How can we speak about Jesus with someone we care about? Craig offers a simple path: pray, listen, speak clearly, and take one faithful step. Jesus is with his people as they share the gospel.
One faithful step
Remember who sends you. Ask God for courage. Keep one clear sentence about Jesus ready. Ask a kind question and listen to the answer. Give the person time to respond and keep caring for them.
Scripture in this episode
Jesus sends and stays with his followers (Matthew 28:18–20). The Spirit empowers witness (Acts 1:8). Believers pray for boldness (Acts 4:29–31). Paul speaks amid weakness and fear (1 Corinthians 2:3–5). Christ died for our sins and rose again (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). We are quick to hear and slow to speak (James 1:19), ready to explain our hope with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15), and prayerful for openings and gracious speech (Colossians 4:3–6).
This week’s CrossTalk Challenge
Pray for one person by name today. Before the week ends, send a kind note or invitation and listen to their response. If they want to talk about faith, share one clear sentence about Jesus and ask whether they would like to hear more.
For reflection
- Who is one person you can pray for by name this week?
- How would you explain in one sentence why Jesus gives you hope?
- What kind question could help you learn that person’s story?
Complete transcript
Jesus Gives Us Courage
How can we speak about Jesus with someone we care about? Well, we can pray, listen, and use clear words. Jesus is with us as we do it. Welcome to CrossTalk Unleashed. I’m Craig Marvin Johnson. And this is where we learn to pray, prepare, notice, and speak, equipping every believer for gospel conversations. Today we will talk about courage. By the end of this episode, you’ll have one short prayer, one clear sentence about Jesus, and one kind question you can use this week. Here is our path. Remember who sends us. Ask God for courage, get ready to speak and listen, and then take one step toward a person you know. Paul knew what it felt like to speak with fear. In 1 Corinthians chapter 2, he says he came to the people in Corinth with weakness, fear, and trembling. He told them about Jesus. Paul wanted their faith to rest on God’s power, and God worked through Paul’s words. We can bring our real feelings to God, and we can ask for help, and we can speak in a way that shows care for the person in front of us.
Jesus Sends Us
In Matthew chapter 28, Jesus says that all authority in heaven and on earth belongs to him. Then he sends his followers to make disciples. He also says he will be with them. Jesus sends us with his authority and his presence. Acts chapter 1 says the Holy Spirit gives power to be witnesses for Jesus. We can ask the Spirit to help us speak of what Jesus has done. In Acts chapter 4, believers faced threats because they spoke about Jesus. They prayed for courage to speak God’s word. God answered, and they spoke with boldness. We can pray before a talk about faith. Here’s a prayer you could use. Lord Jesus, thank you for this person. Help me hear what they say and give me kind and clear words about you. Help me care for them today. Jesus cares about the person we are talking with. He knows their story. We can take time to learn part of that story, too.
Speak Clearly and Listen
What can we say about Jesus? First Corinthians chapter 15 gives us the heart of the gospel. Christ died for our sins, he was buried, and God raised him from the dead. Here’s one way to say that in a talk with a friend. Jesus died for our sins and rose again. I trust him and he gives me hope. You can put that in your own words. Keep Jesus and his resurrection clear. And then ask a kind question. You might say, would you like to hear why Jesus matters to me? Or you could ask, what do you think about Jesus? Listen to the answer. James chapter 1 tells us to be quick to hear and slow to speak. First Peter chapter 3 says, be ready to explain our hope with gentleness and respect. Colossians chapter 4 tells us to pray for a chance to share the message and to speak with grace. We can prepare what to say and give the other person time to speak too. A friend may ask something you need to study. You can say, That’s a good question. I want to learn more. Can we talk again after I look into it? And then follow through. A good talk can grow over time.
One Step This Week
So here is this week’s CrossTalk Challenge. Think of one person you know. Pray for that person by name today. And this week, send a kind note. Ask how they’re doing or invite them to talk. Listen to what they share. If they want to talk about faith, tell them one clear thing about Jesus, and then ask, would you like to hear more? Give them time to answer. Keep caring for them as the friendship grows. Prayer, preparation, and purpose. Pray for one person. Get one gospel sentence and one kind question ready. Make time for one talk. Jesus sends us to love people and tell the truth. God will be at work as we serve Him. Father, thank you for the people you have placed in our lives. Help us see them and listen well. And give us courage and kind words when we speak. Keep the death and rising of Jesus clear in our hearts, and help us be ready to share his good news and to care for each person. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
CrossTalk Unleashed — Equipping Every Believer for Gospel Conversations.
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