The Gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ and His kingdom. It is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16). The Gospel is also the message we are to proclaim to the world (Matthew 28:19-20).
And, there are many ways to share the Gospel in today’s modern world. We can use technology, social media, and other platforms to reach people with the good news. We can also share the gospel through personal relationships and one-on-one conversations.
The most important thing is to be clear about the Gospel message and to be bold in sharing it. The Gospel is the power of God for salvation, and it is our responsibility to share it with others.
How Did Communicating God’s Truth Change in Different Eras?
The way Christians communicate God’s truth has changed greatly over the centuries, even as the message has never changed and remains as life-changing as it was for Peter, Paul, and Lydia.
Christians have always been creative in finding ways to share the good news. In the early church, Christians often communicated through stories. Jesus used parables to communicate his message, and the early Christians continued this tradition.
Jesus Christ preached the Gospel throughout his ministry on earth. He did this through his words and his actions. Jesus taught the Gospel in his sermons, such as the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5). He also showed the Gospel through his miracles. And He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and comforted the sorrowful.
Jesus also preached the Gospel through his death on the cross. He died in our place, taking the punishment that we deserve. His death shows us the great love of God.
As the church grew and became more institutionalized, sermons became the primary way to communicate God’s truth. This was partly due to the fact that the church became more formalized and partly because the average literacy rate was quite low. Sermons were a way to reach a large number of people with the message of the Gospel.
In the modern era, Christians have a wide variety of ways to communicate, including through books, movies, and the Internet. This has allowed Christians to reach a much wider audience with the message of the Gospel. Christians are no longer limited to communicating through sermons or stories; they can now use any medium that they think will be effective.
How Can You Share God’s Gospel in These Times?
It’s been said that the Gospel is “good news in bad times.” And there’s no doubt that we live in some pretty bad times right now. We’re faced with a global health crisis, an economic downturn, and a lot of uncertainty about the future.
In the midst of all this, the Gospel is still good news. It’s still the message of hope that we need to hear. Jesus said that when we hear of bad things happening, we do not need to fear because he is with us (Luke 21:13-15).
So how can we share the Gospel in these times? Here are a few ideas.
1. Pray for Opportunities
Would you pray that God would open doors for you to share the Gospel? And for boldness and wisdom too. Pray that people would be receptive to the message of hope that you have to offer.
2. Look for Natural Conversations
The Gospel is not something that we force on people. It’s something that we share in the context of natural conversations.
So look for opportunities to bring up spiritual topics in casual conversation. Ask questions about what people believe and why they believe it. Listen more than you talk. And be prepared to share your own faith story when the time is right.
3. Share Your Testimony
Your testimony is a powerful tool for sharing the Gospel. It’s a way of showing how the Gospel has changed your life and how it can change the lives of others.
So don’t be afraid to share your testimony with others. It’s a great way to start a conversation about faith.
4. Use Technology
Technology can be an excellent tool for sharing the Gospel. There are all sorts of ways to use technology to reach people with the good news.
You can use social media to share your faith story or the testimonies of others. Or, you can create gospel-centered content to share on your blog or website. Maybe you can even use technology to connect with people one-on-one and have gospel conversations?
Technology has an incredible ability to reach a huge amount of people of many different cultures all around the world. A word of caution though: While modern technology allows for even more personal, interactive discussions than older technologies, it will never be able to replace the rewarding experience of having a friend in the same room with you. We can have a deep, meaningful conversation with someone on the other side of the world, but that person will not be able to put a hand on your shoulder or share your meal with you. Technology can greatly enhance evangelism; however it cannot replace life on life discipleship.
5. Be Patient
Sharing the Gospel is not a quick or easy process. It takes time, patience, and perseverance.
So don’t get discouraged if you don’t see immediate results. Trust that God is at work, even when it’s not always apparent. And keep praying, keep sharing, and keep trusting that God will use your efforts for his glory.
Final Thoughts
The Christian Gospel message is an eternal message relevant to today’s world.
It is a message of hope, love, and forgiveness. It is a message that can change lives. And it is evident that to share God’s Gospel in today’s modern world; we need to be creative and use various platforms and mediums.
We also need to be diligent in our efforts as Christ Ambassadors and willing to put in the extra work to ensure that our message reaches as many people as possible.
Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near to reach least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet, Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
In the parable of the sower (Matthew 13), Jesus tells about a person who sowed seed and the different types of soil that the seeds landed on.
