How to Get Over Your Fear of Sharing Your Faith

So far in this series we’ve covered that the gospel is Good News and we’ve been called to share it but sharing it is easier said than done, right? 

Why is Evangelism Intimidating? 

There are a lot of reasons believers shy away from sharing their faith: 

• We’re afraid of rejection 
• We’re afraid of “looking stupid” 
• We’re afraid of not having all the answers to the questions someone might ask us 
• We’re afraid we’ll say or do the wrong thing when sharing 

All of these are relatable, but they’re also all excuses from the enemy to keep you from doing what you’ve been called to do. 

So how can we overcome these lies? 

Two Encouraging Yet Simple Truths We Find in Scripture 

There are two stories found in the Gospel of John that can help us overcome our fear and boldly share our faith.  

The first is the story of Nicodemus from John 3:1-21. Here is the context:  

Nicodemus is a Pharisee; a keeper of the law. He’s dedicated his life to keeping the Scriptures. Knowing the Scriptures, Nicodemus sees a connection between the miracles Jesus performs and the prophecies of the Messiah. He wants to make sense of it all, so he meets with Jesus to ask how one enters the kingdom of God. 

Since he and his colleagues were dedicated to the Law of Moses, he was probably expecting Jesus to answer with something like, “Keep the 10 commandments.” 

He’s confused when Jesus tells him that the only thing necessary is to “be born again.” 

It’s in this conversation that Jesus says what’s arguably the most quoted verse from the Bible: John 3:16. The truths found in this verse are simple, but they clearly explain the message of the gospel: 

• For God so loved the world: “the world” here refers to those who stand against God. We’ve all been here at some point. Yet, even in our sin, God still loves us.  
• that he gave his one and only Son: when you love someone at the highest level, you are willing to make personal sacrifices for their good. 
• that whosoever believes in him: “To be born again,” means to trust that Jesus’ sacrifice–and only His sacrifice–makes reconciliation with God possible.  
• shall not perish but have eternal life: when we put our trust in Jesus, we receive the gift of reconciliation with our Creator for eternity, which comes with abundant life now, and cannot be taken away by sin or death. 

The second story John gives us in his gospel that can help us overcome our fear of evangelism is the story of Jesus healing the blind man in John 9. 

After Jesus rubs mud onto the blind man’s eyes, He tells the man to “Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam.” Scripture tells us Siloam means “sent.”  

When the man does this, he finds he is no longer blind. He can see!  

When people ask this man if he was truly the guy they know who had been blind since birth, he simply answers, “Jesus put mud on my eyes, told me to wash, and now I can see.”  

Each of us has a “I was blind but now I can see” testimony.

Each of us has a “I was blind but now I can see” testimony. Each of us can tell of how Jesus changed our lives. We may have been greedy, but Jesus showed us He is enough. We may have been prideful, but Jesus taught us humility. We may have been anxious, but Jesus gave us peace. We have been addicted, but Jesus showed us how to live free. 

And just like the blind man who washed in the Pool of Siloam, each of us have been saved to be sent. 

You CAN Share Your Faith 

All it takes to live out the Great Commission is an understanding of the simple, yet profound truth found in John 3:16 and your personal testimony of how Jesus changed your life as demonstrated in John 9. One explains the gospel, while the other gives a practical illustration of its impact. 

When Satan throws excuses at you for why you can’t share your faith, remind yourself of these two examples and step boldly into the calling Jesus has given you to share the Good News. 

Inspired by message three of Mt. Bethel Church’s “That’s Good News” sermon series by Matt Lake, Executive Director of NextGen Ministries.