Sharing in Style
Scripture Reading — John 9:6-12, 24-25
“One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” - John 9:25
Any fisherman will tell you that it’s unlikely to catch perch, walleye, trout, salmon, and bass using the same bait or lure. Everyone knows that you need different kinds of bait to catch different kinds of fish. That same principle is true in reaching people for Christ. One style or approach will not work for everyone. We need different approaches to reach different people.
In John 9 we read about a blind man who had a life-changing encounter with Jesus. His sight was restored. So when people asked him about it, he simply told his story: “I was blind but now I see!”
Sharing personal, life-changing stories is a powerful witness to others. The testimonial is one approach to sharing our faith. But there are other styles and approaches as well.
On Pentecost, Peter boldly confronted Jews in Jerusalem with their spiritual rebellion and called them to repentance. On Mars Hill in Athens, Paul debated Greek philosophers by using an intellectual approach to sharing the faith. At a well in Samaria, Jesus struck up a conversation with a woman about living water, and it changed her life. She ran home and invited her family and friends to come to the well and meet Jesus too. In Joppa, Dorcas distributed garments to the poor. So, as we can see, there many ways to witness for the Lord.
Lord, help us to be the people you made us to be. Using our own style, may we share Christ in the power of your Holy Spirit, leaving the results up to you. In Jesus, Amen.
About the author — Dan Jongsma
Daniel Jongsma serves as an interim pastor in Fulton, Illinois. He has pastored congregations in Elmhurst and Fulton, Illinois; in Dearborn, Michigan; and in Nashville, Tennessee. Dan also served as a church planter in the Chicago area. He and his wife, Gloria, have three daughters and four grandchildren.
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