Evangelism is the act of spreading the gospel and teachings of Jesus Christ to unbelievers with the goal of converting them to Christianity. The Bible provides guidance on how Christians should approach evangelism in a godly and effective manner. Here is an overview of the key biblical principles for evangelism:
Pray for opportunities to share the gospel
Believers should pray regularly for open doors to share their faith with others (Colossians 4:3). Pray for boldness, wisdom and the right words when opportunities arise. Ask God to prepare the hearts of unbelievers to be receptive to the gospel message. Depend on the Holy Spirit for guidance and power in evangelistic efforts.
Develop relationships with unbelievers
Jesus set an example by building friendships with people who needed to hear the good news. He attended dinners, weddings and other social events where he connected with nonbelievers (Luke 5:29, John 2:1-2). Christians should follow his model by developing genuine relationships and demonstrating care for unbelievers in their lives.
Share your personal testimony
Your personal story of how you came to faith in Christ can have a powerful impact on others. Talk about your life before Christ, how you heard the gospel, and how becoming a Christian has transformed you (Acts 26:2-29). A personal testimony adds a human element that intellectual arguments often lack.
Focus on Jesus and what he has done
The gospel message centers on Christ’s atoning death for sin and defeating death through his resurrection. Evangelism should emphasize what Jesus has accomplished for us, not just teachings or behavioral modification. Share the biblical truths about sin, judgment, Christ’s sacrifice, and the gift of salvation by grace (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
Use discernment and be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading
Approach unbelievers with discernment about what truths would best speak to them. The Holy Spirit will give wisdom to present the gospel in ways that resonate with their background and personality (1 Corinthians 2:4-5). Pray for discernment and be sensitive to the Spirit’s leading in every conversation.
Aim for understanding, not just conversion
Of course, the hope is for unbelievers to accept the gospel. But avoid manipulating, pressuring or rushing them into a premature decision. The goal is real understanding of Christ’s truths, not just outward professions of faith. Allow time for reflection and processing (1 Peter 3:15).
Answer questions and objections respectfully
Skeptics will ask sincere questions or raise objections about the Christian faith. Treat their concerns respectfully. Give thoughtful responses aimed at increasing understanding, even if they still disagree. Model Christ’s gentle, patient teaching style in these conversations (2 Timothy 2:24-26).
Wait for the right timing
Look for opportune occasions to steer conversations toward spiritual matters, while exercising patience. Don’t force it or be overaggressive. Gentle persistence coupled with Spirit-led timing is key (Proverbs 15:23, Ecclesiastes 8:5).
Speak the truth in love
Christians must always share the gospel with humility, grace and love. Avoid condescension, judgment or self-righteousness. The goal is to speak truth in a caring manner that points people to Christ – never to just win arguments (Ephesians 4:15).
Remember it is God who changes hearts
No matter how persuasive or compelling the presentation, only the Holy Spirit can open people’s eyes to the truth. Salvation is God’s work, not ours. Our role is to faithfully plant gospel seeds, trusting God for growth in His timing (1 Corinthians 3:6-7).
Do not argue or force it
If unbelievers become argumentative or resistant, it is usually better to politely withdraw versus engaging in combative disputes. Forced or coerced conversions are meaningless anyway. Continue praying for them and look for future opportunities (Matthew 10:14, Luke 9:5).
Trust in the power of the gospel message
The gospel is the power of God for salvation – it is inherently effective at accomplishing God’s redemptive purpose (Romans 1:16). Our confidence rests in the truth and potency of the message, not our own persuasive powers. God uses his word powerfully in people’s lives.
Persevere in proclaiming the gospel
Keep sharing the good news even when it seems hard or results are discouraging. Remain faithful in evangelism despite any lack of visible fruit from your efforts. Avoid discouragement by resting in God’s sovereignty and timing (Galatians 6:9, 2 Timothy 4:2).
Set an example with your life
Our actions should match our words. When unbelievers see the gospel lived out in our character and conduct it lends credence to the message. A hypocritical witness undermines evangelistic efforts. Let your light shine through righteous living (Matthew 5:16).
Equip others to help spread the gospel
No one person can reach the entire world alone. Empower other believers by equipping them to share their faith. Train others by modeling effective evangelism and providing resources. Mobilize Christian community for cooperative efforts (Ephesians 4:11-16).
In summary, the biblical model of evangelism relies prayerfully on the Holy Spirit to empower the presentation of the gospel through relationships, personal testimony, compassionate truth-telling, and persevering through trials and discouragement. God calls all followers of Jesus Christ to be witnesses by sharing the good news of salvation with gentleness, respect, wisdom and love.
