Sharing the Gospel of Jesus: How Sharing Your Faith Deepens Your Intimacy With God
Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ is more than an evangelism strategy—it is an overflow of a growing relationship with God. When you know Jesus personally, love Him deeply, and experience His presence in your own life, you naturally want others to know Him too.
Christian evangelism is not simply about convincing people to become Christians. It is about telling others the good news of Jesus Christ, explaining what He has done for us, and inviting people into a relationship with God.
For many Christians, sharing the Gospel can feel intimidating. We may wonder what to say, how people will respond, or whether we know enough about the Bible. But God does not call us to have all the answers. He calls us to be faithful witnesses.
As your intimacy with God grows, your desire to share Jesus can grow with it.
Sharing your faith can actually become one of the ways your relationship with Jesus becomes deeper, stronger, and more purposeful.
What Does It Mean to Share the Gospel?
The word Gospel means "good news." The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the good news that God loves us, that Jesus died for our sins, that He rose from the dead, and that through faith in Him we can be reconciled to God and receive eternal life.
The Apostle Paul summarized the heart of the Gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:3–4:
"Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures."
Sharing the Gospel means communicating this good news with others.
It can happen in many different ways:
- Telling someone how you came to know Jesus
- Explaining what Jesus has done in your life
- Sharing Bible verses with someone who needs encouragement
- Talking about God's forgiveness and grace
- Inviting someone to church or Bible study
- Answering someone's questions about Christianity
- Praying with someone
- Sharing your testimony
- Simply demonstrating the love of Christ through your actions
Evangelism does not always require standing in front of a crowd. Sometimes sharing the Gospel happens over a cup of coffee, during a conversation with a friend, at work, with a neighbor, or while helping someone who is hurting.
Evangelism begins with a willingness to make Jesus known.
Why Should Christians Share the Gospel?
Jesus gave His followers a clear command to make disciples.
In Matthew 28:19–20, Jesus said:
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations."
This is commonly called the Great Commission.
Jesus did not give this command only to pastors, missionaries, evangelists, or Bible teachers. Every follower of Jesus is called to be His witness.
Acts 1:8 says:
"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses."
Notice that Jesus calls His followers witnesses.
A witness tells what he or she knows.
You do not need to know everything about theology to tell someone what Jesus has done in your life.
You can say:
"This is what Jesus has done for me."
Your personal testimony can be one of the most powerful ways you share the Gospel.
Sharing the Gospel Begins With Knowing Jesus
One of the most important connections between evangelism and intimacy with God is this:
We cannot effectively share the person of Jesus if we are not personally pursuing Jesus ourselves.
Christianity is not primarily about following a list of religious rules. Christianity is about knowing God through Jesus Christ.
Jesus said in John 17:3:
"And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."
Notice the word know.
Jesus describes eternal life in terms of knowing God.
This is the heart of intimacy with God.
As you spend time with God through prayer, worship, Scripture, obedience, and fellowship with Him, you become increasingly familiar with His character, His heart, His voice, and His ways.
And the more you know Jesus, the more you have to share with others.
Intimacy With God Produces a Desire to Share Jesus
When something wonderful happens in your life, you naturally want to tell someone about it.
The same principle applies spiritually.
When you experience God's forgiveness, you want others to know about forgiveness.
When you experience God's love, you want others to know they are loved.
When God answers prayer, you want to tell someone.
When Jesus changes your life, you want others to experience that transformation.
The early disciples demonstrated this principle.
After Peter and John were ordered not to speak about Jesus, they responded:
"For we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard."
Their relationship with Jesus produced boldness.
When you become captivated by Jesus, sharing Jesus becomes more natural.
Sharing Your Testimony: One of the Best Ways to Share the Gospel
Your testimony is the story of what God has done in your life.
You do not have to have a dramatic conversion story to have a powerful testimony.
Your testimony might include:
- What your life was like before you truly knew Jesus
- How you came to understand the Gospel
- How you placed your faith in Jesus
- How Jesus has changed your life
- What your relationship with God means to you today
Your testimony points beyond yourself.
The goal is not:
"Look how good I am."
The goal is:
"Look what Jesus has done."
