How to Share the Gospel

While it’s easy to talk about being a witness, sometimes it’s difficult to know how to actually share the gospel with the people in our lives. So if you’re not sure where to start, it’s as easy as “F. I. S. H.”

• F: Build a friendship.
• I: Initiate spiritual conversations.
• S: Share the gospel.
• H: Help them make a decision toward Christ.

F: Build a Friendship

(Colossians 4:5–6; Luke 5:29–32)

Building a friendship is simple. God has already brought many people into our lives. We just need to be on the lookout for the friendship opportunities in front of us—whether at work, home, school, or at a hobby.

How do you build a friendship?

• Pray for God to provide opportunities to develop friendships with non-Christians.
• Look for opportunities, and be faithful in inviting people into your life.
• Be intentional to ask about people’s lives—families, pasts, passions, and dreams.

I: Initiate Spiritual Conversations

(1 Peter 3:15–16; John 4:6–10)

Spiritual conversations rarely form out of thin air; we should think about the world through the lens of the gospel so that it’s naturally integrated into our speech.

How can you initiate spiritual conversations?

• Pray that others would be open to talking about spiritual things.
• Ask intentional questions that get at heart-level issues or universal experiences:
• How do you define happiness or a successful life?
• Why do you think there is so much suffering in the world?
• What do you think would make the world a better place to live?
• Are you a religious or spiritual person?
• How do you typically respond to _______ (anxiety, death, diagnoses)?
• If someone is sharing a challenge in their life, ask, “Can I pray for you?”
• Be a good listener. Never marginalize someone else’s views.
• Share with others how God is working in your life.
• Use Scripture and share with others how the gospel influences your life.

S: Share the Gospel

(1 Corinthians 15:1–4; 2 Corinthians 5:18–20; Romans 1:16–17)

Once we’ve initiated a spiritual conversation, we can share the gospel to show how the reality of the gospel can impact their reality.

How do you share the gospel?

• Pray for your friends to receive the gospel and respond in faith.
• Use a gospel sharing tool.
• Share a story from Scripture.
• Share your testimony—who you were before Jesus, how you heard the gospel (including what the gospel is), and how God changed you after responding.
• After sharing the gospel, invite the person to respond to the gospel:
• “Have you ever heard this before? What do you think about it?”
• “Are you ready to make a decision to trust Jesus as your Lord and Savior?”
• If they are not ready to believe the gospel, you can ask, “What is keeping you from believing the gospel?” or “What would have to change in order for you to believe in Jesus?”

H: Help Them Make a Decision Toward Christ

(1 Corinthians 3:6–7)

Everyone responds to the gospel when they hear it—either by accepting it or rejecting it. Helping someone clarify what decision they made is important for identifying their next step. If they aren’t ready to make a decision, you can help them make a decision!

How do you help someone make a decision toward Christ?

Here are some options:

• Response #1: Repentance and Faith - This person repents from their sin and believes, or is already a believer.
  • Celebrate and pray with them (and begin discussing baptism)!
  • Invite them into your Summit community if they are not a part of a church community.
• Response #2: Confused by Religiousness/Morality - This person probably grew up familiar with Christianity but hasn’t trusted in Jesus. They may think following Jesus is about being a good person, or aren’t sure if they believe or not.
  • Invite them to read the Bible with you.
  • Invite them to your small group or to church.
  • Invest in the friendship, and keep sharing the gospel if they are responsive.
• Response #3: Interested in the Gospel/Not Ready - This person knows they’re not a believer but is interested in learning more about Jesus.
  • Invite them to read the Bible with you (maybe John or Romans).
  • Invite them to your small group or to church.
  • Invest in the friendship, and keep sharing the gospel if they are responsive.
• Response #4: Not Interested/Apathetic - This person knows they’re not a believer and is not interested in learning more about Jesus.
  • Invite them to hang out with your church community, and tell them that you want to be friends, regardless of their beliefs.
  • Invest in the friendship, and keep sharing the gospel if they are responsive.