The Gospel of Jesus Christ (Pt. 4) - How to Preach the Gospel
As Christians, we often become too comfortable in just enjoying God's love for us, forgetting the responsibility we have to share the gospel. Jesus commands us to go into all the world and preach to every creature, warning that those who don't believe will be condemned. This is our duty; it's not enough to keep the cure of salvation to ourselves as if it's a secret. Imagine if we discovered a cure for COVID and kept it hidden—this would be wicked, just like when we fail to preach the gospel. Souls are perishing, and we need to be active in sharing the message of salvation.
In Acts 1:8, Jesus empowers us through the Holy Spirit to be His witnesses, wherever we are—at work, at school, in our neighborhoods. Being a witness for Christ is not optional; it's our calling. In 1 Peter 3:15-16, we are told to always be ready to give an explanation for the hope we have as believers, but it must be done in a gentle and respectful manner. We are called to defend our faith logically, not with mystical or illogical explanations, but with clarity and respect. Every believer must be prepared to share their faith, not relying on others to speak for us, but confidently and calmly explaining why we believe.
Preaching the gospel is our responsibility, and we must be ready to answer anyone who asks about our faith. We need to live lives that reflect Christ’s love and be prepared to share it with others in a way that is understandable and respectful. So how do we preach the gospel?
1. Seize Moments
One key to preaching the gospel is to seize moments and seek opportunities. Like noticing a car you’re interested in everywhere, opportunities to share the gospel are all around us, but we miss them because we’re not actively looking. The early church in Acts never wasted a chance to share the gospel, no matter how small the opening.
Whether it’s a question about our faith, someone’s meltdown, or their breakthrough, these are moments we can use. When the gospel is on our hearts, we’ll naturally find ways to connect it to conversations. Like on the day of Pentecost, we must not get so caught up in our own experiences that we miss those outside who are ready to hear. Pray for awareness, seek opportunities, and take action.
2. Meet people where they are
Don’t always start with, “The Bible says,” especially with those who don’t believe in the Bible. Early Christians often shared the gospel without Scripture, adapting their approach to the audience. Paul, for instance, referenced Scripture when speaking to Jews but used logical examples, like the “unknown God,” when addressing Gentiles.
Barriers to the gospel vary—some are intellectual, others supernatural, and some emotional. God provides three main tools for reaching people: power (miracles), love (compassion), and wisdom (logical reasoning). For intellectuals, demonstrate wisdom; for others, love or power may open the door. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for inspiration and discernment, and while the goal is to lead them to Scripture, the starting point should align with their perspective and needs.
3. Preach in words and deeds
Your life should reflect the gospel and open doors for others to hear it. Living a sanctified life is essential because our conduct serves as a powerful witness. Without it, we close off an entire avenue for sharing Christ. The Bible emphasizes that our actions can win people over, even without words. For example, 1 Peter 3:1 teaches that an unbelieving spouse can be drawn to Christ by the godly behavior of their partner, not just by discussions.
This principle applies beyond marriage—it’s for everyone. Friends or colleagues who you invite to church must first see God in your life before they’ll respond to your words. While actions speak loudly, this doesn’t excuse us from verbal evangelism. We must do both, ensuring that our lives and our words align. When there’s a disconnect, it leads to hypocrisy, which Jesus strongly rebuked. Let your life and words work together to preach the gospel effectively.
4. Stay true to the gospel
There’s pressure to preach messages that aren’t the gospel, like promising wealth or problem-solving in exchange for faith. That’s not the gospel. The true gospel is simple: Christ died for our sins, and by faith in Him, we can have eternal life.
It’s not about guaranteeing miracles or a trouble-free life. In fact, many of us have experienced challenges that began after giving our lives to Christ. While miracles happen and God intervenes in powerful ways, they’re not enough to convict people—just look at Israel’s history in the Old Testament. Miracles can draw attention, but salvation comes through faith in Jesus alone.
If we preach a version of the gospel focused on material blessings or quick fixes, we set people up for disillusionment when those expectations aren’t met. Always present the gospel as it is: faith in Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and offers eternal life. Let everything else simply point people to Him, not replace the truth of His message.
