Ministry Resources

Share Your Experience

Share Your Experience

When I was a young Christian schoolteacher, the Lord led me to an elderly man. I shared with him my experience of hearing about Jesus Christ and how He became my personal Savior.

One week later, the old man sent for me. When I went to his home, it reminded me of the house of Cornelius in the Bible. His entire family was there. He and his entire house were prepared for my visit. That evening a family of 16 people gave their lives to Christ. Their number has grown ever since, and today they meet to glorify God as a congregation!

Do you know why I met Christ? It is because one day someone shared his own experience with me. Do you know why I am still a Christian? It is because I have experienced Jesus personally in my own life, and you can also have the same reality.

We have talked about the need to be involved. Now we will see how to get involved by sharing with others what Christ has done for us. How can we keep such good news to ourselves? We must share it with others!

Sharing at all Times

There is nothing that brings greater results in personal evangelism than sharing one’s own experience. It is the heart of the whole task.

You may have known Christ and His saving power in your life. You may have received the power of His Spirit. Christ may have done great and marvelous things for you. But unless you have shared this with others, how will they know? Unless you speak to people, how will they hear? And unless they hear, how can they believe and be saved?

Jesus talked to people everywhere He went. He talked to people in their homes. He received them wherever He was staying. When we read the four Gospels, we see Him walking by the seaside, talking to people on the streets. He once said to His disciples, “Let us go on to other towns and villages, for my mission is to share God’s love with all people” (Mark 1:38, paraphrased). He sent his disciples throughout the whole world, to the ends of the earth.

On a certain occasion my wife and I had the great joy of leading eight people to Christ, just by sharing with them what the Lord has done for us. How could we keep silent when we have such good news to share?

We must share the good news of Christ in all circumstances. The apostle Paul wrote, “I solemnly urge you to preach the message, to insist upon proclaiming it, (whether the time is right or not)” (2 Timothy 4:1,2).

Christ took every opportunity that came His way to preach and share the good news. Even on the cross where He died, He took time to share His good news with the dying criminal beside him. He said, “I promise you that today you will be with me in my Father’s home” (Luke 23:43).

The apostle Paul would not let pass any opportunity to share the good news of His Lord. Even with chains on his hands and feet, he still proclaimed the good news. He stood in chains before King Agrippa and told him about Christ (Acts 26:29). He called from the prison to tell the good news of Christ to the jailer who was about to commit suicide (Acts 16:27,28).

There are some opportunities, which come our way only once. Had Paul been slow to shout to this needy jailer, the jailer might have died in his sin. We must be ready at all times to share with anyone who needs to hear the good news about Christ.

Sharing without Shame

Many people seem to be ashamed to speak about Christ in their daily life. It is true that when we share our faith with people around us, we may be misunderstood. Some may even laugh at us. But when we think how Christ was willing to suffer many hardships without being ashamed, we cannot help but follow in His steps. He is our wonderful example.

Consider for a moment Jesus on the cross. The people walking by laughed at Him. The very same people that He had fed, those He had healed of their diseases, those He had taught, were now putting Him to shame. He was willing to die a shameful death because it was the only way people could be saved. You and I must not be ashamed to share our experience, because it is the way God has chosen to draw men and women to himself.

The apostle Paul was not ashamed of the Cross. He was beaten, chained, and put into prison. There, at midnight, he was not ashamed to share his good news with the other prisoners (Acts 16: 25).

I have seen people speaking about Christ in different places and situations, spreading the good news of their Savior and Lord. Jesus was not ashamed to come to me, He was not ashamed to plead my case before God. Can I be ashamed to speak about this wonderful Savior?

Sharing to Change People

Sharing Christ with people gives us first hand opportunities to witness the changing power of God. If you want people to turn from a life of sin, inward emptiness, and uncertainty, just share Jesus Christ with them. Share the certainty of forgiveness and a new life. Jesus is the Living Water for those who thirst. He is the Living Bread for those who are hungry. He is Healing for those who are sick. He is Light to those sitting in darkness. He is Father to the fatherless, the beginning and the end for all those who trust in Him. He is everything that man needs!

