How to Share the Gospel
Learn how to share the Gospel with this 5-minute, practical crash-course training from Dare 2 Share founder Greg Stier.
Learn how to share the Gospel.
Sharing the Gospel is simpler than you might think! Any Christian can do it — you don’t need to have the Bible memorized or be a certain age or have a certain personality. But Christians often don’t share their faith because they don’t know how to bring it up or explain the Gospel.
A natural way to start Gospel conversations is through an Ask–Admire–Admit approach:
Ask
Ask questions to get to know the person you’re talking to and understand what they believe. Listen to them, and learn their story. Ask general questions about their life, as well as questions about their background and spiritual beliefs. This is effective whether you already know the person or you’re meeting them for the first time.
Questions that can lead to spiritual conversations:
- Do you have a favorite saying?
- Who’s someone you admire? What do you like about them?
- What do you think happens after we die?
- Does your family have a religious background?
- What does your tattoo mean?
- Tell me about the stickers on your water bottle. (Not technically a question, but same idea!)
- Is there anything I can pray for you about?
- Do you believe in prayer? Have you ever prayed for anything?
Admire
As a person tells you about what they believe, point out things you admire. This doesn’t mean you agree with everything they’re saying. The intent is to build bridges and find common ground.
Types of things you could admire:
- An interest in knowing the truth
- Generosity
- Dedication to what they believe
- A belief in something bigger than themselves
- A desire for people to get along
Admit
Emphasize that you need Jesus just as much as anyone else, that we’re all sinners in need of salvation. Briefly tell the story of how Jesus has transformed your life through the Gospel, and then explain the Gospel itself!
As you transition into the Gospel story, try to tell it as clearly as possible.
You can use the points in this G.O.S.P.E.L. acrostic to keep your explanation focused and understandable, but you can say them conversationally. It doesn’t need to feel like a presentation.
G
God created us to be with Him.
O
Our sins separate us from God.
S
Sins cannot be removed by good deeds.
P
Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again.
E
Everyone who trusts in Him alone has eternal life.
L
Life with Jesus starts now and lasts forever.
End the conversation with these two questions.
Does that make sense?
If they say no, ask what didn’t make sense and continue the conversation on that topic.
If they say yes, move to the next question.
Is there anything holding you back right now from putting your faith in Jesus?
If they say yes, engage in more conversation about that topic. Tip: Be sensitive to the possibility that people’s objections may be more emotional (from past wounds or from a lack of desire to change their way of thinking or living) than intellectual, even if they don’t say that directly.
If they say no, invite them to put their trust in Jesus right then. You can lead them through a prayer that reiterates the points of the G.O.S.P.E.L., but emphasize that it’s faith in Jesus that saves them, not the prayer.
A sample prayer: God, thank you for creating me and wanting me to be with you. I admit I’ve done things that have separated me from you, and I can’t do enough good things to fix that. I believe that Jesus paid for my sin by dying on the cross and that He rose again. I trust in you and thank you that you’ll always be with me in this life and that I’ll live forever with you in the next life. Amen.
You can then encourage them to grow in their new faith by reading God’s Word and connecting with other Christians in a local church.
How to Share the Gospel: Make it a lifestyle!
Sharing your faith becomes a way of life when you focus on three ongoing actions:
Prayer
Identify people in your life who haven’t trusted in Jesus, and pray regularly for their salvation. Also pray for opportunities to share your faith with them.
Care
Look for opportunities to intentionally care for them — for example, be a listening ear, spend time with them, do acts of kindness.
Share
Share the Gospel with them. Out loud, with words.
Resources for your Gospel-sharing journey
One of the ways we help teens (and adults) share their faith is by providing conversation techniques and resources. From mobile apps and Gospel-sharing methods to books and free curriculum, we have the tools to help get people comfortable sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.
Life in 6 Words App
Use this powerful app to walk someone through a clear, visually compelling explanation of the G.O.S.P.E.L. and invite them to put their trust in Jesus.
Free Teen Gospel-Sharing Resources
Access free downloadable curriculum, graphics, trainings, and more to help youth leaders and students make effective faith-sharing a lifestyle.
Worldviews
Have friends who are atheists? Agnostics? Into Wicca? Check out these 13 common worldviews for insights that will help you effectively share your faith with others. When you share the Gospel with someone who believes differently than you about Jesus, be sure to Ask – Admire – Admit.
Don’t Miss It!
Discover the powerful movement that is reshaping youth ministry, the data behind it, and how your group can be a part of it by downloading our free research report: A Generation in Reach.