Three of the four places did not allow the seed to grow well, while the good soil helped the seeds to grow well and remain strong. Since Jesus ascended into Heaven, we are now His hands and feet, sowing these seeds in other people’s hearts (1 Corinthians 12:27). This can seem like an overwhelming responsibility, but we can rest assured that it is not our responsibility to make the seed grow, only to sow and water it (1 Corinthians 3:6).
With the joy and freedom to only have to give the gospel to others and encourage their discipleship, we can look at some useful ideas on how to plant those seeds.
Listen Attentively
As followers of Jesus, we are called to be servants. Listening to others is a big part of serving. When speaking to someone about Christ, we must listen to that person and not just speak. Attentively listening to someone makes them feel valued and appreciated. This helps them be more open to the Gospel.
Be open to the Holy Spirit’s leading in how to approach the conversation
When having a conversation about Christ, it is important to understand that everyone is unique. The way you approach the conversation with one person might not be the best way to approach another person. Let the Holy Spirit guide you as to how and when to start the conversation (John 16:13).
Use a Gentle Approach
People, in general, are very sensitive to being judged by Christians. This comes from many times that Christians and churches have wrongfully taken a judgemental attitude towards nonbelievers. The best way to overcome this perception is to be gentle and considerate towards their feelings and opinions. Things have happened in their lives that have led them to believe what they do. Our role is not to beat down what they believe but to guide them towards the saving truth of the Gospel (1 John 4:18).
Speak the Truth in Love
To plant a seed for the Gospel, it is important to be careful in the words we choose. A person can throw out a lot of words at once, and many of them might not come from a place of love or respect. Truth is always truth and it is often not what we are saying that is wrong but how we are saying it. Let us be people who speak the truth in love.
Be Honest and Open
When it comes to planting seeds for the Gospel, it is important to be honest and open. If we have a preconceived idea of what the person believes, it can be difficult to have an open conversation. The more honest and open we are, the more our own weaknesses and struggles can help them see that they are not alone in their struggle with what is truth (John 8:32).
Be An Encourager
The gospel is good news, not bad news (Romans 1:16). It is imperative that we represent the gospel to others in a positive way. We need to show others that we trust in God and have hope in Christ. We should also use words that can help people understand that Jesus loves them and that there is a place for them in God’s kingdom. People are looking for joy and hope; the Gospel is the answer.
Conclusion
While there are many different suggestions for how to share the Gospel, it is even more important that any activity around the Gospel be done with the fruits of the Spirit in mind. It is not so much your actions as it is your attitude that matters. Love and gentleness are what will draw people to you. Nonbelievers often see something in us that they know they need but that they cannot identify. What they are seeing is the hope and joy of Christ in us.
Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near to reach least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!
The word gospel literally means Good News.
In the New Testament, when the apostles write about the gospel, they often add ‘of Jesus Christ’.
In other words, the story of Jesus is good news, not bad news. This is important to keep in mind when ministering to others and also reading the Bible: the story of Jesus Christ is good news, not bad news.
Jesus came to save us from our sins (John 3:17).
The four Gospels are collectively the story of Jesus’ rescue mission. Below is a basic guide to help you get started reading this good news.
1 – The purpose of the Gospels
The purpose of the Gospels is to lay out how Jesus fulfilled the prophecies about the coming Messiah in the Old Testament. It is the central event of all creation. After Adam and Eve allowed sin to enter the world, Jesus came to Earth to set us free from that condemnation. The Gospels show how that happens.
2 – There Are Four Gospels
There are four Gospels in the Bible: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Some other gospels have claimed to be discovered over the years, but the only accounts that have been proven to be true and accurate by respected biblical scholars are these four Gospels.
3 – Three of the Gospels are Synoptic
Matthew, Mark, and Luke are often called the Synoptic Gospels because they are similar in content and structure. John is different in that it reveals a lot more of what was going on spiritually when Jesus walked the Earth, specifically his deity.
4 – The Gospels Were Written for Different Reasons
Matthew was written to show that Jesus is the Messiah. Mark depicts Jesus as the Suffering Servant. Luke was written to show that Jesus is the Savior of all people, while John showed how Jesus is the Son of God. All of these focuses collectively give us a deeper understanding of who Jesus is, thus making them all important inclusions in the Bible.
5 – The Gospels Were Written at Different Times
The Gospels were written at different times. Matthew was written before the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, but Mark was written during the persecution of Christians. Luke was penned after the destruction of the temple, and John was written after the other gospels. However, despite these differences, all four gospels were written within the first century after Jesus’ birth.