Revelation 12:11 speaks of believers overcoming through "the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony."
Your story matters because God has been writing His story in your life.
How to Share Your Testimony Effectively
A simple testimony can be structured around three questions:
1. What was my life like before Jesus?
Briefly explain what you were searching for, struggling with, or misunderstanding.
2. How did I encounter Jesus?
Explain how you came to understand the Gospel and put your faith in Christ.
3. How is my life different because of Jesus?
Describe how Jesus has changed your relationship with God, your priorities, your identity, your hope, or your way of living.
Keep the focus on Jesus.
Your testimony does not need to be perfect.
It needs to be authentic.
Sharing the Gospel Through Relationships
One of the most effective forms of evangelism is relational evangelism.
People are often more willing to listen to someone they know and trust.
Think about the people God has already placed around you:
- Family members
- Friends
- Neighbors
- Coworkers
- Classmates
- Members of your church
- People in your community
- People you encounter regularly
You don't necessarily need to go looking for strangers.
God may already have placed people in your life who need to hear about Jesus.
This is why your relationship with God matters so much.
As you walk closely with Jesus, you can begin asking:
"Lord, who do You want me to reach?"
Prayer changes the way we see people.
Instead of seeing people merely as coworkers, neighbors, customers, or strangers, we begin seeing them as people who are deeply loved by God.
Pray Before You Share Your Faith
One of the most important principles of effective evangelism is prayer.
Before talking with someone about Jesus, pray.
Ask God to:
- Give you opportunities to share the Gospel
- Give you courage
- Give you wisdom
- Give you compassion
- Help you listen
- Give you the right words
- Prepare the other person's heart
- Open doors for meaningful conversations
- Help you represent Jesus accurately
Paul asked believers to pray for opportunities to share the Gospel.
Colossians 4:3 says:
"At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word."
Evangelism is not something we have to accomplish through our own strength.
We cooperate with what God is already doing.
The Holy Spirit and Sharing the Gospel
Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would empower His followers to be witnesses.
Acts 1:8 says:
"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses."
This is an important truth for Christians who are afraid of evangelism.
You are not expected to save anyone.
God saves.
You are called to faithfully communicate the Gospel.
The Holy Spirit is the One who convicts hearts and draws people toward God.
Your responsibility is faithfulness.
God's responsibility is the result.
This takes enormous pressure off the believer.
You do not have to force someone to believe.
You do not have to win every argument.
You do not have to have an answer to every objection.
You simply need to faithfully point people toward Jesus.
How to Share the Gospel With Someone Who Is Not a Christian
There are many approaches to evangelism, but the basic message of the Gospel remains the same.
God Created Us
We were created by God and for relationship with Him.
Human beings were designed to know, love, worship, and enjoy God.
Sin Separated Us From God
Sin has broken our relationship with God.
Romans 3:23 says:
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
We cannot fix our sin problem through our own goodness or religious effort.
Jesus Died for Our Sins
God demonstrated His love by sending Jesus Christ.
Jesus lived a sinless life, died on the cross for our sins, and took upon Himself the punishment we deserved.
Jesus Rose From the Dead
The Gospel does not end with the cross.
Jesus physically rose from the dead.
His resurrection demonstrates His victory over sin and death and confirms the hope of eternal life.
We Respond Through Faith
The Gospel calls us to repent and believe in Jesus.
Romans 10:9 teaches:
"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
The Gospel is an invitation to reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ.
You Don't Have to Be a Bible Expert to Share Jesus
Many Christians hesitate to evangelize because they think:
"I don't know enough."
But you don't have to know everything.
You can start with what you do know.
You know what Jesus has done in your life.
You can share Scripture.
You can explain the Gospel.
And when someone asks a question you cannot answer, you can honestly say:
"I don't know, but I'd love to look into that with you."
That response can actually create a deeper conversation.
Evangelism is not a competition.
You don't need to prove that you're smarter than someone else.
You are inviting someone to discover Jesus.
How Intimacy With God Gives You Courage to Share Your Faith
Fear is one of the greatest barriers to evangelism.
We may fear:
- Rejection
- Being judged
- Looking foolish
- Not knowing what to say
- Being asked difficult questions
- Losing a friendship
- Being misunderstood
But intimacy with God changes our source of confidence.