The Bible provides numerous examples of evangelism in action that reveal these principles:
- Peter preaching at Pentecost – Acts 2:14-41
- Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch – Acts 8:26-40
- Paul’s testimony before Agrippa – Acts 26:1-32
- Paul on missional journeys – Acts 13-20
- Woman at the well – John 4:1-42
- Jesus and Zacchaeus – Luke 19:1-10
Additional relevant Bible passages:
- Matthew 28:19-20 – The Great Commission
- Acts 1:8 – Call to be witnesses
- 2 Corinthians 5:20 – Ambassadors for Christ
- Ephesians 6:19-20 – Praying for boldness in witnessing
- 1 Peter 3:15 – Always prepared to give reason for hope
- 2 Timothy 4:5 – Do the work of evangelism
In our pluralistic society, some argue evangelism is intolerant or insensitive. However, the Bible makes clear our responsibility to share the truth in love. Evangelism offers the words of eternal life found only in Jesus Christ. It is an act of compassion to help unbelievers know the One who can save them from sin and death.
Done rightly and biblically, evangelism relies humbly on the Spirit’s work through prayer, authentic relationships, gracious truth-telling, patient endurance, and modeling the gospel with our lives. Each believer has a part to play in the Great Commission’s call for making disciples of Jesus Christ.
Developing an evangelistic lifestyle
Evangelism is not just something we do; it should be a way of life for followers of Jesus. Here are some tips for cultivating an evangelistic lifestyle:
- Pray regularly for divine appointments and gospel conversations.
- Build genuine friendships with unbelievers.
- Look for opportunities to bring spiritual topics into everyday interactions.
- Share your testimony as part of ordinary conversations when appropriate.
- Learn to steer conversations toward the gospel message.
- Study apologetics to answer objections to Christianity.
- Exhibit Christian love to build credibility for your witness.
- Make evangelistic resources readily available to give to unbelievers.
- Equip yourself with Bible verses to share the gospel message.
- Invite unbelieving friends to church or Christian events when appropriate.
- Share gospel content and invitations on social media.
- Support ministries focused on national and global evangelism.
- Go on short-term mission trips to directly engage in evangelism.
- Look for small ways to serve your community in Jesus’ name.
The essential goal is being ready and willing to share Christ’s love whenever opportunities arise. View everyday life events through an evangelistic lens. Be intentional but not overbearing. Evangelism flows naturally from a life increasingly conformed to Jesus’ heart for the lost.
Pitfalls to Avoid
In our passion to reach the lost, it’s important to reflect critically on our motivations and methods. Here are some potential pitfalls to avoid in evangelism:
- Focusing on “winning the argument” rather than communicating truth in love.
- Viewing unbelievers as projects rather than people to genuinely love and care for.
- Manipulating people’s emotions or pressuring for premature decisions.
- Condescending attitudes toward unbelievers.
- Lack of patience in listening and answering sincere questions.
- Failing to build real relationships with non-Christians.
- Neglecting our own spiritual health and gospel witness in daily life.
- Relying too much on techniques, programs or our own eloquence.
- Taking failure or rejection too personally.
- Being pushy, forcing conversations, or refusing to gracefully withdraw.
The biblical approach centers on authentic love and Spirit-led persuasion. We humbly depend on God’s power to change hearts. Our role is to faithfully plant gospel seeds and build caring relationships. Evangelism should honor unbelievers while exposing them to the beauty of Christ.
Presenting the Gospel Message
When opportunities arise to explicitly present the gospel, there is a general flow that can help guide the conversation:
- Creation – God created us for relationship with him and each other.
- The Fall – Sin entered the world, breaking our relationship with God.
- Redemption – Christ came as Savior to redeem us through his life, death and resurrection.
- Repentance – We must repent from sin and believe in Christ for salvation.
- Regeneration – Those who believe are reborn spiritually and restored to relationship with God.
- Mission – We now are called to follow Christ and partner in his redemptive mission.
When sharing the message:
- Aim for understanding over just agreement.
- Ask questions to discern where the person is coming from.
- Connect gospel truths to the person’s life story when possible.
- Avoid Christian jargon; speak in common language.
- Highlight the relational restoration Christ offers us with God.
- Focus on Christ’s love more than judgment for sin.
- Invite response but don’t pressure for a rushed decision.
The gospel is powerfully compelling when presented relationally. Lean on the Spirit to guide you in contextualizing this incredible story of God’s redemptive plan.
Equipping the Church
For evangelism to flourish, churches should train and mobilize their members:
- Preach regularly on evangelism from the pulpit.
- Offer classes on sharing one’s faith and engaging culture.
- Provide gospel tracts and books to give to unbelievers.
- Train members to share their personal salvation stories.
- Encourage developing relationships with non-Christians.
- Host events or service projects to which members can invite unbelieving friends.
- Seek evangelism stories from members to encourage the church.
- Send short-term missionary teams on evangelistic trips.
- Pray together for the lost and evangelistic opportunities.
- Model relational evangelism from church leaders.
Healthy churches make evangelism a central component of their mission and vision. The entire Body of Christ should see itself as partners in reaching the lost with the only story that can truly transform lives now and for eternity.