The Show and Tell of Evangelism
Do you remember when you were a child in elementary school and we would do show and tell?
Remember that awesome moment when someone would bring in a pet for example as a part of show and tell? What I loved about this activity was it really didn’t matter what the objects were. The most important thing was it related to a visible example of something that was of interest to the presenter. But, another good part of show and tell was the opportunity for the presenter to develop a curiosity that caused students to ask questions about what the students saw.
As you reflect on your own visual story telling, does your life exude a curiosity that will cause people to be interested in what they see in you? Scripture teaches us that people see in you the hope of glory.
“27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Colossians 1:27
There are many who are “without hope and without God,” but you have been given a glorious hope which is Christ in you. The beauty of being able to show the gospel as believers is that we are indwelt by Christ, the hope of glory. And that hope should be visibly seen and openly shared. And as a result of our hope in Christ, we should look forward to sharing His glory.
This hope that should be seen in us, allows the opportunity for us to tell and to share our story.
So, what do we say when we are asked why we are so hopeful? Peter, sums it up pretty clearly when he said;
“…always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear”
1 Peter 3:15
The key to hope isn’t wishful thinking; but the hope that is seen is our confidence in God, our assurance in knowing Jesus, and because of our assurance in Jesus the knowledge to know that one day we will see Jesus face to face.
This maybe a little shocking, but evangelism is not just sharing the gospel verbally; it is also showing the gospel in our everyday lives. It is a lifestyle that reflects an invisible God that is seen in us. And we cannot be ashamed to show and tell the gospel that has been placed in us. Paul reminds us in Romans 1:16,
“16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes”
When we are intentional about living our lives without fear and on display, this gives the opportunity and a platform to show Jesus in us, and for others to see how we live out our faith. Just like in elementary school, we have to be willing to show and tell what is important to us, which will allow the Holy Spirit to develop a curiosity for people to ask us about our faith.
For more information on No Sweat Evangelism, go to nosweatevangelism.com. The Georgia Baptist Mission Board has an Evangelism Consultant in your specific region that can help you in leading your church members to follow Jesus and work in His harvest fields. For more information, please contact the Evangelism team of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board and schedule a consultation. You can also join the conversation on Facebook!
Published May 6, 2021