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The Privilege and Responsibility of Sharing Our Faith

Evangelism is not only a duty for the believer; it is a breathtaking privilege. God could have written His gospel in the sky or sent angels to every doorstep, yet He chose to work through ordinary, redeemed sinners to proclaim His extraordinary grace.

“Evangelism is just one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.”
— D. T. Niles

In this post, we’ll look at our calling to share Christ, the role of personal testimony, the centrality of the gospel message, the necessity of prayer and the Holy Spirit, the different kinds of hearers, the offense and cost of the gospel, and how to live and speak in a way that adorns the message of Christ.

1. Our Calling: A Privilege and a Responsibility

Jesus gives His followers a clear commission:

• “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19–20)
• “You will be my witnesses… to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
• “We are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.” (2 Corinthians 5:20)

Sharing the gospel is:

• A responsibility – a command from our King.
• A privilege – to represent Christ and participate in God’s rescue mission.

“If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.”
— C. T. Studd

2. The Power of a Changed Life: Our Personal Testimony

Our testimony is not the gospel itself, but it powerfully illustrates the gospel.

• The man born blind could not explain everything, but he could say:
  “One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” (John 9:25)
• Paul often shared his story (Acts 22; 26): who he was, how Christ met him, and how he was changed.

A helpful pattern for sharing your testimony:

1. Before Christ – What you trusted in; the emptiness or sin that marked your life.
2. How you met Christ – The truth you heard; how God opened your eyes.
3. After Christ – Not perfection, but a real, ongoing change in your desires, priorities, and hope.

“The Christian is a person who makes it easy for others to believe in God.”
— Robert M. McCheyne

Your story gives a face and a voice to the truth you share. But remember: it is Christ who saves, not our story. Our testimony should always point beyond ourselves to Him.

3. The Unchanging Core: The Gospel Message

Our testimony may vary, but the gospel message does not. Paul summarizes it:

“Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day…”
(1 Corinthians 15:3–4)

Essential elements of the gospel:

• God – Holy, righteous Creator; worthy of our worship (Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 6:3).
• Man – Created in God’s image, but fallen and guilty (Romans 3:23).
• Sin and judgment – We deserve God’s wrath (Romans 6:23; Hebrews 9:27).
• Christ – Fully God and fully man; lived without sin, died as our substitute, rose again (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 4:25).
• Response – Repentance and faith: turning from sin and self-rule to trust and follow Christ alone (Mark 1:15; Acts 20:21).

Salvation is not:

• “Try harder and God will accept you,” or
• “Invite Jesus to improve your life.”

Salvation is:

• Being reconciled to God by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8–9).

“We are not called to proclaim philosophy and metaphysics, but the simple gospel.”
— Charles Spurgeon

4. Prayer and the Power of the Holy Spirit in Conversion

Only God can raise the spiritually dead.

• “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” (John 6:44)
• “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God…” (1 Corinthians 2:14)

This is why we must pray:

• Pray for open doors: “that God may open to us a door for the word.” (Colossians 4:3)
• Pray for open hearts: “The Lord opened her heart to pay attention…” (Acts 16:14)
• Pray for boldness and clarity: (Ephesians 6:19–20; Colossians 4:4)

And this is why we must depend on the Holy Spirit:

• “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses.” (Acts 1:8)
• Conversion is a new birth, a miracle of the Spirit (John 3:3–8; Titus 3:5).

“Without the Spirit of God, we can do nothing. We are as ships without wind, branches without sap, and like coals without fire.”
— Charles Spurgeon

Our task is to sow faithfully; God alone gives the growth (1 Corinthians 3:6–7).

5. Different Kinds of Hearers: The Parable of the Soils

Jesus prepares us for different responses to the gospel in the Parable of the Soils (Matthew 13:1–23; Mark 4:1–20; Luke 8:4–15).

1. The hard path – The word is heard but not understood; the evil one snatches it away.
   Many seem indifferent; their hearts are hardened by sin, pride, or pain.
2. Rocky ground – They receive the word with joy, but have no root. When trials or persecution come, they fall away.
   This is superficial, emotional response without true repentance.
3. Thorny ground – The word is choked by “the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches” (Matthew 13:22).
   These hearers may appear interested but are ultimately mastered by other loves.
4. Good soil – They hear, understand, accept, and bear fruit—thirty, sixty, a hundredfold.
   This is true conversion: ongoing faith and fruit.

This parable teaches us:

• Faithful sowing will bring mixed responses—and that is expected.
• We must not confuse quick emotion with genuine conversion.
• Our confidence rests not in our methods, but in the power of the word and the work of the Spirit.

“The gospel is only good news if it gets there in time.”
— Carl F. H. Henry

6. Why the Gospel Offends – The Narrow Gate and Counting the Cost

The gospel is the best news, but it is not flattering news. It confronts human pride:

• It says we are not basically good, but spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1).
• It says we cannot save ourselves (Romans 3:20).
• It says there is only one way to be saved—through Christ (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).

Jesus spoke of a narrow gate:

“For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
(Matthew 7:14)

Why so few?

• Many stumble over the exclusivity of Christ.
• Many love darkness rather than light (John 3:19–20).
• Many are not willing to repent—to surrender their own lordship.

