Have you ever wondered how to share your faith with someone else? Maybe you're unsure what to say. Perhaps you worry you don't know enough about the Bible. Or maybe you're afraid of how someone might respond.

The good news is that you don't have to figure it all out on your own.

Jesus calls every follower to share his love with the world. And he doesn't send us alone. The Holy Spirit gives us peace, purpose, presence, and power as we continue the mission of Jesus.

Your faith journey doesn't end when you accept Christ. That's when a new part of the journey begins.

Your Faith Journey Is Just Beginning

When someone asks about your faith journey, you might describe how you came to know Jesus. You might share how you learned about his love, trusted him as your Savior, and experienced the forgiveness and hope he offers.

That's an important part of your story. But your faith journey doesn't stop there.

As followers of Jesus, we can keep asking one question: Jesus, where are we going next?

In John 20:21–22, Jesus tells his disciples, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” He then breathes on them and tells them to receive the Holy Spirit.

Jesus doesn't simply save us and leave us waiting. He sends us to continue his work in the world.

God's mission is to bring redemption, hope, and healing to a broken world. And every follower of Jesus has a part to play.

At The Village Church, we describe this calling as joining God's mission in everyday life. We don't have to travel across the world to begin. We can start right where God has placed us.

Share Your Faith Through Words and Actions

In Matthew 28:18–20, Jesus gives his followers the Great Commission: Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey his commands. He also promises to be with them always.

So what does it mean to make disciples today?

We share our faith in two connected ways: we tell people about Jesus, and we show them what life with Jesus looks like.

Our words matter. We can tell others how Christ has changed our lives and explain the hope we have found in him.

Our actions matter, too. We demonstrate the way of Jesus when we love our neighbors, serve people in need, listen with compassion, and treat others with dignity.

Often, relationships create opportunities for both.

When we invest in people and take time to know them, we build trust. We also create opportunities to share our faith naturally and demonstrate the love of Christ through everyday choices.

Build Relationships That Reflect the Love of Jesus

Jesus calls us to love God, love one another, love our neighbors, and even love our enemies. That love should be visible in the way we live.

Pastor Greg shares an example of Village Church members who built relationships with Muslim neighbors at a local mosque. They spent time together, learned about one another's backgrounds and faith traditions, listened respectfully, and looked for ways to build bridges.

Some of these neighbors had experienced the trauma of genocide and had painful associations with people who identified as Christians. Through consistent friendship and intentional love, church members had an opportunity to show them a different picture of what following Jesus looks like.

Over time, the relationships grew deeper. The mosque's retiring imam later expressed gratitude for the friendship, saying that the group had helped his community see Jesus through the way they lived.

This story reminds us that sharing our faith is not simply about having the right words. It's also about embodying the love of Jesus in our relationships.

Who in your life needs to experience the love of Christ through the way you show up?

It could be a neighbor, a coworker, a family member, or someone whose background differs from yours. You don't have to have all the answers. Start by listening, building a relationship, and looking for ways to love well.

Let the Holy Spirit Lead You

In Acts 1:8, Jesus promises his disciples that they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them. They will be his witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

This passage reminds us that the mission of Jesus extends everywhere.

For us, that might mean serving a neighbor, reaching out to a family member, caring for someone in our community, or participating in mission work farther away. The Holy Spirit may lead each person in a different direction.

So where are you supposed to go? That's a question to bring to the Holy Spirit.

Ask God to show you whom to love, where to serve, and how to share your faith. Then remain open and responsive to the opportunities that come your way.

You don't need to know every step before you begin. You can trust the Spirit to lead you one step at a time.

Don't Let Fear Keep You From Sharing Your Faith

Even when we want to follow the Spirit, fear can hold us back. There are several reasons we may hesitate to share our faith.

Fear that the Spirit won't lead us

Sometimes we don't expect God to guide us. We may assume that we're not important enough to be called or that we wouldn't recognize the Spirit's direction.

But Jesus promises his presence to his followers. We can pray for guidance and pay attention to the people and opportunities God places before us.

Fear of where the Spirit might lead

We may be comfortable sharing our faith with people who think like us. Reaching out to someone different can feel more difficult.

Following the Spirit, however, sometimes means stepping beyond our comfort zones. We may be called to build a relationship we wouldn't have pursued on our own or to serve someone whose experiences differ from ours.

We don't need to know the entire plan. We need to be willing to pray, “Lord, lead me. Have your way. Use me.”

Fear of what others will think

We may worry that someone will judge us, reject our invitation, or disagree with our beliefs.

But when we approach people with genuine love and compassion, we can focus less on how we might be perceived and more on how we can serve them.

Jesus begins his sending words in John 20 with a promise of peace. We don't have to let fear have the final word. The Holy Spirit sends us with Christ's purpose and presence.

You Don't Need Every Answer to Share Your Story

You may think you need to know more theology or memorize more Scripture before you can talk about Jesus. But Jesus calls his followers to be witnesses, not experts in every question someone might ask.

You can start by sharing your own story.

What has Jesus done in your life? Where have you experienced his love, forgiveness, peace, or guidance? How has your faith changed the way you live?

Your experience is a meaningful place to begin. You don't need to explain every theological truth to tell someone what Christ means to you.

Think of the man Jesus healed who said, in essence, that although he couldn't explain everything, he knew that he had been blind and now could see.

You can share what you know. You can be honest about what you don't know. And you can continue learning as you grow in faith.

The Holy Spirit can work through a simple, sincere story.

Go With the Peace, Presence, and Power of the Spirit

The mission of Jesus can feel overwhelming when we think we must accomplish it on our own. But Jesus never intended for us to go alone.

The Holy Spirit gives us peace when we're afraid, purpose when we're uncertain, presence as we go, and power to bear witness to Christ.

And we don't have to travel far to begin.

Start with the people God has already placed in your life. Listen to them. Learn their stories. Offer your time and care. Look for opportunities to serve. When the moment comes, share what Jesus means to you.

You may never know how a small act of love will affect someone else. But you can trust that God can use your willingness to make Christ's love visible.

Who Is the Holy Spirit Sending You to Love?

Your faith journey is still unfolding. Jesus continues to invite you into his mission, and the Holy Spirit is ready to lead you.

Take a moment to pray:

Holy Spirit, help me notice the people around me. Show me where you are calling me to serve, whom you are inviting me to love, and how I can share my story of faith. Give me courage when I'm afraid, humility to listen, and compassion to reflect the love of Jesus. Lead me one step at a time. Amen.

You don't need to know exactly where the journey will take you. You simply need to be willing to follow.

You are sent by the Holy Spirit. Go and show the world the love of Jesus.

*summary created with help of ChatGPT
To view other messages in this sermon series, click here.