Why You Should Organize Your Life Around Sharing & Living The Gospel – tommy@hope.cc

You can share the gospel with: •friends  •family  •co-workers •strangers

People are the only thing you can take to Heaven.

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise. Proverbs 11:30

Something I say is that LOVE MEANS COURAGE. Which means that if you love someone enough, you will have the courage to tactfully explain to them truth that can save their souls.

¹⁸ There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18

Both sharing your faith and not sharing your faith has to do with punishment. Let me explain.

Either you are not sharing your faith because you expect that person will punish you somehow OR you are sharing your faith because you expect that if you don’t that person will never know God’s perfect love and that will be a punishment.

If you have perfect love – you will have courage to not think about how they could punish you (through what they may say or how they may treat you) but have the courage to not think about yourself and move into action in hopes that they don’t receive the punishment that comes from not knowing and encountering God’s amazing love.

Are you more worried about their potential punishment or yours?

My hope is and I know that we can, rise up and be the people of God that care more about other people than ourselves. Even if it makes us uncomfortable in the process.

If this makes you uncomfortable, that’s okay. It makes me uncomfortable too. That is why Jesus tells us in Luke 9:23 ²³ “If anyone would come after me, let them deny themselves, and take up their cross daily and follow me. See Jesus knew this would make us uncomfortable, which is why he tells us that in order to do what he has called us to do, we are going to have decide to deny our natural tendencies and follow him at all costs.

And the beautiful thing is, when we follow Jesus this closely, he uses us in unbelievable ways.

Romans 2:4 that it is the kindness of God that leads us to repentance. The kindest thing you can do is show God’s kindness by being kind enough to share the gospel.

Be Like John Harper on the Titanic!

How To Share The Gospel

1)        Just talk to them!

-Get over fear! Let your love for them be more powerful than your fear of rejection.

-Ask them a question: “I have a goal to pray for someone every day…I was wondering how can I pray for you?”

-After that opening question, introduce yourself and listen for their name and tell them you would love to pray for them!

2)        Feel it out!

-Let the Holy Spirit lead you! Sometimes I end the convo early and sometimes I keep going.

-Sometimes all someone needs is love but don’t use that excuse to not share the whole gospel.

-I’ve had very few people angry with me because I make them feel loved and cared for.

3)        Pray right there (or at least be ready to)!

-Sometimes you walk away and pray but sometimes you get to pray with them on the spot.

4)        Share the GOSPEL (This is the GOOD NEWS and most important part)!

-SIDE NOTE: To share the gospel, you have to KNOW THE GOSPEL. If you don’t know it, learn it.

-Martin Luther said “We need to hear the gospel every day because we forget the gospel every day.”

Gospel RECAP

1.         Jesus, fully God and fully man, came and lived a perfect life

2.         He came to die for your sins and my sins

3.         He did that on the cross because he loves us that much that He would be brutally executed so we could have life through his sacrifice and he rose again and conquered sin and death!

4.         When we put our faith and trust in him and turn away from our sins we are forgiven and the Holy Spirit comes to live in us

5.         We are no longer separated from God in Eternity but will be forever with God in Heaven

5)        Listen to their response!

-They may have tears in their eyes or be (or seem) totally disinterested.

-Whatever the response, continue to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit.

-You are the one that plants the seeds and God is the one that causes the growth!

-Don’t condemn them or pronounce judgment on them based on what you say, but tell them what the bible says in the most loving way possible. Make them feel loved.

-Romans 2:4 – The kindness of God leads us to repentance.

-Show them the love and kindness of God and remember that you are a sinner just like them! Don’t make them feel that you are superior to them!

-Romans 3:23 – All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

-Don’t believe the lies of the devil. He will try to tell you it was unproductive/ineffective/that you pushed them away from God. NONE OF THAT IS TRUE!

-You did something awesome in your obedience to the Lord in sharing the gospel!

-Praise be to God that he loved and cared for us so much that he made a way to not be separated but come into the family of God through Jesus shedding of blood for our forgiveness on the cross.

-They need to know that TODAY they can come into God’s family by putting their faith in Christ, turning from sin, and following Jesus.

Some things to remember: 

•          The gospel is not inviting someone to church (although you can do that)

•          The gospel is not required only for pastors or more spiritual Christians

•          The gospel is not something that needs to be weird, strange, or freak people out

•          Remember that this is a SPIRITUAL BATTLE.

•          God is with you as you share with someone

•          Don’t be worried about every word you say and trust that the Holy Spirit is talking through you

•          It isn’t always as straightforward as this

•          If you are scared about working through all these steps, start small and work your way through them

•          Try to stay out of debates and focus on the gospel

•          When talk about sin, target their heart and don’t compromise but also be gentle

•          End conversations with Jesus loves you!

Recommended Resources: 1) Read your Bible. 2) Ray Comfort (or Living Waters) / David Mapalo / RuslanKD / Mike Winger / Apologia Studios (Especially good for witnessing to cults) on Youtube 3) Find books/sermons/podcasts that talk about sharing the gospel

Questions?