The book Sharing Jesus without fear by William Fay is one of a kind. Students
who read this book will get a how-to manual for how to live out your faith, teach you
faith and share your faith. This resource is one that everyone must add to their tool kit.
The book starts out by challenging the reader to understand this is not about you. By
taking the pressure off of the believer and putting the pressure on God, Fay then does a
walk through of how the early church told faith, how you can share faith and then gives
tools on what to do when one might ask a hard question. Overall this book was filled with
laughs and conviction 10/10 read.
What an encouraging book! I think this book does a great job of making what
some might say the hardest part of being a christian, very easy. Fay uses his words very
well in this book by taking a very challenging topic and not only making it interesting but
making it easy. I loved that this book didn't just have information but it provided real
stories and bible stories, giving the reader hope that this can work and sometimes it doest.
The transparency through each chapter was greatly appreciated. In one of my favorite
chapters ( chapter 5) on the power of scripture Fay gives a breakdown of how this idea of
evangelism isn't just a wish for God but a command. He teaches about Romans Road and
lets God do the rest. This encouragement is needed in all who plan on living this faith
out. In closing, what I appreciated most about this book was that it broke down 30+
excuses that I had likely thought of when not wanting to share the Gospel or people have
asked me when sharing the Gospel. To give readers this resource is outstanding, I copied
and pasted each and put them in a document to teach them later!
As I said above, this book was great! It really is hard to pick apart sections in this
book that I didn't love, however for the assignment, some of the feedback I would give
would be that I think the book could have been shorter. Maybe its because I have a short
attention span but I thought each chapter through the first 8 chapters could have been
almost cut in half.I really didn't need as much detail as I think the author thought we
needed. I felt I understood his point pretty early on in the book. While I appreciated Fay’s
approach at calling believers to share, I thought his approach was a little brash. I don't
know how well of a response someone might be who is not as forward as he is. I feel like
so much of sharing the Gospel is about relationship building, I don't think he did a great
job of pushing that point. A lot of his method is short term evangelism, which is great but
likely will run into problems when someone rejects you or they are not able to get
discipled by someone. Without critiquing too hard because I thought the book was great I
would still recommend it but would be sure to give a heads up to readers up front of some
of the weaknesses I found in the book.
●“You see, success is sharing your faith and living your life for Jesus Christ. It has
nothing whatsoever to do with bringing anyone to the Lord. It has everything to
do with obedience.” 1
In a world that teaches “ do you” and “live your best life” this quote challenges
that and pushes the reader to die to self and become obedient. Thank God our
obedience does not lead to the cross!
●“Did you know that as few as 5 to 10 percent of the people in an average church
have shared their faith in the past year? That means 90 percent of us have chosen
the sin of silence.” 2
Nothing makes me more sad than this quote. While it's gut wrenching to believe, I
want to say that this statistic is probably higher. This was the first time I have
heard of the sin of silence … very powerful and thought provoking.
1 William Fay, Share Jesus Without Fear (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 1999), 129.3.
2 William Fay, Share Jesus Without Fear (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 1999), 129.6.
●““I don’t have the gift of evangelism,” then you need to examine Scripture. You
will find the command of the Great Commission: to evangelize, to encourage
evangelism, and to urge evangelism.” 3
This was eye opening to me. I have taught this wrong my whole life. I loved
learning that everyone has the gift! Fay’s breakdown of not having the gift of
giving but still being required to give makes sense!
●“As you begin to ask these five questions, I think you will be amazed at how open
people are. But please remember your motive for evangelism must be your love
for God and love for people. This is not a thing you are doing; it is an act of
consecration and belief in Jesus Christ.”4
After reading these 5 questions I felt overwhelmed. But this quote brings
everything full circle. I cant fail by being obedient, when I understand that, I
should know I have no reason to be prideful. God is in control.
●“The Bible didn’t change; you changed. You became a new creation. Suddenly,
this book became alive with meaning about life and eternity.” 5
I am such a fan of this challenge. I often look at God angry or confused because
something didn't go my way. The problem in my sentence is that it didn't go “my”
way. God is God not me! He didn't move, I did.
●“After you ask these questions, remember, be silent and pray” 6
Oh the power in silence and Prayer. I don't have to be a pastor or an extrovert to
do this, all I must do is trust God. If I am honest this might be the hardest part.
●“To abandon a new believer would be like leaving a baby in a blizzard.” 7
I greatly appreciated the author's chapter on next steps. What could be worse than
sending someone into the kingdom and then not equipping them on how to get
others into heaven… nothing. This quote urges the importance.
3 William Fay, Share Jesus Without Fear (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 1999), 129. 15.
4 William Fay, Share Jesus Without Fear (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 1999), 129. 36.
5 William Fay, Share Jesus Without Fear (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 1999), 129. 42.
6 William Fay, Share Jesus Without Fear (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 1999), 129. 69.
7 William Fay, Share Jesus Without Fear (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 1999), 129. 72.
●He says, “Jesus is either Lord, liar, or lunatic.” .” 8
A quote that can be used in all moments. If Jesus is a liar or lunatic, I have wasted
my life but if he is Lord, well I have won the lotto. When we break down the
possibilities of who Jesus is, faith doesn't sound so crazy.
●“God did not call you to hide from the world. He called you to go into the world.”
9
I know this whole book is on great commission and sharing our faith but man this
is powerful and convicting. If I know that God has called me and ignored me, I
am sinning against my father. Delayed obedience is disobedience.
8 William Fay, Share Jesus Without Fear (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 1999), 129.96.
9 William Fay, Share Jesus Without Fear (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 1999), 129. 114.
●“Your prayers should include praise and worship, confession of sins, and
intercession for yourself and others.” 10
Let me never forget the power of prayer. Sharing is great but if I am not relying
on the power of God. I have missed it. More reliance on God and less on me. This
quote centers us back to the Gospel.
●“If he wanted you to wait, he’d have given you the idea tomorrow. If he wanted
you to do it yesterday, the idea would have come the day before. But when he puts
Susan or John on your mind, the timing is now.” 11
Sign me up! There is nothing left to say or do! God desires for his children to
come home. Let me not get in the way of being a blessing blocker of calling
people home.
10 William Fay, Share Jesus Without Fear (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 1999), 129.
11William Fay, Share Jesus Without Fear (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 1999), 143.
1. I am called to love
The most loving thing I can do for someone is give them the gift of how to
live forever with the King in perfection. Why would I hold this back? To
not is to be selfish and hateful.
2. Stop making excuses .
The book has eliminated every excuse by giving me the answers to dozens
of questions that could keep me fearful. The book challenges pride and
gives me a manual on sharing my faith. Now I must follow the word of
God and GO.
3. He wants everyone.
God wants his children and he has called me to bring them home. I should be
burned for those that will spend eternity away from him.
4. Why have fear?
To not share the story of Jesus because of Fear is prideful. The book has taught
me that once I can get over the fear of failing I can realize I have nothing to lose.
God wins.
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