Summary
Share Jesus Without Fearis a practical book that guides and encourages Christians to
share their faith effectively. Each follower of Jesus is commissioned to “Go therefore and make
disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19, English Standard Version). Making disciples
encompasses evangelizing the lost. It is often that as Christians, we “deny Jesus by never
opening our mouths. We deny him with our silence.”1 William Fay provides questions,
scriptures, and answers to objections that bolster one to share their faith without fear
authentically. Fay emphasizes throughout the book that successful evangelism has nothing to do
with bringing anyone to Jesus but has everything to do with obedience in sharing faith with the
lost.2
Strengths
Share Jesus Without Fear calls out the importance of evangelism as a lifestyle while also
providing numerous practical ways for Christians to do so. The five “Share Jesus Questions”3 are
easy to remember and provide an opportunity to engage in an unawkward conversation and serve
as a path to share the truth of scripture with the unsaved. This book is encouraging and not
condemning but challenging. In a world where many Christians are intimidated to share their
faith and can feel shamed for not doing so, William Fay has an excellent balance of
encouragement in following the principles and practices the book outlines and challenges the
Christian to put these into practice. Fay also makes an essential point that “you do not want to
1 William Fay, Share Jesus Without Fear (B&H Publishing Group, 1999), 6-7.
2 Ibid., 17.
3 Ibid., 33.
miss God-ordained opportunities to share your faith with others, or you also miss opportunities
to experience the good things God had planned for you.”4
Weaknesses
@Share Jesus Without Fearis an overwhelmingly excellent book. Finding a weakness is
challenging. The only area I would venture to state as a weakness lies in the “Sharing Bible
Directions” portion of Chapter 5. While marking verses in a Bible or highlighting them in a
Bible app are effective ways to share scripture, memorizing gospel verses seems to be cast as
unimportant. While many may worry about the daunting task of memorizing scripture, it can be
done, and I believe it is profitable when we may not have a Bible on hand. I also believe that
memorizing scripture shows others its importance in our lives. So, while we “don’t have to”5
memorize the share scriptures, I believe it will be an effective tool in a Christian's witness.
Favorite Quotes
“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.”6 I
have been discouraged when I have shared my faith and the person has not responded to
accepting Christ. I have now understood that does not constitute success, but my obedience is
success and pleasing to God.
“We must realize if we don’t explain our faith, our friends may never understand it and,
therefore, never have an opportunity to be led by the Holy Spirit to believe it.”7 Assuming close
4 William Fay, Share Jesus Without Fear, 3.
5 Ibid., 44.
6
Ibid.
7 Ibid., 9.
relatives, friends, and family have had the gospel explained to them is dangerous. The lost could
have never heard a clear presentation, and the only thing stopping them from coming to faith is
never hearing and ultimately not having the opportunity for the Holy Spirit to make it real to
them.
“This is the one area of your Christian life you ultimately cannot botch. Even if you share
stupidly, unlovingly, or with poor timing, our heavenly Father can use it. What he can’t use is
your silence.”8 I often feel overwhelmed by evangelism, thinking I could severely mess up in
sharing faith with someone. I see now that God is in total control and that my obedience to share
my faith can always be used, but my silence cannot.
“When I’m asking these questions, no matter what the responder says, I never answer.
All you get from me is ‘Hmmmmm.’”9 Listening is something that I have come to understand as
essential in sharing the gospel. As someone who easily talks with others and often talks over
others, this also proves challenging. Listening also provides a practical gauge to understand
where someone may be at spiritually and communicate with them effectively in sharing.
“When people read Scripture aloud, you will be surprised how quickly they become
convinced of their need to trust Jesus as Lord and Savior. Watch God at work as you continue to
guide others to read these Scriptures.”10 Reading scripture for oneself is important. While I
believe it is also effective to share scripture we have memorized, someone reading for
themselves cannot mishear or misunderstand. Their attention is directly on reading scripture
themselves, and God can powerfully work through that.