The apostle Paul was a man of high education. He was soon to be a leader within his community. He was very involved in defending his religion and traditions. No one would have thought that he would turn from his father’s religion. Yet it happened when he met Jesus Christ personally. Jesus is not religion but reality! Here is what the apostle said:

I could, of course, put my trust in such things…. I have even more reason to feel that way. I was circumcised when I was a week old. I am an Israelite by birth, of the tribe of Benjamin, a pure-blooded Hebrew. As far as keeping the Jewish Law is concerned, I was a Pharisee, and was so zealous that I persecuted the church. As far as a person can be righteous by obeying the commands of the Law, I was without fault. But all those things that I might count as profit I now reckon as loss for Christ’s sake (Philippians 3:4-7).

Paul was able to consider everything as being worthless because he met Christ. Who could ever understand such a miracle? He had a personal experience with Christ that changed him.

Zacchaeus was a rich man. He was also known as a thief (because he charged more taxes than it was required). No one would ever have thought that one day he would stop stealing. But when he met Jesus, he had a personal experience, and he was completely changed (Luke 19:1- 10).

Moses had been brought up in a palace and was taught about all the knowledge of Egypt. He was mighty in words and deeds. Through circumstances described in the Scriptures, he left the life he  once knew. The Old Testament tells us that Moses saw the glory of God. Then he was willing to change. There is transforming power in a personal experience that gives our life new meaning. The transforming power of the gospel is the same. It is Jesus’ promise.

The Bible says, “When anyone is joined to Christ, he is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

This is indeed true. A personal meeting with Christ will bring both outward and inward change in people.

My hometown pastor died while I was in Bible school. He was a man that God had mightily used. Something amazing happened on the day of His burial. Many people had come, both Christians and non-Christians. Two people came who were enemies. They would never speak to one another or shake hands. Yet that day for the first time in over 20 years, they shook hands over the grave of this man of God. That was a wonderful thing for everyone to see. True forgiveness had taken place. It reminded me of a far greater change that took place between God and man after Christ’s death on the cross. Whether we live or die, our testimony can change lives.

Sharing when it Costs

Sometimes it costs something to share our experience. I have heard how the first Christians in Burkina Faso were made to suffer. Some of them are still alive and faithful to Christ. Many of them were cursed and cut off from their families. This is very hard for an African. To be cursed and cut off means to be considered as dead. No one in your family or village will greet you or take anything from you. For many, going to church on Sunday required fasting. They were not given any food if they went to church.

I thank God that Christians in Burkina Faso were faithful to Christ even when it cost them many hardships. Because of them, I, too, have experienced Jesus Christ in my life.

Let’s consider the case of the three Hebrew young men in the Old Testament. Read Daniel 3: 8-25. These three men were God’s people. They decided to serve God no matter what happened. They had to face decisions and hardship. Because of their testimony before the king, they were thrown into a burning furnace. They had chosen to die rather than deny their faith in God. They set the example, so we also can be inspired to share our Christian faith and life.

Sharing cost God His Son. In order to share His great love with humankind, God had to send us His only Son. Because Adam and Eve sinned, there was no other way for God to have fellowship with humans. But because of His love for us, He was willing to do this.

Sharing cost Jesus His life. Jesus knew many hardships. The prophet Isaiah was right when he called Jesus a Man of sorrows (Isaiah 53:3). During His ministry, He was faced by people who wanted to kill Him. But there was no other way for Him to save people from sin. He took upon Himself our sin. He knew what it cost to face death, to be separated from God. But because He loved us, He was willing to pay the price for our salvation.

Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to come with me, he must forget himself and carry his cross” (Matthew 16:24).

There is a price to pay if you really want to share with other people your Christian experience. You may lose friends. Your parents may not understand you. You may seem strange to others.

Do not let any hardships, whatever they might be, keep you from sharing your faith. Remember what Christ was willing to do for you. This will help you to share Him with others, no matter what it costs.