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Objective

In this lesson, we’ll learn three biblical principles for effectively sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with those around us.

Key Verse

1 Peter 3:15: But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

Introduction

In our previous lesson on “Being a Witness,” we learned the important difference between being a witness and witnessing. Our lives must already be pointing people to Christ if we want to be effective when we witness—when we actually tell others about the Gospel. A witness is who we are; witnessing is what we do. Both are essential for reaching others with God’s love.

When we talk about sharing the Gospel, we’re talking about sharing the most important message in the world. At its heart, this message is beautifully simple: We are sinners separated from God. But God loves us so much that He sent His Son Jesus Christ to take the punishment for our sin. When we accept His free gift of salvation, He gives us new life and makes us His children forever. This is the life-changing message we have the privilege of sharing with others.

You might think, “I’m not a preacher or a missionary. How can I possibly share the Gospel effectively?” The wonderful truth is that God doesn’t call us to be experts or eloquent speakers. He simply calls us to be faithful with what He has given us. Some of the most powerful Gospel presentations in Scripture came from ordinary people who simply shared what they knew about Jesus.

As we study together, we’ll discover three simple but powerful principles from Scripture about how to bring this life-changing message to others:

• Share what you know
• Tell what God has done for you
• Reach those around you

Share What You Know

One of the most encouraging truths about sharing the Gospel is that God can use anyone who is willing to speak up about what they know, regardless of their age, education, or social status. We see this beautifully illustrated in the stories of two very different people who made an eternal impact simply by sharing what they knew.

The first person is a young servant girl whose name we don’t even know. She appears in one of the most dramatic healing stories in the Old Testament:

2 Kings 5:2-4: Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said.

Think about this young girl’s situation. She had been taken from her family and homeland and forced to serve in a foreign country. She had every reason to be bitter toward her captors. Instead, when she learned about her master’s terrible disease, she spoke up with compassion and hope. She didn’t know everything about God’s power, but she knew enough to point Naaman toward the prophet who could help him.

This young girl had no theological training, no official position, and no influence in society. But she knew that the God of Israel had power to heal, and she was willing to share that knowledge. Her simple words led to one of the most remarkable healing miracles in the Bible and brought glory to God before a foreign nation.

The second person is the Samaritan woman who met Jesus at the well. After her life-changing conversation with Christ, she couldn’t contain her excitement:

John 4:28-29: Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?”

This woman had just met Jesus for the first time. She didn’t have years of Bible study or ministry experience. She simply knew that she had encountered someone extraordinary—someone who knew all about her life yet offered her hope and living water. Her invitation was simple: “Come and see.” She didn’t try to explain complex theology or answer every possible question. She just pointed people to Jesus and let them discover for themselves who He was.

This natural overflow of sharing what we know about Jesus is exactly what the apostles experienced as well. When the religious leaders commanded them to stop preaching about Christ, they responded with simple honesty:

Acts 4:20: As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.

The apostles weren’t being rebellious or argumentative. They were simply saying that when you have experienced the life-changing power of Jesus, it becomes natural to talk about Him. You don’t need special training to share what you have personally experienced with Christ.

Notebook Moment: Can you remember a time when you received good news and could hardly wait to share it with others? How does that excitement compare to how you feel about sharing the Gospel?

Both of these women show us a powerful principle: God works through everyday people who are willing to speak up and share what they know about Jesus or His power. Your impact doesn’t depend on how much you know, but on faithfully sharing what you do know. You don’t need to be a Bible scholar to tell someone that Jesus loves them and died for their sins. You don’t need perfect answers to every question to invite someone to church or to share a verse that has encouraged you.

Many people hesitate to share the Gospel because they’re afraid someone will ask a question they can’t answer. But notice what these women didn’t do—they didn’t try to provide all the answers themselves. The servant girl pointed Naaman to the prophet. The Samaritan woman invited people to come and meet Jesus for themselves. Sometimes the most effective witnessing simply involves pointing people toward someone who can help them.

Tell What God Has Done for You

Your personal testimony—your story of how Jesus has changed your life—is one of the most powerful tools you have for sharing the Gospel. No one can argue with what God has done in your life. They might question your theology or challenge your interpretations of Scripture, but they cannot deny your personal experience with Christ. This is why the psalmist wrote:

Psalm 66:16: Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me.

The psalmist understood something important—personal testimony has unique power to draw others to God. When you share what God has done in your life, you’re following a pattern that goes back thousands of years.

We see this principle demonstrated clearly in the story of the man who was born blind and received his sight from Jesus:

John 9:24-25: A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.” He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

The religious leaders were trying to trap this man with theological arguments and trick questions. They wanted him to analyze Jesus’ methods and make judgments about His character. But the man who had been healed kept bringing the conversation back to his personal experience. He couldn’t answer all their questions, but he could testify to what had happened to him. His simple statement—”I was blind but now I see”—was more powerful than any theological debate.

Another dramatic example comes from the man who had been possessed by demons:

Mark 5:18-20: As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” So the man went away and began to tell in the Ten Cities how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

This man wanted to follow Jesus and become one of His disciples. Instead, Jesus gave him a different assignment: go home and tell your story. The man had been completely transformed from a wild, dangerous person whom everyone feared into someone who was “dressed and in his right mind.” His testimony about what Jesus had done for him was so powerful that it amazed everyone who heard it.

