Be Ready With Your Story

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)

If we are looking to tell our friends about Jesus, then we need to know what we actually want to say when the chance comes.

It’s wise to have two things prepared.

First, our friends are going to be more interested if we can point to an example of how our lives have changed since we decided to follow Jesus: Life before we became a Christian, and then the difference Jesus has made now that we are his disciples.

Second, it will help them if we can explain why we became convinced that Jesus is the truth.

I try to say something along these lines: “I choose to be a Christian because I am convinced that Jesus rose from the dead, that he is alive now, and because he is alive, men and women can know him. My experience over the years is that he is a reliable friend, and many of the prayers I have prayed in his name have been answered.”

I try to explain that … “his teaching about how to live makes more sense and is more convincing than anybody else’s teaching I’ve come across”.

And I try and point to the very positive effect that his teaching has had on the development of civilization – so many of the great principles of freedom, democracy, human rights, the equality of all individuals, (and many other foundational values of society that we all take for granted and fight for), flow directly from Jesus’ teaching and his beautiful selfless life.

What’s your story? Can you point to something that has changed in your life? Do you worry less? Do you argue less? Do you have more friends now that you are in Jesus’ community of disciples? Why would you not want to be a non-Christian?

Story: A man once asked someone, “Can I tell you about Jesus?”

The person replied harshly, “Why, what has he done for you?”

The man replied quickly, “He’s forgiven my sins”.

There are many great truths about the Lord Jesus Christ. Which ones do you treasure most?

Our conversations about Jesus with non-Christians will be more productive if we have thought carefully about what we want to say.

Why not take thirty minutes in private on your own to think about what you actually want to say to those you love who do not yet know Jesus?

"Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)