Think about the day that you were saved. Maybe this was recent, or maybe this was long ago. No matter when or how it happened, that day is always a game-changer. After that day, life never goes back to normal. After you were saved, did you want to share Jesus with others?
When our life changes dramatically in such a positive way, we either want to tell the whole world and go into it blindly, or we get nervous about talking about Jesus and don’t know how to begin. Here are some simple ways to share the gospel in a way that others will understand and embrace.
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How to Share the Gospel with Others
Hearing the phrase “share the gospel” might make your think of the formal way a Pastor gives a sermon on Sunday. But the truth is that each one of us “regular folks” is tasked with sharing the Good News with others.
So, how do you share the Word of God with others?
You don’t have to be an ordained minister to evangelize and talk about Jesus with others! Sharing the gospel does include actual speech – talking about Jesus and the stories in the Bible – but it also includes things such as how we carry ourselves, how we treat others.
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 1 Peter 3:15 NIV
The point of sharing the gospel with others is to share the Good News so others will WANT to know Christ and have their own personal relationship with him. This won’t happen if they just see you as another member of the “God Squad.”
The better approach is by
- sharing your own personal story or testimony
- offering an ear to listen and encourage them
- reflecting Jesus through your works and deeds
- reflecting Jesus on social media
Share the Gospel Through Your Testimony
One of the easiest ways to share Jesus with others is through your personal testimony. Many people may be resistant to simply hear another “Jesus” story, but they are more likely to be interested in a personal transformation story.
One of my favorite songs is My Story by Big Daddy Weave. One of the lyrics in the songs says “to tell you my story is to tell of Him.” This is crucial when talking about Jesus with others; it should all be about Him and how great He is, and the great things He has done in your life.
Help people develop a relationship over religion.
A lot of us are part of denominations of Christianity that we feel is the best way to connect with God. Others of us do not identify with a particular denomination. No matter how you are affiliated with the Christian church, take a step back and make sure that your testimony is not under the lens of a particular denomination. We want to make sure that we are helping those learn that they can have a personal relationship with God first over any specific types of Christianity. Someone needs to first understand the larger picture of God’s plan for them before diving into anything else.
The perfect personal testimony is not always the best testimony.
Your story matters and your story has the potential to change lives. Make sure that your personal testimony is truly your own, and that you did not alter anything that happened in your life.
The reason that this is so important is that you may feel that your testimony is “boring”. There is no such thing as a boring testimony. If Jesus came in and changed your life, it is a big deal! Maybe you are a pastor’s kid that always grew up in church, and never had a “defining” moment that you were saved. That is amazing! It’s okay to talk about how you have always been with Jesus, and how that has affected your life. Talk about how you always knew how to talk about God and the remarkable things that have happened because of it.
It does not have to be rehearsed.
You may have a general “elevator pitch” of how to share Jesus with others, and that is a great thing to have in your back pocket. However, if a time comes that you don’t use that, that is fine as well. The spirit leads us in amazing ways, and sometimes talking about Jesus will lead us to discuss something else that happened in our life because of Him. I call these “micro testimonies”. God didn’t show up in my life once and then never appear again! He is constantly working in our lives so we may end up sharing a different personal testimony with different people, and that is okay.
Share the Gospel by Listening
Ok, so you may be wondering how you can listen and share at the same time!
Imagine a non-believer who is down on his luck or going through something that was a result of previous sinful behavior.
The truth is that many non-believers would expect a Christian to come at them all judgmental. “If you had been right with God, none of this would have happened!”
It is human nature to start offering advice when we see someone struggling. We often jump right into telling what they should or shouldn’t do about their situation.
Don’t be that Christian!!
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, James 1:19
Instead, just listen to them. Avoid judging their situation. Avoid giving them your personal opinion of their situation. Just offer your ear. Let them know that God still loves them.
Share The Gospel Through Your Works
So many of us share the good news of Jesus, then leave it at that. However, sharing the gospel with others involves more than simply talking about Jesus. If you read any of the first four books of the New Testament that speak about Jesus’ life, it is filled with all the good works that He did, not just the sermons he preached or the parables that he taught.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in Heaven.” Matthew 5:16
The good works of Jesus in today’s world come through us being His hands and feet. This means that since He is not on this Earth anymore, we need to do the work through Him and for Him, equipped with the Holy Spirit inside of us. This is helpful to do after speaking about Jesus because most people don’t learn by just listening to words, they respond to action! (Imagine a teacher that just presents a lecture versus a teacher that lectures and follows it up with an interactive lesson.)
If someone is going through a challenging time and you talk to them about Jesus, follow through what you talked about with the walk. Ask them how you can help. Ask how you can pray for them. Checkin on them. Follow-up with them. You never know when you are the only person that follows through like that.
When you see a need, fill it! Whatever resources you have – time, money, talents – use them to serve others!
Share the Gospel with Social Media
The most powerful (Earthly) tool we have – literally at our fingertips – is the power of social media. Some might say we spend more time on social media than we do with our family and friends! (I truly hope that is not the case!).
Social media gives us immense power in sharing the gospel across the entire planet!
So many people use social media to bully others, spread hate and negative content. But Christians can use social media to evangelize and share the Good News.
Before posting or sharing anything, always ask yourself “If Jesus had Facebook, would He post/share this?”
Bible Verses About Sharing the Gospel
It is easy to get caught up in this life, but when we realize that our time is short here but our time in Heaven is eternal, it changes the whole game. We have a task to share Jesus with others.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Matthew 28:19
Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. Psalm 96:3
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Mark 16:15
We no longer have to be scared of the consequences of talking about Jesus, or any other worldly issues. We can simply share our experience without fear because this life is nothing in comparison of what is to come.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31
Jesus himself says that these are the two most important things. This means that we can only witness to others if love is involved. Without love, we cannot follow the most important commandments. So when you listen, make sure it is about your love for God as well as His love for us, and make sure that you love people when you share Jesus with others. We can never bring someone to Christ by pointing out their sins, but we can by loving them and telling them that Jesus does too.
The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him, though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.” Psalm 37:23-24
When you delight in the Lord enough to share Jesus with others, He will make your steps firm. It may be scary stepping out in faith and talking about Jesus, but the Lord is going to lift you up and be there when you need Him. You may even find yourself saying words you didn’t plan to say, that is the Spirit working in you and guiding you.
We never know when God is going to use us. We never know when the perfect moment will come, so it is important to be ready. This way, if the time comes, we can do it the way Jesus would want us to do: gently, with respect.
…but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and respect” 1 Peter 3:15
This is the most important part of witnessing to others. You may meet many people in your life that are open to talking about Jesus, but try to be the one that has actions that match it to the point that no one can deny Him!
