Just before Jesus left earth and ascended to heaven, He gathered His disciples who had been with Him for the past three years. While they were sitting around a table sharing a meal, Jesus commissioned them to continue the work that He had begun.

Jesus had spent most of His ministry proclaiming the arrival of the Kingdom of God, which is the rule and reign of God. The right response to this arrival was for people to turn from their old ways and believe in Jesus. 

Jesus Invites Us to Share the Gospel Message

The very first words of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark are in Mark 1:15, and they are an announcement of the arrival of God’s Kingdom. And Jesus’ last words to His disciples, starting in Mark 16:15, build upon His first announcement. The call Jesus left us with was to continue to tell others the good news of the Gospel.

This good news is that Jesus has brought the arrival of the Kingdom of God to earth, and that through His death and resurrection, He has made a way for all people to have a new life in Him.

Who Do You Know That Needs Jesus?

So take some time today to pray for those in your life who do not know the hope that Jesus gives. Pray for their salvation, but also pray for opportunities to share your own faith story with them.

Telling others about Jesus doesn’t mean you have to stand on a street corner shouting, but it does mean you should seek out intentional and meaningful conversations with others about God, faith, and the Bible. Engage in more conversations about your faith in informal settings like playgrounds and birthday parties. When we tell others about the new life and new Kingdom available to them, we are continuing the work that Jesus left us to do.

How I Got to Know Jesus

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

I remember when I read those words for the first time. I was in awe. I knew Jesus taught about forgiveness. But here He was: hanging on the cross, covered in wounds; His own people insulting Him, laughing at His misery, gambling for His possessions. Yet in that moment, He chose to forgive. He chose to do what He always did. He was dying, but He was still leading people.

Jesus didn’t just lead with His words; He led with His life.

Jesus’ forgiveness on the cross demonstrated the main reason people followed Him during His time on earth. Jesus didn’t just lead with His words; He led with His life. He didn’t merely tell us to forgive; He forgave. There was no difference between the words He spoke and the life He lived.

One of the most effective ways we can lead others to Jesus is by following closely after Him.

One of the most effective ways we can lead others to Jesus is by following closely after Him. One of the most effective ways we can lead others to Jesus is by following closely after Him. We lead with our lives. When we live like Jesus—with no difference between who we say we are and how we live—our lives become our best presentation of the Gospel.

The Role of the Holy Spirit in Spiritual Conversations

The Holy Spirit plays a vital role in our spiritual conversations. He is the one who convicts hearts and draws people to Jesus Christ. As we engage in these conversations, we need to rely on the Holy Spirit to guide us. Pray for His wisdom, courage, and the right words to say. The Holy Spirit can help us create space for these conversations to happen naturally, without forcing or pressuring the other person. By leaning on the Holy Spirit, we can approach each interaction with strength and confidence, knowing that He is working through us to reach others.

So, want to know how to tell others about Jesus? Then try these three tips.

3 Ways We Can Have Spiritual Conversations About Jesus

1. Be approachable.

Jesus was approachable. Whether it was outcasts, children, Jewish leaders, or Roman centurions, people of all walks of life approached Jesus. So what made Him so approachable? He was humble and available.

Although He was the Son of God, Jesus did not present Himself as better than others. Instead, He was often found in places that were looked down upon. He did not seclude Himself amongst those who were similar to Him, but rather put Himself in situations where He made friends with people vastly different from Himself. Jesus ate with sinners, spoke to women, and touched lepers.

He found Himself among both the most powerful and the most rejected people because He understood that in God's economy, the only thing that matters is the heart.

So when you get into spiritual conversations, be approachable. Genuinely see the person you're speaking to as a friend, not an opponent.

2. Be accepting.

Jesus loved people where they were. He did not expect them to get their lives together before they came to know Him. If we look at His encounters with Zacchaeus, the woman caught in adulterythe woman at the well, and many more, we see that He extended relationship to them while they were still sinners. He accepted them where they were. Then—through relationship with Him—a transformation began.

When we have spiritual conversations, or share Jesus through our actions, we need to create space for all kinds of people. Some grew up going to church, while others haven't. But you can show respect no matter their belief, background, or religion.

3. Love actively.

Jesus did not merely speak pleasantries to those around Him. He showed them love. He touched them. He healed them. He served them. He grieved with them. He had compassion on them. Jesus cared about the people He came in contact with. He didn’t just see them for what they had done (or had not done). He saw them for who they were. And oh yeah, He left the perfection of heaven to enter our world!

As you reflect on how Jesus led with His life, I challenge you to look at your own life.

• Are you approachable? Do you recognize your own need for a savior, reaching out to others with humility? Do you put yourself in situations where you can get to know people who are different from you? Do you know your neighbors?
• Are you accepting? Do you love people where they are or do you require others to meet a behavioral standard before you engage with them?
• Do you love actively? Are you invested in other people’s lives? How are you demonstrating your love to those around you? Are you a go-to for people who need help?

As you work toward living like Jesus, your love for others will set you apart. Just as people followed Jesus when they saw the integrity He lived with, you too can lead others with your life.