Our confidence doesn't come from our ability.
It comes from knowing the One we represent.
When you spend time with Jesus, your identity becomes increasingly rooted in Him rather than in the opinions of other people.
Galatians 1:10 challenges us to consider whose approval matters most.
The closer you become to Jesus, the more you can say:
"I want to please God more than I want everyone to approve of me."
That kind of intimacy produces spiritual courage.
Sharing the Gospel Is an Expression of Love
Evangelism should never be motivated by pride, superiority, or condemnation.
It should be motivated by love.
Jesus looked at people with compassion.
When we truly understand how much God loves us, we begin to see others differently.
John 3:16 begins:
"For God so loved the world..."
The Gospel itself is a message of God's love.
Sharing the Gospel is therefore an opportunity to communicate God's love to people who desperately need hope.
We should never treat unbelievers as projects.
They are people.
People created in God's image.
People whom God loves.
People who need Jesus.
Love People Before You Try to Change Them
Effective evangelism begins with genuine care.
Listen to people's stories.
Ask questions.
Learn about their experiences.
Understand their questions.
Don't immediately turn every conversation into a debate.
Jesus often asked questions.
He listened.
He interacted with people personally.
He met people where they were.
When people know that you genuinely care about them, conversations about spiritual things can become much more natural.
Build relationships, demonstrate love, listen well, and look for opportunities to point people toward Jesus.
Sharing the Gospel Through Your Life
Your words matter.
But your life matters too.
Jesus said:
"Let your light shine before others."
Our behavior should support our message.
If we tell people that Jesus transforms lives but consistently demonstrate hatred, pride, dishonesty, bitterness, or hypocrisy, our actions can undermine our words.
This doesn't mean Christians must be perfect.
We won't be.
Instead, we should be people who honestly acknowledge our need for God's grace.
A powerful testimony can sometimes sound like:
"I don't have it all together. But Jesus is changing me."
Your dependence on Christ can itself become part of your witness.
Evangelism and Spiritual Growth
An often-overlooked benefit of sharing your faith is that it can strengthen your own spiritual life.
When you begin talking about Jesus with other people, you may find yourself wanting to:
- Read the Bible more deeply
- Understand Scripture better
- Pray more consistently
- Know God's character
- Understand the Gospel more clearly
- Become more sensitive to the Holy Spirit
- Grow in spiritual maturity
- Depend more deeply on God
Why?
Because evangelism forces us to move beyond simply consuming spiritual information.
We begin putting our faith into action.
Sharing Jesus can move us from spiritual spectators to active participants in God's mission.
Sharing the Gospel Helps You Know Jesus More Deeply
There is a beautiful connection between evangelism and intimacy with God.
When you share Jesus with someone, you are forced to think about what you actually believe.
Why do you believe Jesus is Lord?
What does the cross mean to you?
Why do you trust God?
What has Jesus done in your life?
Why does eternal life matter?
Why do you believe the Bible?
Why does Jesus matter to you personally?
These questions can deepen your relationship with God.
Evangelism can therefore become part of discipleship.
As you talk about Jesus, you discover more about Jesus.
As you depend on the Holy Spirit, you learn to recognize His leading.
As you pray for people, your heart becomes more aligned with God's heart.
The Connection Between the Great Commission and Intimacy With God
The Great Commission is not disconnected from intimacy with God.
In fact, the two belong together.
Jesus said:
"Go and make disciples."
But we cannot make disciples of someone we aren't following ourselves.
Before we can effectively invite people into a relationship with Jesus, we need to be pursuing our own relationship with Him.
This creates a healthy spiritual pattern:
Know Jesus → Love Jesus → Follow Jesus → Share Jesus → Help Others Follow Jesus
Intimacy with God fuels mission.
Mission sends us back into deeper dependence upon God.
The two reinforce each other.
What If Someone Rejects the Gospel?
Not everyone will respond positively.
Some people will reject your message.
Others may disagree.
Some may become defensive.
Jesus Himself experienced rejection.
Your responsibility is not to control another person's response.
Your responsibility is to faithfully represent Christ.
Paul planted.
