There might come a time in your spiritual conversations with people where you hit a point of "uh....what do I say now?"

This is a great opportunity to use your strongest tool in evangelism; your story.

This blog we're going to go over your story:

• Finding it
• Owning it
• Sharing it

Finding It

Everyone has a story. Including you. As defined in the dictionary a story is a telling of something that happened to someone.

You might think, "Well I might have  a story but it's not that exciting or powerful."

If that's how you see it, it's only because you don't understand it.

Your story is as critical to you as it is to God because your story happens to be a part of His story. You are indeed one of the reasons Jesus came to do what He did.

If you are significant enough for that act of love, then your story is indeed significant as well.

When it comes to seeing the excitement of your story however (even if it's already full of action), is to look a little bit deeper than what was happening on the outset and to look at what was happening in the scheme of the universe.

For example, I wasn't raise in a #Christian home but I always believed. I even prayed I just didn't know who I was praying too.

Then when I was fifteen a friend of mine in his own evangelical effort laid it out for me

• All Christians go to heaven
• Everyone else goes to hell
• That includes YOU

"Ahhhh?!" I screamed inside. "I don't want to go to hell!"

That night I "said the prayer" and "became a Christian." I remember where I was. I was on my knees in my living room praying on top of my parents white pleather chair in the corner by the window. It was night and the only light on was the orange street light pouring in.

It wasn't what I expected. No trumpets. No angels. No feelings even. Just silence and an eerie stare from the elephant painting on the wall behind me.

Two Things To Notice Here

1. First, I could have just shared the story like "A friend of mine told me about #Jesus and I said the prayer."

Not that exciting right? But when I described how I felt and painted a picture for you of what the moment looked like with details of the living room, I was able to bring you into the moment a little bit right? Much more interesting.

So walk away points from this:

• Describe your thoughts and feelings
• Describe details of the surroundings

2. This second point is for you to understand the importance of what happened: a creature that had never before existed now exists with the living power of God on the inside of it, destined to play a significant roll in the battle of light vs. darkness. 2 Corinthians 5:17

Is This Real To Us?

That might sound a bit epic but that's because it is! That's what really happened.

If we're really going to believe this Christianity stuff we might as well believe it fully.

Jesus is the light of the world and He had life in Him - that life being the light of men. He entered a world that was plunged into darkness to set the captives free.

A large part of the problem in the North American church today is we've become accustomed to think themes like this are only found in the movies - and we all know movies are fake.

So when we are represented with a reality that follows this theme, we find it hard to believe. We automatically think "too cinematic" or "hoax."

We liken the Bible to be limited to positive behavioral modification and neglect the fact that we do indeed live in a dualistic universe: the physical expression of the spiritual.

There are angels, there are demons, there is a God, there is a devil, and there is a fight for your soul and that of your neighbors'.

When I tell you that Jesus came, died, rose again, sent His spirit, and that Spirit is like light operating in a dark world; and that light is in you and wherever you go darkness cannot prevail - your mind automatically goes to a scene in Star Wars and you think it's incredible.

Is that why you feel silly sharing about Jesus?

This is why Christianity has become boring and irrelevant in North America and I believe the reason why we don't feel we have much more to share behind our confession, "I am a Christian."

Owning It

It's not that we are apathetic and don't care about our neighbors.

Think about it, if you were to talk by your neighbor's house and saw the roof was on fire, you'd have no hesitation to go bang on their door and yell "You need to get out!"

You wouldn't even care if you looked like an idiot because it wouldn't matter to you in that moment.

All that would matter is the fact you knew they were in danger and had to warn them.

At first they might be irritated that you ruined their sleep or supper, but don't you think they'd be appreciative once they realized what was going on?

Like it is with the Gospel. Only the context is spiritual and no one can physically see the fire.

The fire is very real though as well as the danger. It's seen in the active sin they continue to allow in their lives.

I'm not even talking about hell - though that too is a reality to be warned of.

I'm talking about the destructive power of sin that ruins those who embrace it and the Good News that Jesus allowed for a way out of that burning house!

But again if we don't really believe or accept that then we will have a problem with looking stupid when we go to warn them.

Your story needs to be rooted in the conviction that you have been saved from that fire.

Before you go out and share with people the Good News, sit and have a chat with God about why the Good News is so good for you!

Own your story.

Sharing It

The house on fire analogy is really just to show the importance of what we're doing. But at the same time (in some cases) we really can't be going around with the same upfront intensity shouting "Your house is on fire and you need Jesus!"

The reality is that most people can't see the fire. It's blurred in our culture and habits and sin has been normalized.

So the analogy now goes - you can see the fire, you run up and bang on their door screaming "you gotta get out!"

They come outside and don't see the fire, and now everything you say to them from then on is perceived as crazy. All the way up until their house burns down on them.

Your message is true, the danger is real, but in this case for our culture I find it to be more strategic to follow these guidelines:

• No shouting
• No panicking
• No pushing/pulling/or pressuring
• No judging of the heart (you can call them out on bad behavior though if you have that level of relationship with them)
• No grudges
• No condensing
• No criticizing
• No condescending talk
• No gossip
• Build relationship
• Be consistent in the way you live the Gospel
• Be patient
• Talk clearly and soberly (i.e., don't use religious words they don't know or babble on and on)
• Ask questions
• Be patient
• Pray for them
• Encourage them
• Bless them to their face (for example: John, I bless you man. You're such an influence at work that when you speak people listen. That's a gift from God man. Keep using that!)
• Be patient
• Have them over for dinner every once in a while and let them into your life

Sounds like a lot. How about I sum it up in this: Love them as Jesus loved you.

Sharing your story is more about believing it yourself and believing that there is good news for others.

Delivering it can become better with practice, but it's most effective when people can see it in action every time you are around.

Starting the conversation can/should be the hardest part and even that can be done with tips you can get from the other blogs posted here.

Above All

John Maxwell once told me, "If you want to impress others tell them of your successes. If you want to impact others, tell them of your failures."

Sharing your story is not about bragging to them how good your life is. It's about bragging how good your God is! Because if it wasn't for Him, you'd be ______________ (insert example of where you'd be without Him)

We are not perfect beings and we can't come across to others that way simply because we have Jesus.

Sharing the Good News is really a case of one beggar telling another beggar where the bread is!

Share with them your struggles and how #God has pulled through for you. This is attractive because they likely have the same struggles and are looking for a way out. We all are.

Love them and show them what kind of God you serve - because the way you treat them is going to tell them that.

Make sure your story (the one you have to share and the one you are living now) line up with who God is: #Love.

So What Are Your Thoughts?

What story do you feel you can share with others? Is it when Jesus finally got your attention? Is it a moment in your life that God pulled through and saved you of something? Give us a snippet. We want to hear! Comment below.