How to Help Someone Share the Gospel

A few years ago, I watched a friend come to faith after running from the Lord for several years. When he came to faith, it didn’t take long before he was telling everyone he knew about Jesus. He may not have known much, but he knew that Jesus saved him and that was reason enough to tell his friends. 

I’ve watched this pattern play out over and over again. New Christians are often some of the most zealous evangelists. But not everyone begins that way. Some people know they should tell their friends about Jesus, but they feel unprepared, awkward, and afraid. So how do you help someone start sharing the gospel when it does not come naturally?

START WITH GOSPEL CLARITY

Before someone can share the gospel clearly, they must know the gospel clearly. Focus on God’s holiness, human sin, Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, and the call to repentance and faith.

Consider taking time to memorize passages of Scripture together that clearly explain the gospel. First Corinthians 15:3–5 tells us that “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared…” 

Ephesians 2:1–10 emphasizes God’s great mercy in saving us despite our rebellion against him and the gift that can only be received by faith. Key verses forming “the Romans Road” walk people through some of the essentials of the Christian faith.

If we don’t understand the gospel, we can’t share it clearly. Begin by building a good understanding of the gospel.

HELP PEOPLE GROW IN GOSPEL FLUENCY

When someone is new to evangelism, sharing the gospel with others can feel daunting. Our goal isn’t just for someone to possess gospel clarity, but gospel fluency. We want people to share the gospel in a way that is understandable and compelling to the listener. The first time someone shares the gospel, they’ll likely be tempted to recite a short monologue. But evangelism isn’t just memorizing a script or regurgitating a few Bible verses. We want to train people to speak honestly and personally about Jesus.

As you’re teaching someone to grow in gospel fluency, teach them to listen well, ask questions, and share their story. The idea is to help them talk about Jesus naturally in ordinary conversations. If Jesus has saved your life, then you have something incredible to share with others. Start by helping them share the gospel in a minute or less. Then, help them to connect the gospel message to their life and explain how Jesus saved them.

But gospel fluency takes time and practice. Sometimes we act as if sharing the gospel should feel natural or easy after our first try. Evangelism takes time. It is a muscle we strengthen little by little.

Just like someone who is learning a language, fluency doesn’t come overnight. But each step of progress makes the message more understandable to the hearer.

MAKE EVANGELISM NORMAL IN COMMUNITY

The most overlooked step is embedding into a community where evangelism is normal. If evangelism is isolated and individualistic, it often fades like a New Year’s resolution to go to the gym alone. Christians share the gospel regularly when they’re in a community where that is normal.

I’ve watched a culture of evangelism grow among members from our church who work out together. As some members began modeling an evangelistic lifestyle, others followed. A compelling community committed to evangelism emerged. 

Non-Christian friends are reading the Bible, visiting church, and building deep relationships with church members. At the same time, Christians involved are growing more confident and beginning to carry this evangelistic lifestyle into their neighborhoods and workplaces as well.

Take time to pray together, show hospitality together, invite non-Christians into friendships, and model evangelism for one another. A culture of evangelism doesn’t happen in isolation, but when the whole church plays a role.

People don’t become consistent evangelists because they have the right information, but because they understand the gospel clearly, learn to speak about Jesus fluently, and belong to a community where sharing the gospel is normal.