Jesus also warns would-be disciples to count the cost (Luke 14:25–33):

• Following Him may bring division, rejection, or persecution (John 15:18–20).
• We must deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him (Luke 9:23).

“They tell me that I must not preach the terrors of the law, but I must preach the love of God alone. I do not know of such selective preaching. If I am to be God’s faithful servant, I must preach the whole counsel of God.”
— George Whitefield (paraphrased sentiment)

We must be honest: Christ offers a cross before a crown, repentance before comfort, holiness before happiness. This honesty protects us from false converts and shallow responses.

7. Dangers in Evangelism: What We Must Avoid

Because we long to see people saved, we can be tempted to rely on wrong methods. Scripture and church history warn us against:

7.1 Manipulating Emotions

Emotions are not evil, but manipulating them is. Loud music, pressured “decisions,” or stirring stories can create fleeting feelings without true repentance.

• The rocky soil responds with joy, but has no root (Matthew 13:20–21).
• Paul refused to rely on “lofty speech or wisdom” that would rest people’s faith on human wisdom (1 Corinthians 2:1–5).

7.2 Appealing to Self-Interest

We must beware of presenting a “gospel” like:

• “Come to Jesus and your life will be easier.”
• “Follow Christ and you’ll be successful, healthy, or wealthy.”

Jesus does promise joy, peace, and eternal life, but He also promises:

• Tribulation (John 16:33)
• Persecution (2 Timothy 3:12)
• Self-denial (Luke 9:23)

Evangelism that flatters self-interest often produces “thorny soil” hearers who abandon Christ when the cost becomes clear.

7.3 Settling for Double-Minded Uncertainty

Jesus rebukes lukewarm, half-hearted religiosity:

“Because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.”
(Revelation 3:16)

We must not:

• Encourage people to remain “undecided” indefinitely.
• Soften Christ’s claims to make discipleship optional.
• Present following Jesus as something one can do without repentance.

Genuine faith is wholehearted trust in Christ that leads to obedient love (James 2:14–26; John 14:15).

“If you have no desire to bring others to heaven, you are not going there yourself.”
— Charles Spurgeon (attributed)

8. Unashamed of the Gospel

In a world that mocks and marginalizes Christian convictions, we can be tempted to silence or compromise. Scripture calls us to holy courage:

• “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation…” (Romans 1:16)
• “Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words… of him will the Son of Man be ashamed…” (Mark 8:38)

This does not mean being rude or harsh. It means:

• Refusing to hide the truth that all have sinned and need Christ.
• Refusing to edit God’s word to fit cultural expectations.
• Speaking with both conviction and compassion.

“We are not to adjust the Bible to the age, but the age to the Bible.”
— Charles Spurgeon

9. Living Witness: Marked by Love and Good Works

Our words must be backed by a transformed life. Jesus said:

• “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)
• “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

Evangelism without love becomes noise:

• “If I… understand all mysteries and all knowledge… but have not love, I am nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:2)

A faithful witness:

• Loves enemies and forgives offenses (Matthew 5:44; Ephesians 4:32).
• Shows humility, purity, and integrity (Philippians 2:14–16).
• Cares for the poor, the marginalized, and the broken (James 1:27; 2:14–17).

“Preach the gospel at all times. When necessary, use words.”
— (Commonly attributed to Francis of Assisi, though likely not his exact words)

The quote is flawed if taken to mean “words are optional.” Faith must be spoken (Romans 10:14–17). But it rightly reminds us that our lives must not contradict our message.

10. Ready to Give a Reason for Our Hope

Peter exhorts believers:

“…in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”
(1 Peter 3:15)

This means:

• Know the gospel clearly enough to explain it.
• Know why you believe—the trustworthiness of Scripture, the reality of the resurrection, the changed life Christ has given you.
• Speak with gentleness and respect, not arrogance or anger.

“Evangelism is not imposing anything on anyone; it is simply sharing the good news.”
— Leighton Ford

We are to be both ready and relational: ready with answers, and gentle in manner.

11. Making the Most of Every Opportunity

Scripture urges us to live on mission, not by accident:

• “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.” (Colossians 4:5)
• “Look carefully then how you walk… making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15–16)

Practical ways to be ready:

• Pray daily: “Lord, give me opportunities today, and eyes to see them.”
• Ask good questions and listen well.
• Carry Scripture in your heart—memorize key verses.
• Have a simple way to explain the gospel.
• Invest in relationships, not just moments.

“You have never met a mere mortal.”
— C. S. Lewis

Every person you meet is an eternal soul. Every conversation can be a seed.

12. A Final Encouragement

Believer, you may feel inadequate, fearful, or unqualified. Remember:

• God uses weak instruments (1 Corinthians 1:26–29).
• The power is in the gospel, not in you (Romans 1:16).
• The Spirit goes with you and before you (Matthew 28:20).

“There is no greater joy than to be used by God in the salvation of a soul.”
— (Echoing the heart of many evangelists, including D. L. Moody)

Let this be your prayer:

“Lord, here am I. Send me.” (Isaiah 6:8)

May we be a people who:

• Are unashamed of the gospel.
• Share both our story and His story.
• Rely on prayer and the Holy Spirit.
• Refuse manipulation and half-truths.
• Live lives marked by love and good works.
• Are always ready to give a reason for the hope within us.
• Make the most of every opportunity to win others to Christ.

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