I Don’t Know What To Say
I Don't Know What to Say
“When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.” – Luke 12:11-12
Do you feel intimidated or afraid to talk to others about Jesus?
I remember when I was in middle school there was a girl who I liked. I knew her from school. She was cute and fun. Yep, I liked her, but she doesn’t know it. Why? I never worked up the nerve to tell her. I didn’t know what to say.
A lot of people feel a bit like that when it comes to talking to others about Jesus. They feel like they don’t know what to say.
“I’m not sure what to tell people.”
“I think I can get the basics right, but what if they start asking questions?”
“What if they don’t want to hear it?”
These may be thoughts you have had. Perhaps you’ve wanted to say something, but in the end, never spoke up.
The Words To Say
When Jesus told His disciples to tell others about Him, to “acknowledge the Son of Man before men,” He may have sensed their anxiety. The disciples may very well have wondered those very same things we have thought. Jesus, however, encouraged them. He told them not to worry. The Holy Spirit would teach them at that time what to say.
The Holy Spirit still works today. He still teaches us what to say.
The Perfect Pitch
Part of our anxiety about telling others about Jesus is that we think we need to “say the right thing”… or at least not say the wrong thing. One thing I’ve learned over the years is that there is no perfect pitch, at least no perfect human pitch. We don’t know what the person needs to hear. We just don’t have that kind of insight. The Holy Spirit does, though.
I can’t tell you how many times people have told me that something I said, something which I thought nothing of (or was even embarrassed by), meant a lot to them. I’ve come to realize that it’s because I’m not the one who is working to convince anyone of anything. The Holy Spirit is the one who works in people’s hearts through the Word. He makes our fumbling attempts perfect.
The Basics
You know the basics. We confess it in one of the Creeds almost every week. We are all sinners. Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for our sins. If we believe in Him we are forgiven and saved. If you can say that or quote John 3:16, you can share the Gospel with someone.
Pray the Holy Spirit would give you the words. Don’t overthink it. Pray the Holy Spirit would work in the person’s heart. Then let God be God. The person’s response is between them and God. If they ask questions and you know the answers, answer them. If not, tell them you don’t know, but would be happy to look into it. Then check your Bible or ask a pastor.
What if we changed what we think about sharing the Gospel to something more like…
“The Holy Spirit knows what they need to hear.”
“I know I can get the basics right and I can answer their questions over time.”
“What if they need to hear it?”
Dear Jesus,
Fill me with Your Spirit. Give me opportunities to talk about You with others and give me the words to say. Even now, begin to work in the hearts of the people I will speak with that they may receive Your Word in faith.
Amen.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
