How to Share Your Faith at WorkSample

Competence, character, and concern create a powerful apologetic for the gospel and, with the Spirit’s nudging, can open doors for gospel conversations.

It is appropriate to talk about your faith when …

• an opportunity arises out of friendship. As you discuss work and life with your co-workers, informal mentions of your faith or beliefs will happen naturally, just as other topics of personal importance pop into your conversations.
• it naturally fits in the conversation. Do not deliberately try to divert a discussion to a spiritual topic unrelated to the conversation. However, during a conversation about a business problem, for example, it could be appropriate to mention how your faith guides your decisions briefly.
• co-workers are comfortable with the discussion. Change the subject if you sense discomfort. Also, note that avoiding an imbalance of power is crucial when sharing your faith at work. If we have power over others, sharing our faith may come across as coercive. People may be afraid to say no or ask us to stop. They may even pretend to accept our message, fearing their job prospects will be diminished otherwise. Others may suspect those who accept our message are gaining an advantage at work.
• you are asked. Questions open doors to address spiritual topics. You do not have to be a Bible expert to respond. Show your interest in learning about that topic and simply and humbly explain what you have discovered at this point in your life. Encourage curiosity to create a safe environment for additional questions in the future.
• it does not take time away from what you or your co-worker are paid to do. Find time over a break, lunch, or after work for longer discussions.

(From Bill Peel and Walt Larimore, Workplace Grace, p. 68)

Finally, remember to pray if you want to share your faith at work. In Colossians 4:2-4, Paul prays both for unbelievers, that God would open a door for the word, and for himself, that he would speak clearly. Evangelism begins and ends with God. He has invited us to partner with him. We do our part by demonstrating love in all that we do and speaking when given the opportunity. The rest is in his hands. (1 Corinthians 3:5-9)

Prayer

Pray that the Holy Spirit opens hearts to the good news of Jesus. Ask for wisdom about how and when to include faith in your conversations, as well as when to refrain.

This plan was adapted from Evangelism - Sharing the Gospel at Work by the Theology of Work Project. For more reading plans from the Theology of Work Project, visit www.theologyofwork.org/devotions.