In the wake of our “Christianity Explored” course starting tonight, I am sure that many of us have had invitations rejected. Maybe you faced being mock and ridiculed for inviting someone along or trying to share the gospel with them.

In these kind of moments I find that 1 Peter 2:4-8 gives great encouragement when doing evangelism, especially when it doesn’t seem effective in our eyes:

1 Peter 2:4-8 (ESV)

4As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6For it stands in Scripture:

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
7So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,

“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,”
8and

“A stone of stumbling,
and a rock of offense.”

They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

Here are a few reasons why I find it encouraging:

1. We are loved by God. In verses 4 and 5, Peter writes about how we are both chosen and precious, a holy priesthood. This acceptance by God means that the rejection talked about in verse 4 pales in significance. We will care less and less that we are rejected by the worldly ways of man when we know better that we are accepted by the creator of the universe.
2. We know that some will reject Jesus, the cornerstone and the rock of offense. Verses 7 and 8 are quite clear that people will reject the word of God. Talking of it will cause them to stumble. We are also told by Peter that this is what they were destined for. This can give us confidence that as we share the gospel some will outright reject us and our message. This can give us resilience, knowing that some will reject the gospel no matter what we do.
3. Christians are chosen by God. This is a wonderful truth shared in verse 4, and again in verses 9 and 10. We are not only loved by God but he chose us to be loved by Him. This personally is the greatest encouragement out there when doing evangelism. Knowing that it is God who chooses us and not the other way round.  This truth gives us a confidence when telling others about Christ. I can know from this, that it is God who saves through the proclamation of His word, not us. I find this takes a huge pressure off my shoulders and frees me to, through His strength, try and make the most of opportunities as they arise.

I hope this helps you, as it does me, not to lose heart when sharing the gospel.

Please remember it still isn’t too late to be inviting people to Christianity Explored. This week is an introduction to the course, it kicks off properly next week.: Tuesday 2nd February a we explore the question: Who Is Jesus?