My husband and I have been in ministry for almost 20 years, during that time, we have served in different churches and been on the mission field as church planters. After having discipled, taught and counseled many over the years, I have to say, it would be a toss up between which frightened most professing believers more: sharing the gospel or praying out loud.

Most Christians are convinced that both take a trained professional or a super, spiritually gifted type. I am very introverted but I am a firm believer that anyone can successfully share the gospel.

Obstacles to Sharing the Gospel

Let me just first say that in all actuality, there are no obstacles to us sharing the gospel. There are imaginary obstacles that we build up in our minds and then there are real obstacles to others accepting the gospel. The later part is for the work of the Holy Spirit and there is nothing we can do about it.

Sharing the gospel is simply telling some one about the hope they can have through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. If you are mute, you can write it out. If you are nervous, you can take some one else along. If you are short on time, you can leave a Bible or a tract.

The first thing to realize is that YOU CAN DO IT! You must do it to be obedient to the Bible and the commands of Christ: “Go therefore 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 NIV)

Tips for Sharing the Gospel

You must be motivated by the love of God to be obedient to His command to share His truth with the lost around you. Once you have that desire, the rest is just about follow through.

Pray to Spread the Gospel

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.  And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.  Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.  Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Colossians 4:2-6 NIV

We are told to devote ourselves to prayer and to “pray continually.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NIV) In my mind, prayer is the most important part of evangelism. We cannot successfully share the gospel without God’s help.

Here are some things we can pray based on Colossians 4:2-6:

• God, open a door for us to share Jesus right where I am.
• Lord, help me proclaim the gospel clearly so that others understand.
• Show me, Father, how to behave wisely and always make the most of every opportunity to share You with others.
• Holy Spirit, speak through me so that my conversations are full of grace. Give me knowledge to answer every question and concern with your truth.

Finally, make sure you have a list of lost people in your life that you are praying for often. Ask God to give you a heart for the lost.

Be Prepared to Share the Gospel

Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

1 Timothy 4:2-5 ESV

Preparation is really half the battle once you are prayed up. Preparation means you have thought ahead and are ready to share. I have few tips to helping you in preparation.

• Have a consistent, daily quiet time alone with the Lord. Confess sin, ask Him to guide you, and learn from the Bible.
• Memorize scripture that clearly explains the gospel. I really like the Romans Road.
• Be prepared to share your 15 second testimony.
• Practice sharing the gospel on a family member or friend first to make sure you are comfortable with your delivery. Also, accept their corrective criticism.
• Stick some tracts, church invite cards, and small Bibles in your purse, car, gym bag, diaper bag whatever you carry around most often. Lots of people we encounter on a daily are quick paced conversations. These are easy to hand to a cashier, people waiting in lines with you, etc.
• Be intentional in looking for opportunities to engage in spiritual conversations with others you already know in your neighborhood, workplace, school, friendships, etc..
• Remind yourself that it may be uncomfortable, they may reject the message, but obedience to the Lord is much more important that your comfort level. (Try reading about the prophets Jeremiah, Elijah, Ezekiel, or Hosea and biographies of great martyrs of the faith.)

Be Passionate about Sharing the Good News of Jesus

For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 ESV

Paul says, “I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.” Paul was passionate about the gospel of Jesus Christ. He wanted to see others saved and passionate about the same.

This passion can not be taught or worked up. This passion comes from a heart that is full of the love of Christ. From one who knows that they are “the chief of sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15 KJV) and have beenf forgiven so much. Their heart is so overflowing with gratefulness that they can’t help but share with others.

Passion comes from a heart that is close to God. A woman who is daily in her word, on her knees in prayer, and looking for opportunities to grow God’s kingdom can’t help but be passionate about His people and His mission.

Check out 10 Ways to Spread the Gospel for some unique and easy ways to share no matter your age, comfort level, or situation.

Obedience in Sharing the Gospel

Remember that the success is not that some one believes. Of course, that is our prayer, but our mission is obedience to God. He tells us to proclaim the good news of Jesus. God considers us a success if we follow through with His command. He does the work in the hearts of His people.

Remember the Lord’s word to the prophet Ezekiel:

“When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.  But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but you will have saved yourself.

“Again, when a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before them, they will die. Since you did not warn them, they will die for their sin. The righteous things that person did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the righteous person not to sin and they do not sin, they will surely live because they took warning, and you will have saved yourself.”

Ezekiel 3:18-21 NIV

His job was the same as ours, share God’s word and leave the rest up to Him!

Anyone can successfully share the gospel because the success lies in the obedience. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commands.” (John 14:15 NIV)