Your testimony doesn’t have to be dramatic to be effective. Maybe you weren’t blind or demon-possessed, but if you have trusted Christ as your Savior, you have been transformed from spiritual death to spiritual life. You have been forgiven of your sins and given eternal hope. You have experienced God’s love, peace, comfort, or guidance in ways that others need to hear about.

Notebook Moment: If someone asked you to share in just a few sentences how Jesus has changed your life, what would you say? Take a moment to think about your own story of God’s grace.

Your story is unique because God’s work in your life is unique. The comfort He gave you during a difficult loss, the peace He provided during a time of anxiety, the way He answered a specific prayer, the changes He has made in your character—these are all parts of your testimony that can point others to the same God who wants to work in their lives.

When you share your testimony, keep it simple and focused on what God has done rather than on your own failures or achievements. Like the blind man, you can say, “I don’t have answers to every question, but I know what Jesus has done for me.” This kind of honest, personal sharing often opens hearts in ways that arguments never could.

Reach Those Around You

The third principle for effective Gospel sharing is often overlooked, but it’s essential: start with those around you. God has strategically placed you in your family, neighborhood, workplace, and community for a purpose. The people who already know you and have observed your life are often the most open to hearing about your faith.

Jesus Himself understood this principle. When He told His disciples they would be His witnesses, He gave them a specific order of outreach:

Acts 1:8: But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Notice the progression: Jerusalem first (their immediate community), then Judea (their broader region), then Samaria (neighboring areas), and finally to the ends of the earth. This shows us that effective evangelism often starts close to home and expands outward.

Your witness should begin with your daily life and relationships. As Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount:

Matthew 5:16: In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

When people observe authentic Christian living, they often become curious about the source of that light. This sets the stage for natural conversations about your faith.

We see this principle beautifully illustrated in the story of Andrew, one of Jesus’ first disciples:

John 1:40-42: Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).

Notice what Andrew did immediately after meeting Jesus—he went to find his brother. He didn’t wait until he had more training or felt more qualified. He didn’t look for strangers to evangelize in distant places. He went to the person closest to him and shared the most important discovery of his life. Because Andrew reached out to his own brother, Simon Peter became one of the greatest leaders in the early church.

Another powerful example is found in the story of Lydia, a businesswoman who became one of the first converts in Europe:

Acts 16:14-15: One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

Lydia’s response to the Gospel was immediate and practical. After she and her household were baptized, she opened her home to Paul and his companions. Her house became a center for the growing church in Philippi. Through her hospitality and relationships, she created space for others to hear the Gospel and respond to God’s call.

Both Andrew and Lydia show us that relationships and open invitations—welcoming people into our lives, homes, or community—are powerful ways God draws others to Himself. When people see authentic Christian love and fellowship, they often become curious about the source of that love.

Your sphere of influence might include family members who have watched your life for years. It includes coworkers who see how you handle stress and treat others. It includes neighbors who observe your daily choices and attitudes. It includes friends who know your character and values. These people already have a relationship with you, which gives you credibility when you share about your faith.

Sometimes we think we need to travel to foreign countries or approach complete strangers to be effective witnesses. While God certainly calls some people to those ministries, most of us are called to start right where we are. Your family members, friends, neighbors, and coworkers are your mission field. They are the people God has given you the greatest opportunity to influence for Christ.

Hospitality, like Lydia’s, can be a powerful form of evangelism. When you invite people into your home, share meals with them, and show them genuine Christian love, you create opportunities for natural conversations about faith. People are often more open to spiritual discussions in the relaxed atmosphere of a home than they would be in more formal settings.

Notebook Moment: Who are the people in your immediate circle—family, friends, neighbors, coworkers—who don’t yet know Christ? How might God want to use your existing relationships to reach them with His love?

The beauty of reaching those around you is that it doesn’t require special training or complicated programs. It simply requires being authentic about your faith in the relationships God has already given you. When people see that your faith makes a real difference in how you live, love, and handle life’s challenges, they naturally become interested in learning more about the God who gives you such peace and purpose.

Conclusion

The apostle Paul perfectly captures both the urgency and the privilege of sharing the Gospel in his letter to the Romans:

Romans 10:13-15: For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Paul’s logic is clear: People cannot call on Jesus unless they believe in Him. They cannot believe unless they hear about Him. They cannot hear unless someone tells them. That someone is you and me. Paul calls the feet of those who bring good news “beautiful” because they carry the most important message in the world.

The three principles we have studied are not complicated strategies requiring years of training. They are simple, biblical approaches any believer can use. The servant girl, the Samaritan woman, the blind man, Andrew, and Lydia were ordinary people who made extraordinary impact by faithfully sharing what God had given them.

You may not feel qualified to share the Gospel, but if you know Jesus as your Savior, you are qualified. You know the most important truth in the universe. You have your own story of God’s work in your life. You have relationships with people who need this life-changing message.

God is not looking for perfect messengers; He is looking for faithful ones. The Gospel you carry has power to transform lives and give eternal hope. Will you ask Him for opportunities to share what you know, tell what He has done for you, and reach those around you with His love?

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