How to Share the Gospel

I don’t know about you, but I want to be that awesome Christian who tells people about Jesus all the time. However, truth be told, I find that I don’t bring Jesus into conversation nearly as much as I would like. Recently I have been trying to understand reasons why so many Christians do not share the Good News of Jesus with others. This is a complex issue that many an author have tried to unravel, but I think that one reason is many people do not feel like they know how to share the Gospel. Many Christians can tell their personal, life changing experience of their encounter with Jesus, but few know how to get from their story to Jesus dying for another’s sins.

Myths and Lies

Before we get to the how, let’s debunk some lies that we believe about sharing the gospel that are just not Biblical.

“If they choose not to follow Jesus, I have failed.” We might not verbalize this lie very often, but it is one that I know many of us believe deep down inside. And. It. Is. A. Lie. Our job is not to save them! That is Jesus’ job. Our job is to boldly tell them about Jesus- his death, burial, resurrection, and offer of eternal life- and walk them through the choice to believe and surrender that lies before them. That is it. We have no power over anyone’s eternal future. We only have power over our own choice to obey or disobey God’s command to tell the world about his Son.
1. Acts 1:8- “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
2. Titus 3:4-5- “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.”
3. 2 Timothy 1:8-9- “Therefore do no be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began”
4. Romans 1:16- “for I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
“Based on my perceptions or experience about this person, they won’t accept Jesus, so there is no point to having the conversation.”
1. Woman at the well- John 4
2. Paul’s conversion-Acts 9
3. Cornelius- Acts 10
4. Roman Centurion- Matthew 8:5-13
5. Ethiopian Eunuch- Acts 8:26-39

These stories prove to us quite the contrary. All of these people in the passages above are those that, according to our human perception, would reject Christ. Their stories remind us that we do not know the hearts of those we converse with, only God does. We are called to be witnesses, messengers, not little saviors.

“This is the Bible Belt, they already know about Jesus.” Friends your loved ones and acquaintances might have heard about Jesus, but we are to remind them over and over of what God offers, that there is no better day than today to start following Jesus.
1. 2 Corinthians 6:2- “For he says, ‘In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
2. Luke 19:9-10- “And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house... For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.’”
“God’s call to tell others about Jesus is for missionaries and other more qualifies people that me.” Nope. you know why? Because there are multitudes of people that are hopeless and destined to an eternity separated from God. You are essential. Your efforts (however imperfect) are valued. And God invites you into an eternally important work. God has made you, you for more than just diversity’s sake. He has specially crafted your for eternal purposes. Step into the labor of pulling people to Jesus and by God’s grace he will make you into an even fuller, better you in the process.
1. Matthew 9:36-38- “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. The he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’”
2. John 4:35-38- “Do you not say, ‘There are yet hour months, then harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that the sower and reaper may rejoice together.’”
3. Revelation 12:11- “And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.”

An Eternal Hope, Founded in Love

The book of Revelation reminds us that we are promised more than just an everlasting chorus of praise to God. It is not merely a never ending church service that awaits us, but an assured spot in the most intimate of places- a royal priest in the temple of the Lord. For the Christian who loves and who has found their treasure in Christ Jesus, there is no greater promise, no greater hope. Never-ending communion with the one whom our hearts most desire. However, to have a place in this space of service and glory, there must be a love for the one whom you are serving. Which begs the question… when you pray for the salvation of another- that they would understand the good new of Jesus and that they would receive him, are you praying that they would live him as well? You see it is a love for the Lord that secures your coveted place in eternity, not your knowledge of him. Yes, pray for and understanding, knowledge and receptivity, but pray mostly for love. Pray that those you speak with would fall deeply in love with the One who loved them first. Then not only will Christ’s love carry them through today, but they will also be ushered into eternally intimate spaces in the life to come.

The How:

Below are resources that I have personally found helpful as I have learned to share the Gospel with those God brings in my path. I hope they will encourage you and bolster your confidence in God work through you.

Give some hope

This is a great and easy way to branch into Gospel conversations! Print out these cards and keep them with you throughout the day. Give one to each patient and ask how you can be praying for them. People love gifts and love talking about themselves, which makes it an easy bridge into the gospel.

Also, Crossway is putting out a lot of FREE resources through May. Take advantage of them! There are a lot of free eBooks and other resources that will likely be encouraging and helpful as you study the Word.

https://static.crossway.org/excerpt/esv-bible-verse-cards-for-covid-19.pdf

Friends, I hope you find these resources and exhortations encouraging and challenging. But as we now go out and engage with a lost and dying world, let me remind you that in all we do, it must be done in the LOVE of Jesus Christ. No agendas, no egos, just a sharing of the best there is to possibly achieve- life with Jesus.

Sara HillAugust 3, 2020

How to Share the Gospel

Myths and Lies

An Eternal Hope, Founded in Love

The How:

How to Share the Gospel in 90 Seconds

A 4 Minute Crash Course in Sharing Your Faith

The 3 Circles

411 Training

Give some hope