Evangelism Series: But I don’t know what to say!

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have. But do this with gentleness and respect …

(I Peter 3:15)

As we continue to explore evangelism, I would like to reflect upon the common, and quite natural, apprehension that many Christians have about sharing their faith–the fear that we won’t have the right words. If you have ever worried that you might do a terrible job of explaining the Trinity to an inquisitive co-worker, you are not alone!

It is absolutely true that many concepts within Christianity are profound and mysterious (you know, like transubstantiation or the indelible mark left upon our souls at Baptism). They can be difficult to comprehend, much less explain. However, don’t let that be the end of the story. Don’t despair of your own lack of understanding OR your ability to bring understanding to others! There is no lack of means to help each one of us improve in these areas.

Where am I at?

A good starting place can be to consider what exact factors make sharing your faith difficult. Would you struggle to answer questions simply because you’ve forgotten what you learned several decades ago in Sunday School or religious education? Or, perhaps your challenge is that you find it difficult to explain things. Some people are naturally exceptional teachers or coaches who can pass on their knowledge with creativity and simplicity; that is an amazing gift that we don’t all possess!  Alternately, it could be that you’re a more private person who doesn’t tend to share your opinions with others (and who definitely doesn’t share the deepest thoughts and feelings of your heart!) I’d like to explore each of these over a few more blogs. For today, let’s consider where to start if you find yourself just a bit rusty on the fundamentals of the faith.

“We leak”

In many cases, we don’t even realize that we’ve forgotten some of the finer points of Christian teaching until someone asks us a question. It appears, for us humans, that we occasionally need a refresher course. I still remember a sermon that was given back in Bible college entitled “We Leak” (thank you, Marv Smith!). The object lesson included 2 students racing to fill up a bucket, but their only tool to do so was a sieve. The seive was obviously sorely inadequate. His point, as you may imagine, was that we just don’t retain things that well. Consequently, each one of us needs fairly regular instruction, promptings, and encouragements. The good news? There is no shortage of resources for you to do your very own refresher course and brush up on our beautiful faith.

Option 1: “Christianity 101”

You could do something more structured like attend RCIA or a Bible study. A major benefit to having something built into your schedule is that the habit is easier to maintain. Plus you get those friendly little inquiries from your classmates when you miss a week!

Option 2: Books!

First, I will always advocate that the Bible should be at the top of every Christian’s reading list (ooooo—and that thought just gave me my next blog post!) For now, I’ll just suggest 2 super easy starting places for diving into the Bible. Read the daily mass readings, found right at your finger tips at USCCB. Or, check out the Bible in a Year podcast. The great benefit of this is that each reading is accompanied by a teaching and explanation, which is immensely helpful.

For other books to consider, I asked Nic to compile a list of books that are a good starting place for learning your faith. We’ll give this list the cute name of …

Nic’s picks!!!!

1. Fundamentals of the Faith by Peter Kreeft
2. Spirit of the Liturgy by Cardinal Ratzinger
3. To learn Catholicism’s perspective on sexuality: Theology of the Body for Beginners by Christopher West
4. Jewish Roots of the Eucharist by Brant Petre
5. Jacelyn’s pick: Rome Sweet Home by Scott and Kimberly Hahn

Option 3: Podcasts, podcasts, podcasts!

There is a treasure trove of prayers, teachings, and sermons found in podcast form. I regularly listen to the Bible and homilies while getting ready in the morning (in those lovely, fleeting moments before the whole household is awake). I LOVE starting my day this way and would recommend it to anyone. To find your new favorite podcast, you can always just search for Christianity, Bible, or Catholicism in your podcast app. However, this will typically yield a huge selection that is difficult to weed through … giving us another perfect opportunity for … drumroll please …

Nic’s Picks!!!!

1. God’s Descent: The Gospels
2. Bible in a Year
3. Bishop Barron’s Sermons
4. Chasing Foxes
5. Liturgy of the Hours

So, if it’s time for a refresher course, don’t hesitate! Dive in to the multitude of resources available. You will feel far more confident talking to others about matters of the faith when you are more familiar with them yourself. I suspect you’ll even find that you can discuss them better than you anticipate. (Don’t sell yourself short!) In addition, I guarantee you will find your own faith renewed and strengthened in the process of learning. Dive in!