Making Every Moment Count: A Practical Guide to Sharing Jesus

Making Every Moment Count:
A Practical Guide to Sharing Jesus

We've all heard those slightly embellished stories about sharing Jesus before:

"I was on a plane and shared Jesus with the guy next to me. He immediately accepted Christ! Then, he told the flight attendant, who burst into tears of joy. She rushed to the cockpit to tell the pilots, and they were so moved that they started preaching over the intercom. By the time we landed, the entire plane had erupted in praise, and every passenger had found salvation in Jesus!"

Unfortunately, moments like this don’t happen every day. Often, we’re looking for these spectacular, singular moments to lead people to Jesus. And, while those moments can exist, more often than not, the biggest impact we have on others is made over a much longer period of time. Put it this way… Impacting someone with the Gospel often isn’t the result of one perfect moment, but the result of many intentional moments, over the course of time.

When it comes to the people in our lives whom we believe will find faith in Jesus – friends, family, spouses – our relationship with them is really just an accumulation of moments. In some cases, a lifetime worth of them. So, how can we become more intentional with the time that we have with these people, so that they might come to know the goodness and grace of Jesus? Here’s three really practical things to consider:

1. Learn how you can bring up Jesus naturally in regular conversation‍

As a Christian, you’ve personally experienced the difference that Jesus has made in you. The impact that has been made is so profound, that it has a way of effecting every area of your life. If you want to share Jesus with someone in your world, think of ways that Jesus plays an active part in your everyday life, and just talk about it! Here are some examples:‍

“I had a great weekend! I went to Church which was amazing, then we went out for lunch together.”
“Before getting ready for work, I often read my bible. I’ve felt really challenged recently with what God has been teaching me through His word!”
“I’ve got to tell you, my life has been pretty chaotic lately. But, having Jesus with me has given me strength through it all, and hope for the future”

Look out for the areas of your life where your faith and your friendship intersect and learn how to gracefully bring that into the conversation. 

2. Share your experience with no strings attached

People can smell an agenda from a mile away. It’s important to learn how to bring up Jesus without feeling like you need to convert everyone you meet. You don’t! A healthier way to frame the way we see others in our lives, is not as projects to work on, but people to love. It’s a much more compelling example of the gospel to commit to the ‘ups and downs’ of a friendship, rather than just an outcome for your evangelistic efforts. Remember, Jesus knew that Peter would abandon Him in His time of need, but loved him regardless. (Luke 22:34-38). So what can we do in our relationships, to be more like Jesus? We can love people. Not for their pending salvation, but because Jesus loves them.

3. Recognize that it’s a long-haul – Be spiritually prepared

It takes more than one conversation for someone to care about Jesus, so there’s no need to feel pressure to get it “just right” every time.

Think of salvation as midnight on a clock, and the current ‘time’ in your relationship with this person as six o’clock. Every seemingly small moment becomes an opportunity to move the hands closer to midnight, closer to a revelation of Jesus. With all this time ahead, it’s important for you to stay connected to Jesus throughout the journey. It’s hard to speak fondly about someone you’ve grown distant from. Worship, Bible study, and prayer keep your connection with Jesus strong, making it easier to talk about Him naturally.

Sharing Jesus can feel overwhelming, but when we realize it's about the whole journey, not just one moment, the pressure lifts. Intentional moments help guide people toward encountering Jesus’ goodness and grace.

So, with all this said, who in your life can you be more intentional with in the moments you have together? How can you better steward those moments, to guide them towards a revelation of Jesus?