“I would argue that when it comes to God’s work, you don’t have interruptions. You
have only divine opportunities. You don’t need to worry about maintaining your fast pace. When
8 Ibid., 18.
9 William Fay, Share Jesus Without Fear, 33.
10 Ibid., 45.
God gives you the unexpected, he gives you all the time you need.”11 God frequently provides
unexpected opportunities for me to share my faith. Regardless of how busy I may find myself;
God will provide the time for me to witness and accomplish what I truly need to accomplish.
“To abandon a new believer would be like leaving a baby in a blizzard.”12 Our command
is to make disciples. That does not end at evangelizing the lost. It includes encouraging and
helping new believers grow in their knowledge of God and draw close to Him day by day.
“The best way to conquer an objection is through a simple three-letter word, the question
“Why?” When someone says, “I am not ready,” don’t second-guess his reason.”13 Before
attempting to answer any objection, I should always ask “Why?” I cannot assume I know the
reason someone may be objecting. Asking “Why?” will also reveal the true nature of the
objection.
“I have to remind myself, it is Jesus she is rejecting—Scripture she is rejecting—not me.
I take a deep breath and say, “OK, Lord, I will wait for the moment you create.”14 I fear
rejection. It hurts when people reject me, whether it’s on the basis of sharing faith or for other
reasons. I need to remind myself that as people reject accepting Christ, they are not rejecting me
but Him and the scriptures. I must only be patient and pray for God to work through that person.
“I cannot think of a single time, out of the thousands of times I have shared my faith, that
I haven’t prayed for the person beforehand.”15 Approaching any conversation of faith with the
lost should be preceded by prayer. God is the one who saves and can help provide me with the
11
Ibid., 66.
12 William Fay, Share Jesus Without Fear, 72.
13 Ibid., 81.
14
Ibid., 124.
15
Ibid., 130.
words to say and the discernment to listen and speak the truth. Asking for help from God is
essential as a daily model in interceding for the lost.
“When we disobey by choosing to ignore the Great Commission, God will allow us to
experience spiritual dryness.”16 I wonder how often, when I have experienced what I believe to
be seasons of spiritual dryness, it has been caused in whole or part by disobedience to the great
commission. The vibrancy of my spiritual life is deeply rooted in my obedience to God. I can
always obey God by deciding to share my faith with a loving heart.
Lessons Learned
Having read@Share Jesus Without Fear,I will incorporate the five “Share Jesus
Questions” as I share my faith with the unsaved. I have recognized that these questions are non-
combative and provide an effective opportunity to share the gospel. As I ask these questions, I
will listen and respond only by acknowledging that I have understood what the person said. In
doing so, I know that I may be able to tell if someone “is dealing with problems like loneliness,
emptiness, pain, or anger” and how close they are to God.17
When engaging in sharing my faith, I have learned that after gauging someone’s current
spiritual state, having them read gospel centered scriptures will be effective in the Holy Spirit
doing His work. I have recognized the importance of having the “Share Scriptures” marked in
my bible (which I have done on my phone app and will do in a smaller bible to carry with me). I
also see that it can be helpful to have these scriptures memorized.
As busy as I may be, I understand that God will make time for what I could deem as an
“interruption”. I should view these moments not as interruptions but as divine opportunities for
16 William Fay, Share Jesus Without Fear, 141.
17
Ibid., 33.
which God will be pleased to provide the time. “We get so out of touch, we fail to notice when
the Holy Spirit authors the unexpected. Jesus is unimpressed when we do not take time to follow
his leading.”18 As a Christ follower, Jesus should always be my priority. He will consistently
provide unexpected moments that I will always have a choice to respond obediently to or to
commit the sin of silence.
In sharing my faith with others, I will be sure to be intentional and have a plan for how I
can help someone who responds by accepting Christ. An essential next step for a new convert is
to become part of a church body that believes in the Bible and focuses on spiritual growth.19 I
will plan to be diligent in following up with any resources, points of contact, or information that
can help a new believer grow. I will also plan to connect them with a local church and follow up
with them as often as God may lead me to.
18 William Fay, Share Jesus Without Fear, 65.
19 Ibid., 75.
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