Share the Gospel
Sharing your faith is one of your most important callings as a follower of Jesus. These resources will help develop your skills, desire and ability to join others on their spiritual journeys and take them closer to Jesus.
What Is the Gospel?
The gospel is so simple that a child can comprehend it yet so profound that you will spend a lifetime exploring and experiencing its fullness.
There is only one gospel, and it is very important to get it right. Of course, there are other so-called “gospels” out there, but the better you know the true gospel, the easier it will be to recognize the counterfeits and the distortions.
So What Is The Gospel?
To begin with, the apostle Paul, who wrote much of the New Testament (the latter part of the Bible, written after the life of Jesus) talks about “the gospel of God … concerning His Son” (Romans 1:1-3, English Standard Version). These seven words highlight two important truths about the gospel.
First, it is the message that has come from God. It does not originate in any person or church. It is “the gospel of God.”
Second, it is a message about Jesus, God’s Son. That is what makes it so important and life-changing. The gospel is the message that God has given you so that you can experience Jesus Christ as your Savior (the One who saves you from your sins) and Lord (the One who guides and is in charge of your life).
To wrap your mind around this life-changing message, you’ll find it helpful to think of the gospel in both its essence and its fullness.
The Essence of The Gospel
The gospel can be distilled down to an essence. While not everyone might explain the gospel the same way every time, there are critical elements that should always be included. What are those elements? They are who Jesus is, what He has done and why He has done it.
Here’s one example, written by Paul, from 1 Corinthians:
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I.
Why?
More than anything, everyone needs to experience God’s love and grace. Not only that, but God has commanded His followers to always be ready to give a reason for the hope they have (1 Peter 3:15) and to go make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19).
With Whom?
There are people near, like your neighbors, acquaintances, friends and family, and people far, like those from different cultures than you and those in other countries, whom God has called you to share Jesus with.
45
How?
You can join people on their spiritual journeys by being an Explorer (discovering where they are spiritually), a Guide (showing the way to Jesus), a Builder (helping people get past obstacles) or a Mentor (walking with them as they grow in their faith).
Where to Start?
Start from right where you are. You don’t have to have all the answers, and it’s not your job to change anyone’s mind. Love people and share the hope you have in Jesus with gentleness and respect. Need some help? Take your next step using the resources below.
National Ministries (Resources)
The traditional way to do ministry has changed rapidly as everything from your work to your workouts has gone from real life to all digital. But the mission God has called us to isn’t changing. In fact, our hearts feel a deeper urgency now than ever before to make Jesus known as the Prince of Peace and the everlasting hope of the world.
So how do we do ministry when we can’t actually visit with anyone?