Sharing the gospel can feel intimidating, especially if you’re unsure of how to begin or worried about saying the “right” things. Perhaps you’ve struggled with not knowing how to approach the topic of faith with friends or loved ones, worried about what people may think of you, or fearing rejection.
But knowing how to share the gospel isn’t about being perfect or having all the answers—it’s about communicating God’s love and grace with kindness, humility, and authenticity.
Today you’ll learn six practical approaches to sharing the gospel that will empower you to shine your light. As you engage with others, you can feel confident that you know how to share the gospel in specific, thoughtful ways.
What is Evangelism?
Evangelism is sharing the good news of Jesus and inviting people into a relationship with Him. The word might sound intimidating, but the process doesn’t have to be.
Matthew 28:19–20, known as the Great Commission, is where Jesus instructs His followers to go and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to live obedient lives that reflect how He lived. However, the disciples listening to Jesus that day weren’t the only people this command applied to; we are still called to share the good news of Jesus today.
Sharing the gospel is an active command from Jesus to be His heart, hands, and feet in a world that needs the light of Christ. It’s our opportunity to invite people to receive forgiveness, peace, unshakable joy, and a transformed life because of the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
But how do we share the gospel?
How do we point those around us to Jesus?
How do we evangelize without sounding awkward or weird?
6 Practical Approaches to Sharing the Gospel
Babbie Mason, author of Esther Press’ Each One Reach One: Everyday Ways You Can Shine God’s Light, has a simple acronym, TRACED, we can use as we reflect on specific ways to share the gospel.
Watch the video above to see Babbie explain how to share the gospel using each of her six approaches.
1. Testimonial
Every believer has a story about how you came to know Jesus. That is your testimony, one of the most powerful ways to point people to Christ.
You can think about your testimony in three parts:
- What was your life like before you met Christ?
- What circumstances led you to accept Christ as your Lord and Savior?
- How has your life changed since you made that decision?
As you enter into conversations with friends, family, or even difficult people in your life, you can stand firm on what Jesus has done in and through your personal story.
Remember, your story doesn’t have to sound perfect and polished. Your authenticity and the work of Christ in and through your life will speak for itself. Who could benefit from hearing your testimony?
2. Relational
Evangelism doesn’t always involve a sermon from a brightly lit stage; it often begins with personal relationships.
Think about the people in your life you have a relationship with who need to hear Jesus’ message of salvation and hope. Consider inviting them to coffee, a game night, lunch, out for a walk, or simply send them a text message of encouragement.
You may not lead someone to Christ over a hot latte, but you can build connection and trust and be a valuable stepping stone in their faith journey. Make an effort to intentionally connect with people and take the message of Jesus wherever you go.
3. Apologetic
Apologetics is the branch of theology that focuses on defending and explaining the truth of the Christian faith by addressing questions about God’s existence, the reliability of the Bible, the problem of evil, and the historical evidence for Jesus Christ’s resurrection.
Therefore, the apologetic approach is for believers who are equipped to defend the gospel even in the presence of adversity, including agnostics or atheists.
If you are confident in your knowledge of Scripture and are called to contend for the gospel in any arena, then you may consider apologetics as a strong match for your evangelism approach.
That being said, the apologetic approach isn’t for everyone. God created each of us with different gifts for a reason, so if you cringe at the thought of entering into a heated theological debate, you can contend for Jesus in other arenas with just as much enthusiasm and effectiveness as an apologist.
4. Conversational
If you can strike up a conversation with anybody, anywhere, then this is the evangelism approach for you. In Babbie’s book Each One Reach One, she shares countless stories about how a simple compliment given to a stranger led to a conversation about Jesus.
One of the best ways to bless God is to be a blessing to one of His children, so bless people with your words. Look for the good in people and call it out. Don’t withhold a compliment. Offer to pray for someone if the Holy Spirit prompts you to pray. Every conversation is an opportunity to spread the gospel.
5. Experiential
You are the closest encounter with Jesus some people will ever experience. Let that sink in! A life that reflects the love of Christ can open the door to having a conversation about Him.
Think about simple acts you can do to help people experience Jesus, like providing a meal for someone in need, inviting a non-Christian to church, sending a card, or serving at a local shelter.
When you show Christlike love through your actions, three things happen:
- Your heart receives encouragement.
- The recipient is blessed.
- God receives the glory.
Sharing the gospel through your lifestyle is one of the most effective ways you can reach people. As you reflect on ways to help others experience Christ’s love, remember that a simple act of kindness might be the greatest gift you can give someone.
6. Direct
The direct approach is for believers who are called to stand before crowds to deliver the gospel with the clear intention of teaching or preaching.
Whether you stand before 100 people or 10,000, God has entrusted you with that specific audience to spread the good news with accuracy, passion, and conviction.
Although the direct approach may not be everyone’s calling, we have all been entrusted with spreading the good news of Jesus to those around us. Every encounter matters.
Which evangelism approach resonates most with you?
Join Our Upcoming Online Book Club!
If you enjoyed reading these helpful tips from Babbie, I’d love to invite you to buy a copy of her book Each One, Reach One: Everyday Ways You Can Shine God’s Light, and read along with our online book club starting in January!
When you join our online study, you’ll be able to connect with like-minded women as we learn new ways to share the gospel and see more exclusive content from Babbie.
If you’re new to our online Bible studies, here’s what you’ll gain by joining:
- Flexibility to participate from the comfort of your home
- A sense of community
- A safe space for growth in our private Facebook group
- Personal accountability and encouragement
- A dedicated host who reads and responds to every comment (me!)
- Access to authors and behind-the-scenes content
Learn more about our upcoming Each One, Reach One Bible Study and get signed up today!
Mandy Johnson is the online studies host and coordinator for Esther Press. She is also a wife, mom, writer, and speaker who loves encouraging women in their faith. She lives in Hendersonville, Tennessee, where you’ll find her trying to keep up with her two toddlers, leading a fitness class at Fit Factory Nashville, or cheering on the Clemson Tigers! You can read more from Mandy at mandycjohnson.com.