Matthew 28:19 contains one of the boldest commands Jesus gives:
If you claim to be a follower of Jesus, you are commanded to evangelize. Evangelism is scary no matter how many times you do it. There’s the discomfort of risking awkwardness, the fear of upsetting someone’s beliefs, or the worry about seeming like a “Jesus freak.” When you remind yourself of the truth of the gospel, suddenly all those fears feel small compared to the greatness of the message we carry.
Maybe you’ve walked with Jesus for years but never truly wrestled with evangelism in your own mind. Sure, there are countless ways to share your faith — by living radically different, loving others deeply, or even just inviting someone to church, but what if a stranger on the street or a coworker asked you directly: “What is the gospel?” Would you be ready?
Sometimes the most important truths are the hardest to explain.
It’s almost like trying to define the color red. Something so familiar, yet tricky to describe. You might quickly respond, “Jesus died for our sins.” While that’s true, think about it:
To someone unfamiliar with the story of Scripture, that statement raises more questions than answers. Who is Jesus? What is sin? Why did He have to die? How does His death save us? What does it mean for my life now? On top of that, many people already have some idea about Jesus — but it’s often a distorted one. They may see Him as a genie who grants wishes, an angry judge waiting to punish, or a fairy tale made up for comfort. So how do we reach people with the real gospel?
There’s a wise saying:
“People don’t care what you know until they know that you care.”When it comes to sharing the gospel, Paul reminds us that it must be done with gentleness and love. It’s not about having every perfect answer ready, it’s about showing real love. Most people who reject the gospel don’t do so because of intellectual reasons. They do so because of heart issues.
A great starting point is simply to listen. Ask about their story. Ask how they view Jesus, the church, or even broader questions like, “Why do you think we’re here?” or “Why do you think people everywhere seem to have a sense of right and wrong?” Paul writes in Romans that God’s existence is evident both through creation and the moral law written on every human heart (Romans 1:20, 2:15). Listening first not only builds trust — it also opens doors to share the truth of Jesus more personally. When you do, keep it simple and clear:
Share how we are all imperfect, and how our imperfection separates us from a perfect, holy God. But because of His incredible love, God didn’t leave us there. He humbled Himself, came as a servant, and paid the price we owed by dying on the cross. Now, through Jesus, every person is offered the free gift of eternal life. We each have the opportunity to say “Yes” or “No” to that gift. And when we say “Yes,” God doesn’t just save us for eternity — He moves in and transforms us from the inside out.