How do we Share the Gospel with Others?

As a Christian, God, commands us to go out and make disciples. Evangelism is an essential part of Jesus following, God fearing person’s life.

“But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. 18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 [e]Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you [f]always, even to the end of the age.”

--Matthew 29:16-20

1.Jesus has commanded all His followers to go out and share His good news. God has commanded this.

So how do we do it effectively?

Let us define what evangelism is

Evangelism: εὐαγγελιστής, οῦ, ὁ. Comes from the word greek word euaggelion meaning “gospel” or “good news.” The verbal forms of euaggelizesthai, meaning “to bring” or “to announce good news” occur some fifty-five times and are normally translated with the appropriate word “preach.” Evangelism has to do with the proclamation of the message of good news.

Source

https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/hbd/e/evangelism.html#:~:text=Evangelism%20is%20derived%20from%20the%20Greek%20word%20euaggelion%2C,with%20the%20appropriate%20form%20of%20the%20word%20%E2%80%9Cpreach.%E2%80%9D

2. To Evangelize the gospel You must Know the gospel.

This might be a simple concept but many Christians, and non-Christians cannot properly articulate the good news of Jesus Christ. Paul wrote many of his letters to new churches to help them defend against false teaching and to preserve the true teaching and preaching of Jesus Christ. If we get the gospel wrong then we run the risk of having people following the wrong Jesus or not even following Jesus at all.

“11 [d]Prescribe and teach these things. 12 Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example [e]of those who believe. 13 Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. 14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the [f]presbytery. 15 Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. 16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will [g]ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.”

1 Timothy 4:11-16

So what is the gospel?

We are all sinners. Born into sin. We deserve to die and go to hell. God has other plans. He sent Jesus down, who is hundred percent God and 100 percent man, God Himself came down to humanities level. He lived a perfect, sinless life and died on the cross. He came back to life three days later, defeated the grave, and for what? So that we can have faith in Christ and be saved through our confession and faith in Christ alone.

“…that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, [f]resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, [g]resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be [h]disappointed.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; 13 for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

--Romans 10:9-14

Salvation happens through…

-Faith in Christ alone, not our works

We are saved from…

-Our sinful nature, the world isn’t good, God is, God gives us His goodness, everybody is born into sin, everybody needs salvation

We get peace from…

-Knowing that Jesus has given us a free gift of salvation

-Knowing that It’s not up to us to save ourselves

-Knowing that Jesus forgives us as we continue to sin and repent throughout our lives

We get joy from…

-Knowing that we get to participate in God’s ministry

-Knowing that God wants to save the world, He wants people to hear His good news.

“8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and [h]that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

--Ephesians 2:8-10

This is the good news of Jesus Christ. You cannot preach a works-based salvation—this is not biblically true AND not true to Jesus’ ministry. You cannot Preach the gospel without preaching on our sinful nature and sin—In order for people to understand the “goodness” of the news you share we must share why we need to be saved. It is a balancing act.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who [k]belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

Galatians 5:22-24

3. Prepare to be bold, brave, and prepare to build relationships.

Now that we know the gospel; what comes next?

Well, we go out. Yes, it’s that simple. Take a step. Meet new people. Go to secular spaces that need to hear about Jesus (be prepared to even share the gospel in your church).

There are different types of evangelism

1. Street evangelism: (walking around proclaiming the gospel to passers-by)

2. Mission work: Going on a long term or short-term mission to proclaim the gospel in another area (usually another country or another city in your country)

3. Hospitality: Building a long-term relationship with someone. Living with them, bringing them into your home, making a friend. This will lead to deeper conversations and trust.

4. Pastoring: Becoming a pastor is a form of evangelism. Your job is to evangelize and mobilize your congregation.

-Remember, we must proclaim the gospel at some point to evangelize to someone.

-Evangelizing is not necessarily about converting someone—it’s not up to you to save people, it’s up to you to lead someone to the one who saves.

-Be bold in your proclamation—some will listen but many won’t and some may even hate you.

-Your motivation for evangelism must be a thankfulness and outpouring for what God has done in your life. His Holy Spirit empowers us to do this through many gifts which are found when we spend time to worship God.

You will be struck with fear as you begin to share the gospel. It will be scary. But know that Jesus is with you, the Holy Spirit is empowering you and rely on these words from Jesus.

“12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do what I command you.”

“If the world hates you, [e]you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also…”

-John 15:12-15, 18-20

Examples of evangelism in the bible (the book of Acts specifically)

Stephen the Martyr—Acts 7

“You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. 52 Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; 53 you who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it.”

Acts 7:51-53

Paul and Silas in the Jail Cell