Devotions this week based on the Message: “BELIEVE: Week 20: Sharing My Faith”
(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Randy Frazee entitled, “BELIEVE.”
You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)
OK, so I want to share my faith. How do I do it?
Great question. Over the rest of this week, I’d like to share a few different approaches that when you get to a point in a conversation where you have a chance to “give the reason for the hope you have” you have an outline or simple way to remember and communicate the Gospel.
To start, here’s the color method. We shared this (or a version of it) with our kids this Sunday. Perhaps it is an easy outline to remember.
BLACK: Black represents the reality of sin in our lives. Sin is the root of all evil and brings spiritual darkness into the hearts and lives of people. The darkness of black also communicates the reality that “the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23) This dark page, if left to itself leaves us without hope, without forgiveness, without life.
RED: Red represents the blood of Jesus. “Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22). “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). The payment that our sin deserved was the blood of Jesus. The red is the heart of God’s love for us that he sent Jesus to die in our place.
Isaiah 53:5-6 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
BLUE: Blue represents the waters of baptism. God’s gift of baptism connects us personally to the blood of Jesus and assures us we are a child of God. When God puts his name on us, he covers us with the blood of Jesus. Baptism is God’s gift to us…we are connected to his death and resurrection. With that connection he assures us we are a forgiven, redeemed child of God.
Romans 6:3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
Titus 3:4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,…
Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,…
WHITE: White represents the perfect righteousness that God has given to believers through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ his Son. White is the purity and perfection given to us by Jesus. Our status before God is now one of “saint” not sinner.
Revelation 7:13-15 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?”
14 I answered, “Sir, you know.”
And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
GREEN: Green represents growth. As one who is now covered in the forgiveness of Jesus, it is our desire to grow in our love for him and our knowledge of him. Peter, the Apostle put it this way to encourage us in our life of following Jesus:
2 Peter 3:17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
YELLOW: Yellow represents the glory and brilliance of heaven. Yellow represents the power and glory of God as he shines in all his brilliance and welcomes us home to heaven.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Gospel is a wonderful message to share. Perhaps these colors: Black; Red; Blue; White; Green; Yellow will help next time to share it clearly!
Apply: Collect objects that have these colors. Practice telling the story of Jesus based on the colors you have.
Prayer: Lord, use me to share you. AMEN.