Evangelism is undoubtedly one of the most controversial topics within the modern church, yet it remains one of the most fundamental practices of Christians since the church's formation. It is rightly understood that sharing the gospel was an essential Christ-commissioned means by which the early church grew — and today is no different. In this article, we will address the essential nature of evangelism, the command Jesus gives us, overcoming the barriers that hold us back, and the basics of sharing the gospel.

The Great Commission

Jesus leaves a great command— a commission— for his followers that has driven the direction and actions of the church ever since:

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

This is a monumental command, and it is consistent with the themes of the early church found throughout Acts and Paul's letters. In the simplest terms — in order to make disciples and teach people the way of Jesus, they must first know the gospel.

“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Romans 10:14-15

Barriers to Sharing the Gospel

Even though Scripture is clear about evangelism, remarkably few Christians ever share their faith. Why is this? There are two prominent reasons— or lies— that Christians believe which cause them to stay silent:

1. Sharing the gospel is uncomfortable

2. Since God is sovereign, we don’t need to share the gospel

Sharing the Gospel is Uncomfortable.

The first of these is extremely common. Naturally, communicating such a weighty, life-changing message can be intimidating. This fear generally breaks down into two subcategories — gospel illiteracy and a self-imposed pressure to perform well enough for people to accept Christ.

Gospel illiteracy is a simple fix, because the gospel itself is simple. Knowing the gospel is essential to your life as a follower of Jesus — without it, you don't fully understand why you follow in the first place. The gospel is illuminated throughout the whole Bible. It is the central theme of Scripture that elevates and glorifies Jesus from beginning to end. So what is the gospel?  Click here to find out.

The second barrier is the mistaken belief that you bear responsibility for saving people. Put simply— you are just the messenger. The blood of Jesus saves, not you. You are a vessel, not the blood. God has chosen and ordained you as a vessel through which He reconciles someone back to Himself. Even the greatest theologian and evangelist of the early church understood this clearly.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” Romans 1:16

The power of God brings salvation to everyone who believes. Rather than relying on your own ability to communicate or articulate the gospel perfectly, trust that the power of God goes before you. But surely we have to convince someone, right? We have to sell it? No. In fact, Paul argues the exact opposite.

“And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling.My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.” 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Scripture speaks powerfully to the sufficiency of simply sharing the gospel.

“For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” 1 Corinthians 1:17

The pressure is off. When you share the gospel, you are delivering the message through which the power of God saves. You don't need to articulate it perfectly or communicate it persuasively— you simply need to share it.

Since God is Sovereign, We Don’t Need to Share the Gospel.

While it is true that God does not need you to share the gospel, He graciously includes you in what He is already doing all around you. His sovereignty should not become a crutch for disobedience— it should instead illuminate the extraordinary honor it is to participate in His work. God does not need you, but He loves you so deeply that He invites you into the greatest role in human history: reconciling people back to Himself.

“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Romans 10:14-15

One way God saves His people is through the preaching of the gospel. The sovereignty of God is not the reason to stay silent — it is the reason to speak boldly. When the great theologian Charles Spurgeon was asked how he reconciled God's sovereignty with the human responsibility to evangelize, he simply replied — "I never reconcile friends." They are not in conflict. Both are fully and simultaneously true.

God's sovereignty should produce urgency in the believer, not passivity. The same Paul who wrote the most theologically dense treatment of God's sovereignty in all of Scripture was also the most relentless evangelist the church has ever seen.

How do I share the gospel?

It is much simpler than you are probably thinking. You likely already have everyday conversations that could naturally turn into gospel conversations. You talked with someone about a sports game, or debated how a team will do in the playoffs. You chatted with someone at your favorite restaurant about the new show everyone is watching. You talked with your barber or stylist about your family. You visited with parents on the sideline of a soccer game. Here's the thing — the NFL, reality TV, and sideline gossip don't save anyone from an eternity without God.

Sharing the gospel is as simple as walking someone through the redemptive story of Jesus. Man is sinful and God is not. Sin separates man from God. Man needs someone to pay for that sin so we can be restored to God. Jesus — God in the flesh — came down from heaven, lived a perfect life, and willingly died on a cross to pay for our sin. He rose from the dead three days later, conquering sin and death. Because of Jesus, you can be made right with God if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead.

One short paragraph. That was it.

You may be introverted. You may have a fear of talking to strangers. You may trip over your words. That is okay — it takes practice. Here is a link to scripture you can use to walk people through the gospel. Let this be your encouragement: you are backed by the commission and the power of God. He goes before you, preparing hearts and minds to receive the gospel.

Now that you know how to share the gospel, do as the early church did:

“Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.” Acts 8:4