A man is sent to prison for the first time. At night, the lights in the cell block are turned off, and his cellmate goes over to the bars and yells, “Number twelve!” The whole cell block breaks out laughing. A few minutes later, somebody else in the cell block yells, “Number four!” Again, the whole cell block breaks out laughing.
The new guy asks his cellmate what’s going on. “Well,” says the older prisoner, “we’ve all been in this prison so long, we all know the same jokes. So we just yell out the number instead of telling the whole joke.”
So the new guy walks up to the bars and yells, “Number six!” There was dead silence in the cell block. He asks the older prisoner, “What’s wrong? Why didn’t I get any laughs?”
“Well,” said the older man, “Some people can tell a joke and some can’t.”
It’s all how you tell it! How do you tell others about Jesus!
First, listen to understand other people. Often we are busy thinking of how we are going to respond while others are talking and don’t hear what they are saying. How can they know we care if we don’t even listen? Listen first.
Secondly, remember no one was ever argued into the Kingdom of God. Arguing about beliefs doesn’t change either side, people just get entrenched in their own ideas. Just take a look at Congress.
Thirdly, talk about Jesus with joy. St. Teresa of Ávila, the 16th-century Carmelite nun and reformer, once said, “From silly devotions and sour-faced saints, good Lord, deliver us.”
Fourthly, let your words be pleasant, agreeable and pleasing. People enjoy the taste of honey, but don’t enjoy drinking vinegar. “Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.” Col 4:6 NLT Finally, be gentle and respectful with others. Force creates resistance. Gentleness creates open ears and hearts. 1 Peter 3:15 “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.
When you talk about Jesus, it is all in how you tell it!
