Behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
Luke 2:10
We’re diligent to take the Word in. Through daily Bible readings, sermons, books, memorizations, songs.
But how diligent are we to give it back out?
The Gospel—it is Good News!—isn’t meant to sit passively inside us. The Word is alive and active (Hebrews 4:12). What God gives to us He wants us to share with others, not hoard for ourselves.
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Hebrews 13:16
So how can we give the Word away?
How can we bless others with the words of God so they also can be encouraged and equipped?
4 Ways to Give Away the Word
1. Give through casual conversations
Some believers are naturals at weaving in scriptures throughout their conversations with others. They make relevant connections between everyday conversations and applicable Bible verses, without being preachy. It doesn’t come as naturally to me, but we all can grow in this by becoming more intentional to share what we’ve received.
2. Give through writing
When we’re writing an e-mail or a birthday card, can’t we also jot down a scripture that would be meaningful to the recipient? We have opportunities multiple times a day—either on paper or on-line—to sweeten our correspondence with holy words. Think Facebook, blogs, Twitter, texts, letters, post-it notes. My friend Linda even writes scriptures on her blue jeans. We can let scriptures decorate our homes, our cars, our t-shirts, testifying for Jesus everywhere we go.
3. Give through teaching
This one may seem obvious, but sometimes we drift from using the Word even in Bible classes. Let’s check our curriculum periodically to make sure God’s Word is receiving top billing. Whether teaching straight from a book in the Bible or with the aid of another’s writings, studying scriptures with others is a direct way to pour out biblical truths, strengthening each other’s faith.
4. Give through worship and prayer
God has blessed us with His words; can’t we bless Him back with them? We can include His inspired words in our praise to Him and our prayers to Him, either alone or when we’re gathered with others. It’s easy to find songs that come straight from scripture or we can create our own. As we read through the Psalms or any text, we can echo the words as our own prayers, straight from the heart.
Let’s keep the rivers of living water flowing, not just into us, but through us and out to others.
Jesus cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'”
John 7:37-38
How do you spread the Word?
Which ways are hardest for you? Easiest?
Related:
Look into The Seed Company. They translate the Bible into native tongues for people around the world.
The first one is the hardest for me. It is something I need to work on.
That’s the hardest one for me, too, Barbara. I think I’m afraid I’ll come across wrong–as “holier than thou” or something, instead of encouraging.
But I’ve seen friends do this so appropriately and it is edifying to hear the use of scriptures applied to our everyday lives so naturally.
I think the easiest one is writing for me. I need to be more diligent in speaking. This is such an encouraging post. I think we get so uptight with ourselves that we are not “preaching” the gospel that we forget the most important thing is to just be who God has called us to be. Pray for opportunities to share and do it. I’ve been friends with a fellow mom (our sons are 1 month apart). I have been afraid to ask her outright about her spiritual life. But she came to my son’s dedication at church. She attends MOPS and I gave my testimony there last year. She continues to hang out with me, but it’s really hard to have a conversation when our kids are around. I asked her to the Women’s Retreat, but she couldn’t come. Also, I got a bunch of friends to bless her when she had her second baby. I just want to be more bold!
Shonda,
Perhaps we bloggers tend to be more writing-oriented by nature. I definitely lean towards this way too.
It sounds like you are definitely witnessing to your friend in many different ways already. But I know how you feel about wanting to be more bold. I pray the Lord will give both of us words we need when we need to be more direct.
Thanks for the encouragement Lisa! Conversations doesn’t come too easily for me, but I find it is better when I’ve been learning and living more in the Word as I have more that will come to my mind naturally. Cards is definitely something that is good to write scriptures in, just takes a little longer to think and maybe look up :)
You make an excellent point, Rhoda. The more we are in the Word for ourselves, the more naturally it will spill out when we’re talking with others.
Great post! Thanks for the encouragement and practical tips. I will be thinking on these for the week.
Good, Caroline. I’m continually challenged to think of ways I can share God’s Words with people in a natural and effective way. Feel free to pass along anything that works for you.