people see this fruit evidenced in our relationships and reactions, it presents the way of Jesus as something desirable and good. Our lives become an invitation to experience the same source of love and peace. [31:44]

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23 ESV)

Reflection: Which quality from the fruit of the Spirit do you sense the Lord wanting to develop in you most right now? How would its growth make your life a more compelling witness to those around you?

Day 5: Loving each other is a powerful witness to the world.

The love shared within the community of believers is a primary way the world recognizes that we are followers of Jesus. This mutual care and commitment demonstrate the family nature of God's kingdom and the transformative power of the gospel. When we love one another deeply and practically, we create a compelling picture of God’s love that draws others in. Our unity and affection for each other testify to the truth of Christ’s message. [37:28]

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (John 13:35 NIV)

Reflection: Who is one brother or sister in Christ you could intentionally encourage or serve this week? How might your love for them become a visible testimony to someone who is watching?

Sermon Summary

Christians must pursue the work of leading people to follow Jesus by combining faithful action with clear proclamation. God remains the primary worker in changing hearts; humans plant and water, but God makes growth. Sharing faith includes testimony, service, spiritual conversation, invitations, and visible discipleship—each activity can open a door for God to work. Actions carry weight: living like Jesus builds credibility and breaks down stereotypes, while hypocrisy repels people and blasphemes God’s name. The church functions as a visible family whose love for one another invites others into the life of Christ. Scripture calls believers to be Christ’s ambassadors, salt and light, and to bear the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—as tangible proof of transformative grace.

Practical witness flows from relationships. Intentional friendship and sacrificial care often dismantle preconceived ideas about Christians faster than argument alone. Community life modeled in Acts shows how shared resources, mutual care, and joyful fellowship created a context in which many were drawn to faith. Loving fellow believers becomes a public testimony: when Christians embody family love, outsiders see something worth joining.

Prayer forms the backbone of evangelistic effort. Devotion to prayer readies hearts, asks God to open doors, and sharpens discernment to act wisely and graciously. Believers should watch for opportunities, make the most of them, and speak with words seasoned with salt—clear, gracious, and timely. The church is urged to commit to praying for specific people, seeking God’s guidance in how to love them well and how to present the gospel with both truth and compassion.

The call centers on consistent, everyday representation of Jesus. Ambassadorship does not switch off at the church door; it shapes behavior at work, at home, and in the neighborhood. The aim is not moral perfection but visible growth toward Christlikeness that invites questions and points people to the one who alone produces lasting change. Christians are to live, pray, and act so that when words follow, they land on hearts already prepared by loving, credible witness.

Key Takeaways

1. Share Jesus with words and actions Actions without words or words without actions both fall short; the gospel advances most effectively when visible discipleship and clear proclamation work together. Demonstrating Christlike love and competence opens ears and hearts so verbal witness can then explain the hope behind those deeds. Intentional balance avoids the trap of saying one thing and living another, which undermines credibility and stalls spiritual growth. [21:59]
2. Live without hypocritical double life Claiming truth while practicing contradiction dishonors God and repels seekers; authenticity matters more than flawless performance. Honest confession of struggle together with a visible pursuit of holiness communicates the gospel’s power rather than mere rules. Integrity in small, ordinary choices gives the gospel credibility in workplaces, neighborhoods, and friendships. [25:36]
3. Love establishes the church’s witness Mutual love within the church proves the gospel’s reality and attracts others more than argument ever will. Community that shares, cares, and breaks bread models a family shaped by Christ, making the faith plausible and desirable. Relationships dismantle stereotypes and create contexts where spiritual conversation and invitation feel natural and safe. [37:28]
4. Pray for open doors Prayer precedes and empowers evangelistic action; it calls for specific names, openness, and wisdom to recognize opportunities. Committing to pray reshapes attention and posture toward others, making believers watchful and ready to act in grace. Prayer also aligns requests with God’s timing so proclamation becomes both bold and sensitive. [39:27]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[18:40] - Defining “share your faith”
[19:56] - Planting, watering, and God’s growth
[21:59] - Words and actions both matter
[24:06] - Credibility and hypocrisy
[29:46] - Salt, light, and the fruit of Spirit
[35:35] - Acts 2: Community as witness
[38:59] - Prayer, wisdom, and open doors
[41:09] - Three people prayer commitment
[46:21] - Closing prayer and charge

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
1 Corinthians 3:5-9 (ESV) - What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.

Observation questions

According to 1 Corinthians 3, what are the distinct roles of the planter, the waterer, and God in the process of spiritual growth?
In the sermon, what were some of the specific actions listed that fall under the category of "showing Jesus" to others? [21:14]
What does Romans 2 say happens to God's name among those outside the faith when His people say one thing but live another? [25:36]
According to the passage in Acts 2, what specific practices and attitudes characterized the early church community that made it a powerful witness? [35:35]

Interpretation questions

Why is the combination of both words and actions so crucial for an effective witness, rather than relying on just one? What happens if one is missing? [21:59]
How does living as a hypocrite specifically "blaspheme" or dishonor God's name, as mentioned in Romans 2? What message does a double life send about the God we claim to represent?
In what ways does the mutual love between believers, as described in John 13:35, serve as a compelling witness to those who are not yet followers of Jesus? [37:28]
Colossians 4:2-6 links prayer, wise action, and gracious speech together. How does a commitment to prayer practically prepare a person to recognize and make the most of opportunities to represent Christ? [39:27]

Application questions

The call is to be Christ's ambassador everywhere, not just at church. [28:59] What is one specific environment (e.g., work, home, gym, neighborhood) where you find it most difficult to consciously represent Jesus through your actions? What would being an "ambassador" look like there this week?
People often don't care what you know until they know that you care. [34:25] Is there a relationship in your life where you have been focused on sharing knowledge rather than first demonstrating care? How can you tangibly show that person you care about them, with no strings attached?
A powerful witness is the love we show to our spiritual family. [37:55] What is one practical way you can intentionally love a fellow believer this week, not just for their benefit, but so that others might see the reality of Christ's love in us?
We are called to pray for open doors. [39:27] Who are one to three people you can commit to praying for regularly, asking God to open their hearts and to give you opportunities to show and share His love with them?
Our lives can either break or reinforce stereotypes about Christians. [32:11] Which fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control) do you feel is most lacking in your visible life, and what is one small step you can take to cultivate it?
Integrity in small, ordinary choices gives the gospel credibility. [27:36] What is a seemingly small, ordinary situation you will face in the next few days where choosing integrity will be a tangible witness to the transformative power of Christ?

Sermon Clips

We share Jesus with both our words and with our actions. So we wanna prayerfully be seeking to lead people to become followers of Jesus through our words and our actions. There's a quote that's often attributed to Saint Francis of of Assisi, although there's no evidence that he was the one that said this. But the quote said, preach the gospel when necessary, use words. Now you can take this quote too far. The best interpretation of this quote though is to say, I want to show Jesus through how I live. [00:21:59] (35 seconds) #LiveAndShareJesus

Alright. So here's a weird question for you. Would you take financial advice from someone whose finances are a mess? Would you do that? Probably not. Probably not. Maybe. Probably not. Would you take guitar lessons from someone who is terrible at guitar? Probably. Maybe for fun. But, no, probably not. You probably wouldn't do that. Why would anyone be interested in hearing about Jesus from someone that whose life looks nothing like Jesus? [00:24:06] (29 seconds) #WalkTheTalkNotJustTalk

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How Do I Share My Faith? | Part 1