How Do I Share The Gospel?

How Do I Share the Gospel?

     The last few verses of Matthew 28 commands us to share the gospel.  A question many have is, how do I do that?  Many of us have heard pastors or friends with near-photographic memories spout verse after verse from multiple translations of the bible.  If you are like me, it scared you to death because, if you are like me, chapter and verse memorization does not come easy.

     My plan here is to alleviate some of those fears with what has worked for me as I share God’s word.  I will attempt to be brief in my explanation.  To begin with, there is no "one" best way to share the gospel.  I have seen many ways to get the gospel story told.  But, there is only "one" gospel.

     The first and most important thing is that you must know the gospel to be effective.  You don’t have to have memorized the bible or every verse that you think talks about the gospel, but you must know the gospel.  If you will excuse the shameless plug, you can find how easy it is to understand the gospel in my soon to be published book, Small Steps to Understand a Big Gospel.  End of shameless plug.

     Is it best to have a few scriptures memorized that you can share while explaining the gospel?  Of course it is. Who can explain the gospel better than the inspired word of God Himself?  But if numbers come hard to you, you can explain what the verses say without the chapter and verse designations.  Where in the bible does Jesus quote chapter and verse in the Old Testament? Or, when Paul quoted Jesus, did he give chapter and verse designations?  No, they didn’t, there were no chapter and verse designations.  But they knew what they were talking about.  They understood what had been said, and they understood the meaning of what they were saying.

     Just remember a few basics as you begin to share the gospel:

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 -               -You don’t save anyone.  That is above your paygrade.  You are the messenger, the Holy Spirit calls to salvation.

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                  -This is important; Never stray from the gospel and don’t add or take away from the gospel to make it more interesting.  God has a pretty good idea of what the gospel is, stick with His plan, not yours.

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                 -Don’t keep score.  If you try to keep track of how many people come to Christ after you explain the gospel, you’ll drive yourself crazy or into deep depression, and for a couple of good reasons.  As I already said, salvation is above your paygrade, and, most people have to hear the gospel at least seven times before it starts to really soak in and have meaning.  Which time are you?

Isa 55:11  so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. (ESV)

-                -Pray that God will open the ears and soften the heart of whoever you are sharing the gospel with.

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           -Pray that God will, daily, help you be aware of opportunities and to have the courage to share the gospel.

     The following is one method of sharing the gospel and is referred to as The Romans Road to Salvation.  Some people add a few more verses or add a few scriptures from other books of the bible.  Remember, it would be good to remember chapter and verse.  But, you must understand what is being said even if you can’t remember all the numbers.  As you experience sharing the gospel, you will become more and more comfortable, and more will come to mind as you learn to be led by the Holy Spirit as you share God’s saving grace.

Rom 3:23  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Rom 6:23  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Rom 5:8  but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Rom 10:9  because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Rom 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Rom 8:38  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,

Rom 8:39  nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)

I like to throw in one more verse, my favorite verse;

Joh 1:12  But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

Joh 1:13  who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (ESV)

Sharing the gospel is as hard as you make it.  Please, don’t trip yourself up by trying to be perfect.  Enjoy God’s peace as you share His promise to all who will believe.