Apollos watered.
But God gave the growth.
This is a liberating truth.
You can love people without controlling them.
You can share the Gospel without forcing anyone to accept it.
You can remain faithful even when someone says no.
Pray for them.
Continue loving them.
Leave the door open.
And trust God.
How to Become More Comfortable Sharing Your Faith
If evangelism makes you nervous, start small.
Start With Prayer
Ask God to place someone on your heart.
Start With Your Story
Practice explaining how Jesus has changed your life in two or three minutes.
Start With Questions
Ask people what they believe about God, faith, Jesus, or spirituality.
Start With Listening
Don't rush to speak.
Listen carefully.
Start With One Person
You don't need to evangelize an entire city.
Begin with one person God has placed in your life.
Start With Scripture
Become familiar with several key passages about salvation, God's love, sin, grace, faith, and eternal life.
Start Where You Are
You don't need to wait until you're "ready."
Begin taking small steps of obedience.
Bible Verses About Sharing the Gospel
Scripture contains many powerful passages about evangelism and sharing our faith.
Matthew 28:19–20 — The Great Commission
Jesus commands His followers to make disciples of all nations.
Mark 16:15 — Preach the Gospel
Jesus tells His disciples to proclaim the Gospel to all creation.
Acts 1:8 — Be My Witnesses
Jesus promises the power of the Holy Spirit so His followers can be witnesses.
Romans 1:16 — Not Ashamed of the Gospel
Paul declares that he is not ashamed of the Gospel because it is the power of God for salvation.
Romans 10:14–15 — People Need to Hear
Paul explains the importance of proclaiming the Gospel so people can hear and believe.
1 Peter 3:15 — Be Ready to Give an Answer
Believers are instructed to be prepared to explain the hope they have in Christ with gentleness and respect.
Colossians 4:5–6 — Speak With Grace
Paul encourages Christians to walk wisely toward outsiders and let their speech be gracious.
2 Corinthians 5:20 — Ambassadors for Christ
Paul describes believers as ambassadors for Christ, appealing to others to be reconciled to God.
How Prayer and Evangelism Work Together
Prayer is not merely preparation for evangelism.
Prayer is evangelism.
When you pray for someone, you are bringing that person before the throne of God.
You can pray:
"Lord, reveal Yourself to them."
"Help them understand the Gospel."
"Remove anything that is preventing them from seeing You."
"Give me an opportunity to talk with them."
"Give me wisdom and love."
"Help me represent Jesus well."
"Prepare their heart."
Prayer changes us as much as it changes the situation.
When you regularly pray for people who don't know Jesus, God can develop His compassion for them within your heart.
You begin to see people through God's eyes.
That is another expression of intimacy with God.
Hearing God's Voice and Sharing Your Faith
As your relationship with God grows, you may become increasingly sensitive to the ways He leads you.
Perhaps you feel prompted to call someone.
Perhaps you suddenly remember someone who is struggling.
Perhaps an unexpected conversation opens a door to talk about faith.
Perhaps someone asks you a spiritual question you didn't expect.
We should always test what we believe we are hearing against Scripture and God's revealed character.
But we should also remain attentive to the Holy Spirit's leading.
Sometimes evangelistic opportunities appear unexpectedly.
Stay spiritually awake.
Ask:
"Lord, is there someone You want me to encourage today?"
What Does a Life of Evangelism Look Like?
A life of evangelism doesn't necessarily mean preaching sermons every day.
It means living with an awareness that you represent Jesus wherever you go.
At work.
At home.
At church.
In your neighborhood.
Online.
While traveling.
During ordinary conversations.
You begin asking:
"How can I reflect Jesus here?"
"Is there an opportunity to encourage someone?"
"Can I pray for this person?"
"Is God opening a door for me to talk about Jesus?"
Evangelism becomes less of an event and more of a lifestyle.
Sharing Jesus Should Flow From Your Relationship With God
The healthiest motivation for evangelism is not guilt.
It is love.
You don't share Jesus because you are trying to earn God's approval.
You share Jesus because you already know His love.
You don't evangelize to prove that you are a good Christian.
You evangelize because Jesus has become precious to you.
You don't share the Gospel because you are better than other people.
