Want to share Jesus with others? Here are two ways recently discussed at the Highland Church of Christ where I preach.
First, memorize and share a Christ Verse with a non Christian friend. A Christ Verse is a verse that, to you, best summarizes who Jesus is and why you follow him. Recommendations from the Highland staff are below.
Second, purchase and give away books that can introduce your non Christian friend to Christ and/or Christianity. Recommendations from the Highland staff are below.
Christ Verses
Matthew 11:28 – Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:29 – Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Matt. 16:16 – Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
John 6:35 – Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”
John 8:12 – Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 10:9 – I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.
John 10:11 – I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
John 11:25 – Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live…”
John 12:32 – And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.
John 14:6 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 15:5 – I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Mark 10:45 – For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
John 11:35 – Jesus wept.
Luke 6:36 – Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
Luke 19:10 – For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.
John 1:14 – And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 1:29 – The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
Rom. 5:8 – but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Luke 9:23 – And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
1 John 3:16 – By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
Colossians 1:27 – To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Matthew 9:13 – Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Matt. 18:3 – Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 19:14 – Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”
Luke 23:34 – And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Books that Introduce Christ/ Christianity
General
Getting Your Story Straight – Chris Altrock – booklet at Highland Welcome Center – A brief overview of the main message of the Bible.
Restarting Your Story – Chris Altrock – booklet at Highland Welcome Center – A brief overview of the role of faith and baptism in entering into God’s story.
The Drama of Scripture: Finding Our Place in the Biblical Story – Craig G. Bartholomew and Michael W. Goheen (Baker, 2004) – An introduction to the basic story line and theology of the Bible which views the Bible as a drama in six acts–creation, sin, Israel, Christ, church, and new creation.
Christ
Simply Jesus: A New Vision of Who He Was, What He Did, and Why He Matters – N. T. Wright (HarperOne, 2011) – Summarizes a lifetime of study of Jesus and the New Testament in order to present for a general audience who Jesus was and is.
No Wonder They Call Him the Savior: Discover Hope In The Unlikeliest Place – Max Lucado (Thomas Nelson, 2011) – Takes readers through the drama of the death and resurrection of Jesus in a fresh and heart-touching way.
God Came Near – Max Lucado (Thomas Nelson, 2004) – Brings to life the birth of Jesus and its implications.
The Jesus I Never Knew – Philip Yancey (Zondervan, 2002) – Uncovers a Jesus who is brilliant, creative, challenging, fearless, compassionate, unpredictable, and ultimately satisfying.
The Case for Christ: A Journalist’s Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus – Lee Strobel (Zondervan, 1998) – A seasoned journalist chases down the biggest story in history–is there credible evidence that Jesus of Nazareth really is the Son of God?
Who Is This Man? The Unpredictable Impact of the Inescapable Jesus – John Ortberg (Zondervan, 2012) – With familiar and unfamiliar facts of history, Ortberg challenges readers to take seriously the positive cultural revolutions that occurred because of Jesus in learning, compassion, women’s empowerment, government, civil rights, etc.
Christianity
Mere Christianity – C. S. Lewis (HarperSanFrancisco, 2001) – A classic introduction to and defense of the Christian faith.
Basic Christianity – John Stott (IVP Classics, 2006) – A sound, sensible guide for all who seek an intellectually satisfying explanation of the Christian faith.
Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense – N. T. Wright (HarperOne, 2010) – An exploration of how Christianity uniquely answers some of the fundamental questions about life.
Outlive Your Life: You Were Made to Make A Difference – Max Lucado (Thomas Nelson, 2010) – A practical and inspiring look at how God uses Christians to change the world.
The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism – Timothy Keller (Riverhead Trade, 2009) – Using literature, philosophy, anthropology, pop culture, and intellectual reasoning, Keller explains how the belief in a Christian God is, in fact, a sound and rational one.
The Case for Faith: A Journalist Investigates the Toughest Objections to Christianity – Lee Strobel (Zondervan, 2000) – Award-winning reporter and author uses his investigative skills to address the primary objections to Christianity.
