Watch the video above and talk about it with a group or mentor. Learn more.
What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever had to do? Maybe you’ve had a really hard test at school that you had to spend hours studying to pass. Maybe you’ve had a big project for school that you had to stay up all night to finish. Maybe you’ve had to help your family put a new roof on your house or some other job that took days to complete.
What do you think is the hardest thing that God asks us to do?
For lots of Christians the hardest thing about being a Christian is the idea of sharing their faith. You see a kinda sorta Christians says that they believe in God, but they don’t want to have to talk to anyone about God.
Why are people afraid of talking about their faith? Maybe they don’t want to look like some kind of weirdo at school. Maybe they are afraid of getting into an argument about God. Or maybe they are just afraid that their friends will reject them if they find out that they are a Christian.
Well, what about you? Are you willing to talk about Jesus with your friends? A kinda sorta Christian never shares their faith with others. But a real follower of Jesus tells people about God, even if it is intimidating.
Jesus commands us to share our faith
Jesus made it really clear that he wants his followers to tell their friends, family, and anyone who will listen about God. Jesus said:
Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world…let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
As a Christian, you are the light that God shines into the world. You are the person that God is going to use to help others find a relationship with him. You are like God’s flashlight that leads people to God. Don’t turn off your flashlight.
It’s kind of like this. Imagine that you found this amazing pizza place. They have every kind of pizza that you could ever imagine. And best of all, it’s all free. And as you leave the manager says to you, “Tell all your friends to come here. There is plenty for everyone.” And you say, yeah, sure. But then you never tell any of your friends about the place. You just go there by yourself. That is a pretty jerk thing to do.
If you are a Christian who doesn’t share your faith, it’s like you have accepted this really great thing that God has given you and others. But instead of sharing it, you just keep it all for yourself. The truth is that God saved you so that you can help others find a relationship with God, too.
In addition to helping others, there is another reason to be motivated to share your faith.
Sharing your faith shows that you are a Christian
Being willing to tell other people about Jesus demonstrates that you really do trust in Jesus as your savior. Look at the words of Jesus:
Luke 12:8-9 “I tell you the truth, everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God’s angels. But anyone who denies me here on earth will be denied before God’s angels.”
Jesus is saying that if you hide the fact that you are a Christian, it might be because you aren’t really a Christian at all. Jesus is saying that true Christians are willing to share their faith, even if it’s scary. Some of you are probably acting like secret agent Christians; no one knows that you are actually a Christian at your school, and you don’t want to be found out. That’s a kinda sorta Christian attitude. God wants you to tell others about him and overcome your fear.
Take the opportunities that God gives you to talk to your friends about God. You don’t have to be rude or pushy. Just tell people what God has done for you. Invite them to church or youth group. If you do that, you’ll be far from being a kinda sorta Christian.
Discussion Questions:
- Watch the video together or invite someone to summarize the topic.
- What is your initial reaction to this video? Do you disagree with any of it? What jumped out at you?
- What is the hardest thing you have ever done? Why was is to so hard to do?
- Why do you think God asks us to do hard things?
- Make a list of reasons that keep Christians from sharing their faith.
- Read Matthew 5:14-16. List some ways that you can be a light that points people to God at your school, on your sports team, or in some other group that you belong to.
- Read Luke 12:8-9. How is telling other people about Jesus a test of your faith in God?
- Who can you talk about God with this week?
- Write a personal action step based on this conversation.