6 – The Gospels Contain Different Material
Matthew has more material about Jesus’ childhood than the other Gospels. Mark has the most material about Jesus’ miracles. Luke has a lot of material about Jesus’ teachings, but John has more material about Jesus’ identity than the other gospels. Again, these differences collectively deepen our understanding of Jesus Christ.
7 – How to read the Gospels as a new believer
Many theologians recommend that a new Christian begin reading the Gospel of John. John’s writing flows well, is easy to understand, and helps you, as a new believer, understand who this Saviour is who has touched your heart.
8 – Gaining a full perspective of Jesus’ life
If you want to follow the order of Jesus’ life, it is best to read the first few chapters of Matthew and Luke together, since they tell of the birth and childhood of Jesus. After Luke 2, in which Jesus appears as a twelve-year-old boy, there is a long gap until he is about 30 years old. All four Gospels tell of his public ministry from 30 to 33 years, death, and resurrection (highlighting the core necessity of these events to his intentions for coming to Earth).
9 – The reach of Jesus’ ministry
Jesus only preached to the Jewish people. This is not because the Gospel was not meant for Gentiles. By contrast, Jesus actually did, on occasion, minister to Gentiles. The reason why he, in a public sense, only preached to Jews, is because God’s plan was to first bring the Good News to the traditional people of God, and then expand this invitation to all people of the world (as Jesus instructs his believers to do in the Great Commission).
10 – Where the story goes from there
Luke having great attention to detail, continued the story after Jesus’ resurrection in the Book of Acts, which follows the Book of John in the Bible. This book shows how the early church took Jesus’ instructions to them and spread the Gospel to the Gentiles.
Conclusion
One hiker can look at a mountain and see the forest. Another hiker can look at the same mountain on the other side and see the waterfall. A third hiker can see the dry, sandy part of the same mountain. Together, their different perspectives help us picture a 3D image of the mountain. In the same way, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John give us different perspectives of the same amazing Saviour. Together, their combined accounts help us have a well-rounded understanding of Jesus.
Are you Christian Missions opportunities? Then check out Global Disciples Canada.
We are a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near to reach least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet, Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time when many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!
“There are many people who honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain because they teach human rules as doctrines.” – Matthew 15:8-9
When it comes to showing your faith in Jesus Christ, there’s often a pressure or fear that others will be quick to judge your words or faith. You may feel like you’re put under the spotlight, with no witty comeback, no solid argument, or a satisfying answer to questions.
Sharing the gospel isn’t about defending your faith to other people, but about giving your faith to the world. There’s not always a “right” answer when it comes to sharing your faith, but here are a few ways to help you with sharing the good news (or gospel) of Jesus Christ.
How to Build Your Confidence When Sharing the Gospel
Tip #1: First of All, Don’t Try to “Defend” Anything
There’s rarely a time when you need to “defend” your faith to someone else because it’s not meant to be defended. Your faith is something you harbour within your heart, not by guarding it, but by giving it freely to the world.
When you feel like you’re being put under pressure, trying to “defend” your faith will only cause you to become protective and defensive, which might work against to those you’re trying to share the gospel with.
Don’t let the words of other people cause you to think you’re not a believer, but instead allow your own words to show your faith to the world.
Tip #2: Approach with the Intent to Converse, Not Confront
Life is about communication, and how we share our faith with the world is no different. It’s can feel like you and the person you’re talking with are opposite sides of a magnet–each repelling the other.
When you initiate the conversation, and the other person might not be so welcoming, that’s okay. Don’t get hung up on trying to correct their ways, but remember the main goal of sharing your faith is to make a connection with a person and show them your faith, what it means for your life, and what faith in Jesus can be for them.
Tip #3: Understand Other People’s Interests and Don’t Shut Doors
Sharing your faith isn’t about forcing your beliefs on someone, but showing them what Jesus offers among the variety of beliefs in our world. When you understand what topics interest people, you’ll also be able to see things or concepts that help you connect with a deeper faith-related conversation.
Don’t shut your doors on learning what someone has to share with you. If there’s a topic that interests you, be ready to ask questions. Don’t shy away from exploring another person’s interests, and they will in turn be more open to what you have to say about yours.
The Bottom Line: Asking God to Guide You can Ease Your Worries
Sharing your faith is about building relationships with the world. Your faith isn’t about you, but about God and how you can share His love with the world. When you start to see it from that point of view, taking the time to share your faith and having the confidence to do so will be easier than what you expect.
How can we help you share your faith more effectively?
Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective training and coaching strategy, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!