5. Look out for entry points
A great way to find an entry point for sharing the gospel is by asking thought-provoking questions like:
“Do you ever think about what happens after death?”
“Have you ever considered the love that God has for you?”
“What do you think is the meaning of life?”
These questions naturally open the door to share the gospel because they address deep, universal concerns. For example, if someone responds, “I’m not sure what happens after death,” you can say, “I know, and I’d love to share.” Similarly, many people don’t grasp that God loves them. The idea of a loving God can be foreign, but it’s a powerful way to introduce His message of salvation. These questions lead to opportunities to share the truth and hope found in Christ.
6. Be wise & avoid arguments
For example, you will most likely have to defend how a loving God allows evil in the world. You can respond by explaining that God has given us free will, the same free will is used by terrorists and philanthropists. One is abused. So when someone chooses to harm others, that’s their choice, not God’s. If God were to control those decisions, He’d have to control us all, forcing us to love Him. But love isn’t love when it's forced; it only counts when there’s a choice.
People also question why a loving God sends people to hell. He doesn’t. It’s the spiritual law that “the soul that sins shall die” that results in separation from God. God established the laws of the universe, much like gravity—if you jump off a building, you will fall. He doesn’t stop gravity, but He offers a way to avoid the consequences through Jesus, like providing a mattress to soften the fall. If God changed the laws, every law would change, and that’s not how things work.
So when preaching the gospel, be wise. The Bible tells us to avoid foolish arguments. If someone is just trying to prove a point or argue, walk away. But if they’re asking out of curiosity, that’s a sign of an open heart, and that’s when you share the truth the Holy Spirit gives you. Don’t waste time with fruitless debates that only stir up strife.
7. Be Confident
We should be confident when preaching the gospel. The Bible assures us that the Lord works with us every time we share His message. No matter the response we receive, we are more successful than we think because the Holy Spirit is at work through us, planting seeds that may lead to someone's salvation years down the line. We might never see the results immediately, but we can trust that our words have an impact. Even if the person doesn’t break down in tears or immediately accept Christ, the seed we’ve sown can still lead to transformation later on. God works through the simplicity of faith, and when we lead someone to Christ, we can have absolute faith that their life is being changed, even if it doesn’t seem dramatic at the moment.
8. Through Discipling
We must take responsibility for discipling those we lead to Christ. It’s not enough to just point them to a Bible-believing church and leave it at that. Our work has only just begun. Discipleship is a process of helping someone grow in faith and forming Christ in them. We are called to walk with them, nurture their growth, and guide them through the journey. Discipleship is personal, intimate, and involves direct involvement in their lives. No one can disciple more than 15 people at once—it’s an intense relationship where you’re both teaching and learning. As we take responsibility for others, we grow too. Just like becoming a parent brings maturity, discipling others demands a higher level of responsibility and transformation. We must live a life that aligns with what we teach, because the person we’re discipling will hold us accountable. When we disciple, we can’t remain stagnant; it forces us to grow, seek God, and become more like Christ.
9. Through Prayer
When we talk about preaching the gospel, one thing we can never remove is the importance of intense prayer. These are prayers that God is eager to answer, especially prayers for the salvation of souls, since it is not His will that any should perish. When praying for souls, we engage in spiritual warfare, asking God to remove the veils over their eyes, as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 4:4. We also pray that their hearts will be open to receive the gospel, just as God opened Lydia’s heart in Acts 16:14. This kind of prayer is like travailing during childbirth, where you labor with intensity because the stakes are high—the condemnation and hell that await those who don’t know Christ.
We must also pray for opportunities to share the gospel. Paul encourages this in Colossians 4:3, asking God to open doors for the word. Additionally, we need to pray for boldness and the right words to speak, as many of us struggle with fear and doubt when given the chance to preach. We often don't know the state of someone's heart, and what might seem like an unlikely person could be the one ready to hear the gospel. Praying for utterance, or inspired speech, is also key, as the Holy Spirit guides us in speaking the right words that will not turn people away. There’s no formula for this; we must trust the Holy Spirit for the wisdom to speak effectively.
