Share Your Faith

(2 Timothy 2:1-2 – Share Your Faith)

In these verses today we see Paul exhorting Timothy to be strong, to teach others, and to encourage others. He essentially is telling Timothy to “Share your faith.”

This is the main way that the faith is spread among people. When you share your faith with friends, family, and acquaintances, the gospel is spread and the good news goes out to the world.

Not everyone is an evangelist. Not everyone can stand on street corners and preach. Most people do not have the ability to go from door to door and preach the gospel. But you can all share your faith with those you know and are comfortable with.

When do you start to share your faith?

There are churches that have people go out door to door preaching as soon as the person has been converted.

Personally, I think that is an ineffective practice as the new convert knows very little. You cannot really share your faith unless and until you have a solid grasp on what you believe yourself. The scripture even suggests we should hide our faith initially until we have a good understanding of the gospel.

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. (Matthew 13:44)

In this parable we see that when this man found a great treasure in a field, he did not immediately go out and tell everyone. Instead, he hid the treasure and covered it up and sold all of his possessions to buy the field. It was not until he owned the field that he uncovered and brought out the treasure.

It’s the same with when a person first comes to Jesus and finds the treasure that is the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel is a treasure that other people will try to take away from you. And if you don’t “own the field” you may lose the treasure because you will struggle to hold onto it.

Basically what this parable tells us is to hide your faith until you are sure it is yours. Then you can share your faith without fear that someone will try to take it away from you.

Home Evangelism

This is what the scripture today says.

1 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. (2 Timothy 2:1-2)

Timothy was called to be an evangelist. He had the ministry to be able to go out and spread the word with confidence. But not everyone who comes to Christ has that same gift.

However, once we “own the field” we can share our faith with family and friends. When you learn just how valuable and wonderful this gift from God is that we receive by faith, you can, and will want to share your faith with others.

Sharing your faith in your home and family settings is enough. God does not expect every person who comes to Chris to do a major work of evangelism. He doesn’t expect every person to do the same work as every other Christian, which is why there are many works in Christ. God recognises that we are all different, but together we all make up the different and necessary parts of His body; the church.

14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the organs in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single organ, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body which seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and those parts of the body which we think less honorable we invest with the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior part, 25 that there may be no discord in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, administrators, speakers in various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. (1 Corinthians 12:14-31)

The body of Christ is composed of many parts just as the human body is made up of many parts. Every part has it’s own special function and each part combines with the rest to make up the whole body.

Not everyone is called to be an evangelist, or a teacher, or an apostle, or a prophets, and so on. The body of Christ needs all of these functions and the Lord appoints people into these roles.

But regardless of the role the Lord may appoint you into, you can share your faith with those around you without being an evangelist, preacher, teacher, or apostle.

When the time is right, be prepared to share your faith. As the subject of Christianity or faith comes up in conversation, use it as an opportunity to share your faith, but only when and if you are comfortable doing so.

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