10 reasons every Christian should share the message of Jesus – Part 2

• Evangelism shows your gratitude for what Jesus has done for you.
Too often, we forget what the Good News really is. The Bible tells us, “At that time you were without Christ… You had no hope and were in the world without God” (Ephesians 2:12 GW). God has rescued us! It would be criminal, if we had a cure for cancer and didn’t share it. We know the only way to have a relationship with God. We’ve experienced it. If we don’t share it with others, we’re acting ungratefully.

• People are hopelessly lost without Christ
Acts 4:12 tells us that Jesus is the only One that can save us. People are lost without Christ. He is the only way for people to get to heaven. God could have written the Good News in the sky. Instead, He chose to share it through us. Billions around the world (and in our neighborhoods) need to hear it. If we don’t share it, who will?

• God wants everyone saved
Second Peter 3:9 says that God “does not want anyone to be lost” (NCV). That means you’ll never look at anyone whom God doesn’t want to save. No one is too bad. No one is too forgotten. No one is too far from God. If God wants every person to be saved, we should, too.

• You’ll be rewarded for eternity
The Bible says, “Remember that you will receive your reward from the Lord, which he promised to his people. You are serving the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:24 NCV). We’ll be rewarded in heaven for leading people to Christ.

• God’s timetable for history hinges on us completing our mission.
Many people want to know when Jesus will return. It’s one of the most popular topics in some Christian circles. The truth is that we don’t know when Jesus will come back. Jesus makes it very clear in Matthew 24 that no one knows the date of His return.

But we do know what will happen first. The Bible says, “The Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14 NLT). Tell the people in your congregation that if they want to see Jesus come back, they need to go tell people about Jesus!

• We’ll be glad when we see people in heaven
Luke 15:7 tells us, “In the same way, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine respectable people who do not need to repent” (GNT). They throw a party in heaven when someone comes to faith in Jesus.

When we get to heaven, we’ll see people we had a hand in bringing there. We won’t think about the time it cost us to build each relationship. We won’t consider the embarrassment when sharing didn’t go as planned. We’ll be thrilled to see those people in heaven!

Your congregation needs to know how to tell others about Jesus. But keep reminding them why. I’m convinced that if you explain these 10 biblical reasons to share your faith with your congregation, people will only have one legitimate response.

It’s Paul’s response in Acts 20:24: “I want to carry out the mission I received from the Lord Jesus—the mission of testifying to the Good News of God’s kindness” (GW).

Imagine what God would do in your community, if every person in your church said that!
Rick Warren.
Dr. Bola Akin-John
International Church Growth Ministry
akingrow@yahoo.com 08023000714