I meet lots of people that are just scared to go out and spread the Gospel. I know this is something my team will be doing a lot this year. So welcome to Spreading the Gospel 101. I’m not a professor, nor do I acclaim to be an expert at anything (maybe whiteboy dancing). I’ve seen and experienced enough however to give you a little bit of an idea how the message of God’s forgiveness and grace can be shared.
Step 1. Understand you suck at life just like the rest of us. Only God can change hearts. You only get to go along for the ride. Stop pretending like you need a special skills for this (like nunchuck skills and bow hunting skills).
Step 2. Love is action. Remember that guy that said he loved you just so he could get what he wanted and leave you. Yea, me neither. Love is demonstrated not dictated. Before you share with anyone the love of God, show them what the love of God looks like.
Step 3. Get excited about God. Remember that infocomercial guy on television that always seemed he was hopped up on steriods? He sold OxyClean, Bam! and some other stuff (I think he died not too long ago, seriously). Why can’t we be more like him when we talk about God? If God has really changed your life you should be excited to share Him with everyone else.
Step 4. Breakdown the Gospel. A couple months ago I tried to really dig deep into the Trinity with seventh graders (talk about a crash and burn). It was like teaching Calculus to a toddler. Make sure you know the spiritual maturity of who your talking to. Physically someone may be 40 years old but spiritually they could be an infant. Use words they’ll understand. Seminary students eat up words like sanctification, regeneration and eschatology but is a nonChristian going to know what you’re talking about (or flippin’ care).
Step 5. Share the Good News. There are many ways I’ve heard people present the Gospel of Christ. I’ll just give you three simply statements. 1) All people have sinned. 2) The penalty for our sin is death. 3) Jesus Christ paid the price for our sins by dying on the cross.
Step 6. Invite a Response. If there is a sincere change of heart then walk with them through a prayer of repentance and celebrate with them when they’re baptized.
Step 7. You Ain’t Done Yet. Just because they’ve started a relationship with God doesn’t mean you put another notch on your belt and walk away. As brothers and sisters in Christ it is our responsibility to be encouraging, challenging, exhorting and rebuking each other. Faith is an ongoing journey. We need walking partners. Our faith in Jesus paying the bill strengthens or weakens everyday. Being connected into a group of believers in fellowship, discipleship and worship helps that trust. We Christians have a word for this, you’ve probably heard it before…. its called church.
