God has given each of us a story to tell—a story of His goodness, faithfulness, and transforming power. Throughout this year, we have been reminded that the incredible stories of God's work aren't just found in the pages of the Bible or within the life of the church. God is still moving today, and He wants each of us to have personal stories of His faithfulness to share with others.
As we begin our new series, Tell the Story, we are reminded of the urgency of sharing the Gospel. In John 4, Jesus tells His disciples that His purpose is to do the will of the Father and accomplish His work. He describes this mission as something as essential as food. Jesus also reminds them that the fields are already white for harvest. The opportunity to reach people with the hope of the Gospel is not something we should put off until a better time. People's hearts are open, and the church is called to step forward and share the message of Jesus.
This week, we focused on sharing our faith with the people closest to us—our friends, families, and those who may have questions or doubts about God. Looking at the life of Jude, the brother of Jesus, we discovered several important lessons about reaching those who are skeptical.
A skeptical world will not be convinced by a wavering church.
Jude encourages believers to contend for the faith—to stand firmly in what we believe. Sharing the Gospel requires boldness and confidence in the truth of Jesus Christ. We cannot be afraid to proclaim that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. As the early church prayed in Acts 4, we should ask the Holy Spirit to give us boldness to speak God's Word, even when we face opposition.
Have mercy on those who doubt.
Standing firm in truth must always be accompanied by grace. Jude reminds us to have mercy on those who doubt, showing us that our approach to others matters just as much as the message we share. Jesus came full of both grace and truth, and we are called to reflect that same heart. Our goal is not to win arguments but to win people to Christ. We must be willing to lay down our preferences, extend unconditional love, and meet people where they are. An exclusive message of salvation through Jesus demands extravagant grace toward those who are still searching.
The failures of God's people do not negate the faithfulness of God.
Sometimes the biggest obstacles people face when considering faith aren't philosophical questions but painful experiences with the church. Scandals, division, hypocrisy, and personal hurt can leave lasting wounds. When someone brings up the failures of the church, our responsibility isn't to defend every mistake or convince someone to attend our church. Our purpose is to point people to Jesus. We must also be willing to listen to their stories, acknowledge their pain, and create opportunities for healing. The shortcomings of people do not change the goodness or faithfulness of God.
Share your story with humility and vulnerability.
When Jude introduces himself, he doesn't lead with his connection to Jesus as His brother. Instead, he simply calls himself a servant of Jesus Christ. His humility reminds us that sharing our faith isn't about presenting ourselves as having everything figured out. Sometimes our most powerful testimony isn't about how strong our faith has always been, but about how God met us in our weakest moments.
We all experience questions, struggles, and seasons of doubt. Pastor Garren shared how painful experiences with the church during his younger years led him to wrestle with difficult questions about God, suffering, and evil. Through those questions, he was reminded of the story of Lazarus in John 11. When Jesus encountered Mary and Martha in their grief, He didn't offer a philosophical explanation for their suffering. Instead, Jesus wept with them. We serve a God who doesn't stand far away from our pain but comes close to us in the middle of it.
That same compassion should shape the way we share our faith with others.
Perhaps one of the most encouraging reminders comes from the father who brought his hurting son to Jesus. When Jesus asked if he believed, the man responded, "I believe; help my unbelief." Even in the middle of his uncertainty, he brought his doubts honestly to Jesus, and Jesus responded with compassion.
We don't have to have every answer or possess perfect faith to come to God. He can meet us in our questions, strengthen us in our weakness, and bring hope even when doubt remains.
As we continue this series, may we be a church that boldly stands on truth, generously extends grace, and willingly shares our stories. There are people all around us who need to hear about the hope of Jesus. Our responsibility isn't to have all the answers or to win every argument. It's to love people well, listen to their stories, and faithfully point them to the One who can change their lives.
