Fear Not! Three reasons you can talk to others about Jesus.

John Hopper —

As a child, my imagination could run wild. I’d lie in bed conjuring up images of what was hiding in my closet or lurking under the bed. Of course, none of what my mind dreamed up ever proved to be true. But that didn’t matter—I was frozen underneath the sheets. 

When it comes to speaking about Jesus to others, we often find ourselves just as frozen. We imagine that if we bring up the topic, people will brand us as religious fanatics, report us to HR, or perpetually ghost us. 

But in most cases today, that kind of reaction is about as likely as something actually jumping out from under my bed. 

So let me give you three reasons you can talk to others about Jesus: 

1. People are more interested than you think. 

I know. I know. There have been plenty of reports of people walking away from religion. And in some ways, it’s true—fewer people do associate themselves with a particular religion. But that doesn’t mean they’re not interested in spiritual matters. Consider this: 

• 79% of the unchurched don’t mind if their friends talk to them about their faith. (Lifeway Research)  
• Last year, Bible sales increased by 22% (Wall Street Journal), even though it was already owned by more people than any other book. 
• From 2022 to 2025, the percentage of adults who said, “I have made a personal commitment to Jesus that is still important in my life today?” rose from 54% to 66%. (Barna)

Data like this doesn’t mean everyone will welcome your words about Jesus, but it certainly suggests there are far fewer boogeymen hiding in the closet than you might think. 

 2. People still listen to friends

If someone wants to learn about Jesus and the gospel, it’s not hard. A few queries with Siri and you can get the basics in a hurry. But as much as people are tied to their phones, when it comes to spiritual matters, they still want to hear from family and friends. They want to know what you think and what you’ve experienced. 

In my years of speaking with others about Jesus, I’ve found very few people brush me off. I am not suggesting that people immediately embrace Jesus, but rarely are they squirming in their seats looking for an escape. At worst, they’re generally polite. At best, they want to know more. 

Sure, people don’t want to be preached at. None of us like that. But a friendly conversation that leaves room for questions and two-way dialogue is rarely turned down. People may even find you more interesting than others because you’re willing to broach a subject most people avoid. 

3. Jesus is with you. 

If you’ve been a Christian for very long, you’ve probably come across what is commonly referred to as Jesus’ Great Commission. It’s found in Matthew 28:19-20 and reads like this: 

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. (NLT) 

Now, that’s a pretty daunting ask, but I didn’t tell you everything Jesus said. After these words, Jesus added: 

And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. (NLT) 

Stepping out to talk to others about Jesus can feel scary, even if people are more interested than we think. But when you remember that you are not alone—that Jesus is with you and is already working in the life of the other person—you don’t need to let fear hold you back. You can tell others about Jesus. 

John Hopper is the Executive Director of REACH, the author of Questioning God and Giving Jesus Away, a lover of a great family, and a big fan of tennis.