But did you tell them about Me?

If you or your team has ever shied away from boldly sharing Jesus with your guests and your women in attendance, this post is for you.

After a discussion at our last women’s ministry team meeting God reminded me of a time when my desire and intentions to share Jesus while well-meaning, were misguided.

Perhaps you can relate…

The first year of our newly formed Moms Group we shared Jesus through “lifestyle evangelism”. Our team’s plan was that we would SHOW these women Jesus through our actions.

Our prayers at our Moms Group were non-threatening and we avoided most topics or conversations that might make a non-believer uncomfortable. And we rarely cracked open the Bible.

We wanted to love them, but not offend them.

We thought it was in their best interest that we only focus on Jesus at Christmas and at two other meetings out of our 14.

Because Jesus at every meeting would be too much.

Too much for them to handle.

Jesus was certainly not wanted and it would drive the mamas we prayed in straight out our doors.

Or so we thought.

It was a disaster of catastrophic proportions.

To the point of our entire team coming apart at the seams and tearing into one another in front of our group. Lord, forgive us for what THAT communicated to the moms you gave us to love on.

I wonder what those sweet women thought of Jesus because of us.

Surely they saw Jesus in us, even if we didn’t talk about Him much. At least before things turned ugly. Right?

The absence of our words about Jesus must have made them wonder how much we truly loved Him.

Here’s the problem.

When we love something with our whole being, we can’t help but talk about it ALL THE TIME.

What a bunch of hypocrites we were!

Were we that apathetic in our relationship with Christ that it didn’t tear us up to minimize the conversation about what He was doing in our lives?!

Did we really think so little of these women that they couldn’t handle the truth of the Gospel?!

Why we felt a need to protect them from God, I cannot put into words today. I just know we took that piece of advice to focus on “lifestyle evangelism” to the nth degree. And we truly thought it was the right thing to do.

I am so ashamed and embarrassed and I thank God I am not stuck back in that place.

Once we get women in the door, we have a responsibility to share Jesus with them. The first time.

Our job is not to decide if our audience is ready.

Our job is to pray that they would have ears to hear and to lovingly share the reason for our hope.

We don’t know that we’re going to get a second chance.

That mom who dragged in late after dropping off her twins, she’s weary from begging her husband to stay. Her marriage is on the brink. She needs Jesus. Now.

The quiet, new widow who came with her neighbor, she’s crying herself to sleep at night. She is so lonely. Her sons live two states away. Her friends have disappeared since the funeral. She needs Jesus.

The woman who laughs loudly – she’s overcompensating. She’s nervous and afraid someone will figure out her secret – she’s got an appointment tomorrow with her doctor to try a new medicine for her recent bipolar diagnosis. She needs to hear about Jesus.

And, God forbid, one of our women get blindsided by a dump truck on the way home and never have the opportunity to hear about Christ.

Please understand I’m not trying to shake my finger at you. I’ve been there, done that, got the t-shirt.

Even beyond the Moms Group disaster, we’ve led women’s ministry events where Jesus, His Word, and what He’s doing in the lives of one of our women never made an appearance.

When we exclude Jesus from our events it communicates:

1. That Jesus isn’t that important.
2. That our audience isn’t smart enough, ready, or __________ to receive the Gospel or a Word from God.
3. That we are ashamed of the Gospel. (See Romans 1:16)
4. That they can’t handle the truth.
5. Our personal witness is more important than the Gospel.

Ladies, we should be aware of Jesus moving in such a way in our lives that we can’t help but talk about Him!

We should be bursting at the seams to be telling others about Jesus.

We have an apathy problem disguised as consideration for guests.

It’s not our  guests that can’t handle hearing about Jesus, it’s us that can’t handle sharing about Jesus.

Whether it’s because we fill ill-equipped, we’re ashamed of the status of our relationship with Him, or we fear being found out as Biblically illiterate. Or maybe we’re just afraid we’re going to mess it up and disappoint God.

He’s given us the Holy Spirit. You can trust Him to give you the words. You can trust him to prepare your guests and bring them back if it’s His will.

Our job is to deliver the message (Mark 16:7, Acts 1:8, Romans 10:17). Period. We can’t save them. Only God can.

When we stand before the throne of God and He asks, “But did you tell them about Me?” may we all be able to answer with a resounding “Yes!”

Lord, we are nothing without you. I pray for those who need a nudge to be bolder in sharing their faith. Help us to see the opportunities you place before us to share about you. Remove our fears and insecurities that holds us back. Lord, let us all be like the woman at the well (John 4:28-29) who left her jar of water to head into town to tell people about Jesus. IJNIP, Amen.

You might also want to read:
How to Create a More Welcoming Women’s Ministry
How to Get Women to Show Up
How to Help Your Women Share the Gospel

One year ago: Letting Go of Perfect
Two years ago: Praying for Your Small Group
Three years ago: Encouragement: Blessing Bags