You share because you recognize that you are also dependent upon God's grace.
Intimacy with God changes evangelism from an obligation into an overflow.
When your heart is full of Jesus, it becomes natural to talk about Him.
A Simple Prayer for Becoming a Witness for Jesus
Lord Jesus,
Thank You for loving me and making a way for me to know God through You.
Help me grow deeper in my relationship with You.
Teach me to spend time with You in prayer, worship, and Your Word.
Give me Your heart for people who don't yet know You.
Open my eyes to the opportunities You place around me.
Give me courage to share the Gospel.
Give me wisdom to know what to say.
Help me listen with compassion.
Let my words and actions reflect Your love.
Holy Spirit, lead me and give me boldness.
Help me never be ashamed of Jesus.
Use my life, my testimony, my conversations, and my relationships to point people toward You.
Help me remember that You are responsible for the results.
I simply want to be faithful.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sharing the Gospel
What is the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
The Gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, rose from the dead, and offers forgiveness, reconciliation with God, and eternal life to those who repent and believe in Him.
Why should Christians share the Gospel?
Jesus commanded His followers to make disciples and be His witnesses. Sharing the Gospel is an expression of obedience and love.
Do I need to be a pastor or evangelist to share the Gospel?
No. Every Christian can share what they know about Jesus and tell others about His saving work.
How can I share the Gospel without being pushy?
Listen, ask questions, respect people, build genuine relationships, speak with gentleness, and look for natural opportunities to explain why Jesus matters to you.
What if I'm afraid to share my faith?
Pray for courage and remember that you are not responsible for controlling someone's response. Your responsibility is to faithfully represent Jesus.
How does evangelism relate to intimacy with God?
As your relationship with Jesus deepens, you develop a greater love for Him and a greater desire for others to know Him. Sharing the Gospel can also deepen your dependence on God through prayer, Scripture, and the Holy Spirit.
Can my testimony really make a difference?
Yes. Your testimony is a personal account of what God has done in your life. While God alone changes hearts, your story can help someone see what a relationship with Jesus looks like.
What should I do if someone asks a question I cannot answer?
Be honest. Say that you don't know, and offer to explore the question together. You don't have to have every answer to faithfully share Jesus.
Take the Next Step: Know Jesus and Share Jesus
Sharing the Gospel begins with a relationship.
If you want to become more effective at sharing Jesus with others, don't begin by simply learning more evangelism techniques.
Begin by drawing closer to Jesus.
Spend time with Him.
Read His Word.
Pray.
Worship.
Listen.
Obey.
Learn to recognize His voice.
Experience His grace.
Grow in His love.
And as your intimacy with God deepens, allow that relationship to overflow into the lives of the people around you.
The world doesn't simply need more religious arguments.
It needs people who genuinely know Jesus.
People who love God.
People who love others.
People who are willing to say:
"Let me tell you what Jesus has done for me."
Your relationship with Jesus is not meant to stop with you.
Know Him deeply. Love Him completely. Follow Him faithfully. And share Him boldly.
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The goal isn't simply to learn more about God.
The goal is to know God personally, love Him deeply, hear His voice, walk with Him daily, and experience a growing intimacy with Him.
Kevin Bart has been a follower of Jesus for over 40 years. Kevin has taught Bible study classes, small groups, and discipleship classes for many years. He developed Pursuing Intimacy With God(opens in new tab) Bible studies website and book after many years of seeking God and studying His word. Kevin and his wife Nancy have 3 sons and 2 precious grandchildren.
Kevin is a former business owner, and current international missions ministry leader with more than four decades of combined business and ministry experience. After building and running a successful business for 23 years, with God’s guidance and blessings, he sold his company to dedicate himself to full-time global missions.
For over 20 years, Kevin and his wife Nancy have led a self funded international missions ministry. Utilizing learned business and financial management skills, as well as knowledge and experience in travel points and miles, to date they have had more than 5o mission trips to 36 countries in the Caribbean, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.
After many years of studying the Bible and the Book of Revelation, and writing many Bible studies and articles, Kevin finally finished Unraveling The Mysteries of the Book Of Revelation(opens in new tab). Hopefully it will be a blessing to many people.
