Sharing the Gospel

Today is a big day in our state.  Why do I say that?  Because college students throughout our state (and others) have committed to share the gospel today.  That’s BIG.  Some college students have been praying for 24 days leading up to this effort.  You can learn more here engage24.org and please join me today in doing two things:  (1)  Pray for this effort  (2)  Share the gospel with someone today.  As we look to this day to engage people with the gospel of Christ, please let me share a few important notes about sharing the gospel…

(1)   Sharing the gospel is sharing Christ and His work on the cross.  Certainly, it is good and important to ask someone if they go to church and to invite someone to church.  However, inviting someone to church is not sharing the gospel.  We haven’t shared the gospel unless we share Christ.  The Apostle Paul spelled out what constitutes the gospel…

“Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,” (1 Corinthians 15:1–4, NKJV)

(2) Scripture gives us the content of the gospel, not the outline or the method.  Over the years, I have been part of evangelism training that took many forms.  I have shared the gospel using “The ABC’s of Salvation” and I have shared the gospel using “The Roman Road” verses.  I have shared the gospel using the outline from Evangelism Explosion and I have shared the gospel using the FAITH outline.  I have given out gospel tracts and walked people through a gospel tract.  I have given out marked Bibles and showed people the gospel using highlighted verses.  Which method of sharing the gospel is best?  The one you will do.

(3)  People are open to hearing.  Occasionally you will meet a person who is closed and hostile to the gospel, but the overwhelming majority of people will listen if you approach them conversationally and with humility.  It’s true that people “don’t like to be preached to” but they are very open to being shared with.

(4)  Don’t be afraid to share with someone from another religion. Practically all religions believe in some type of “heaven” although they may use a different term.  Ask the person to share how their faith believes a person can get to heaven.  Then ask if you could share how your faith says a person can get to heaven.  Personally, I have had Hindus, Muslims, and Jews who allowed me to share the gospel with them using this approach.

(5)  Be humble, but be bold!  Boldness doesn’t mean we stand on a street corner and shout at people.  Boldness can mean a teenager speaking of Christ in the lunchroom at school.  Boldness can be a conversation with a co-worker on the way to a meeting.  Boldness can be engaging the waitress at your favorite restaurant.  It takes some courage to share the gospel in today’s world, but it is the most important thing we can do.

So, join me in praying and sharing today along with these college students.  May Christ be exalted and shared today!