Review: Share Jesus without Fear

reviewed by T. C. Pinckney                                                                             Vol. XIX, No. 4, May 2006

[This 1999 book is by William Fay and Linda Evans Shepherd and published by Broadman & Holman.]

Most Southern Baptists are disobedient, rebelling against Christ’s command to go into all the world and make disciples. We rationalize our sin because we are not seminary graduates, not professional clergymen, “I might mess it up”, or “I’ll just witness by my life”. Only the Holy Spirit wins souls, but He uses even our fumbling words to plant the seeds. If we do not speak, the seeds are not planted. It is high time that we start becoming good stewards of the time God has granted us on earth and become faithful, not fearful, witnesses. Imagine the impact on our country and the world if every Southern Baptist helped the Spirit win just one soul to Jesus each year! Share Jesus without Fear gives you a simple, effective way to witness.

Bill Fay spoke about his approach to witnessing at the SBCV Evangelism Conference in Salem, VA, 13 March. I had never heard such a simple, practical way to share one’s faith.

Bill makes the point that “success is sharing your faith and living your life for Jesus Christ. It has nothing whatsoever to do with bringing anyone to the Lord. It has everything to do with obedience.” What a wonderful release from a false responsibility (thinking I must win someone) and acceptance of the fact that, though we are responsible to share, only God can call a heart.

But soon after we breathe that sigh of relief, Bill writes, “And though most of us have never said, ‘I don’t know him,’ we’ve still found a way to deny him. We deny Jesus by never opening our mouths. We deny him with our silence.” Does your heart convict you when you have had an opportunity to witness and didn’t? It should.

Interesting point: “Nonbelievers must hear the gospel an average of 7.6 times before they receive it. So if anyone walks away from you when you share the gospel with him, remember: the Word of God never returns void.”

Again: A survey from the Institute of American Church Growth showed that 75 to 90 percent of new believers come to Christ through a friend or acquaintance who explains the good news on a one-to-one basis. Only 17 percent of all conversions come through what is called an ‘event’ – a pastor giving his Sunday morning message, a Billy Graham crusade, or a Friendship Sunday. Yet most churches devote the majority of their time, energy, and money to these kinds of events.”

Fay makes it easy and simple. The heart of the book starts with Conversation Joggers which open the door for Five Questions. The Joggers just get a conversation going so that you can then use one or more of the Questions to switch to the real topic, salvation.

Once on topic, Bill recommends you have your friend read seven selected verses aloud and after each ask him, “what does this say to you?” That does two things: it has him read Scripture himself both visually and orally, and it has him give the plain meaning, rather than you appearing to preach to him. Incidentally, Bill strongly recommends you not use a full-size Bible because some not-yet-believers find them intimidating. Instead he suggests a pocket New Testament ... not intimidating and easy to carry with you at all times.

When the person has read the Bible verses and said what they mean to him, Fay offers five Commitment Questions, simple but powerful. For example, the first two are “Are you a sinner?” and “Do you want forgiveness of sins?”

And once the person has made a commitment, Bill suggests several more questions you can ask in order to follow up and continue the process of growing a new disciple.

There are other very simple, practical helps in Share Jesus without Fear. You can order the book online from Broadman & Holman for only $9.99. There are also a cd and journal available.