Apicontent

Every day we have conversations about things such as sports, hobbies, health, diets, politics, finances, weather, shopping, family, children, pets—you name it.

I recently was at the airport, and standing next to me was a man in a suit who looked like he worked there. I asked him if he worked at the airport, and he told me he was a limousine driver. I asked him where he was from. He said Uzbekistan, and I asked, “What is the religion of Uzbekistan?” He said about 90 percent are Muslims, and about 10 percent are Russian Orthodox. It turned out that he was an agnostic. I shared the gospel with him and told him, “Of all the great religious leaders, Jesus is the only who declared He was God and that He would rise from the dead exactly three days after His crucifixion. Mohammed, Buddha, and Confucius are still in the grave, but Jesus’s tomb is empty. I’ve been in Christ’s tomb, and it’s empty.” He then asked, “Dave, did it take you three days to get out?” We laughed, and then I told him about Y-Jesus.com and that it has scholarly articles and videos such as “Did Jesus Rise from the Dead?” “Is Jesus God?” and many other related topics. He asked me if he could take a picture of my phone that showed the website Y-Jesus.com. My prayer is that he will find Jesus someday from this website. Asking questions shows a genuine interest and helps you understand people’s fears, hurts, concerns, and needs in life.

Be a Good Listener

James wrote, “Be quick to hear, slow to speak” (James 1:19). People are more inclined to listen to us and share our beliefs if we listen to them. Lee Strobel said, “Many times the best gift we can give our spiritually seeking friends is our time, a listening ear, and a caring heart.”

A recent Barna study states, “People of no faith are clear that they are looking for understanding, empathy, and belonging.” Some gospel presentations are like a sermon or a script that allows for little interaction with the person you are sharing Christ with. Let them talk, and consider asking when you do share, “Does this make sense to you?” or “What do you think?”

Expect people to throw out questions, but don’t be afraid to ask them questions in return. By asking questions, they may realize that their worldview is not based on rational arguments. Jesus was a master at asking questions. He would often ask them a question in return.

In Randy Newman’s book Questioning Evangelism is a chapter called “Why Are Questions Better Than Answers?” Newman said, “It’s uncanny how often our Lord answered a question with a question.” Newman encourages the use of questions more than direct answers. In fact, Jesus used a mix of probing and rhetorical questions when talking to people. When people questioned his authority, Jesus said, “I will ask you a question, and you tell Me; Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?” (Luke 20:3–4).

Informational Questions

“Who do people say I am?” (Mark 8:27, 29 NIV). “Who do you say I am?” Jesus asked the Samaritan woman at the well. “Will you give me a drink?” (John 4:7 NIV). He then spoke to her about salvation.

Discerning Questions

“And [Jesus] asked them, ‘How many loaves do you have?’ They said, ‘Seven’” (Mark 8:5). We may ask in a given situation, “What do you think?”

Corresponding Questions

“[Jesus] answered them, ‘What did Moses command you?’” (Mark 10:3). Jesus said, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” (Luke 10:26 ESV). You can ask a person to read a scripture such as Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8–9, or Revelation 3:20. Then ask them what they think it means. Bill Fay in Share Jesus without Fear asks the person to read the scripture aloud and then asks them, “What does this say or mean to you?”

Conversational Questions

1. Do you have any kind of spiritual belief? At what point are you in your spiritual journey in life? Do you go to church anywhere?
2. When you and I leave this planet, what do you think is on the other side?
3. Do you believe that God exists and that you can know Him personally?
4. Do you consider yourself a good person?
5. What role, if any, has God ever played in your life?
6. Do you ever wonder about life after death?
   Questions Relating to Heaven
   • On a scale of 1 to 100, how would you rate your certainty of going to heaven?
   • What do you think are the general entrance requirements into heaven?
   • If you were to die tonight, how sure are you that you would go to heaven?
   • If you were to die tonight and God were to ask you, “Why should I let you into heaven?” what would you say to God?
7. Has anyone ever taken the time to explain how a personal relationship with God is possible?

Below are some questions to ask when people go through trials (from Randy Newman’s Questioning Evangelism):

1. What have you found helpful in handling such difficult things?
2. Do you have the kind of faith that has helped you deal with this?
3. Would you mind if I prayed with you right now?

Bill Fay’s book Share Jesus without Fear has five main questions he asks people to open up a conversation on spiritual matters.

1. Do you have any kind of spiritual belief? Do you ever think about spiritual things?
2. To you, who is Jesus Christ?
3. Do you think that there is a heaven or a hell? Do you ever ponder about life after death?
4. If you died, where would you go? If you say heaven, why would God let you in?
5. If what you believe is not true, would you want to know?

Emotional Questions

I’m sure you’ve had people ask you, “How’s your day going?” As you get to know people and show them that you care, sometimes they will open up and share what they’re going through.

We live in a culture where everyone is tied to their mobile devices and people are lonely and socially starved. The next time you are at a doctor’s office, at the airport, or in a restaurant, watch how many people are tied to their cell phones. Listening shows that you care. It allows you to understand more where they’re coming from and can be an entryway to the gospel.

Application: Write down 5–7 questions on a 3” x 5” card or in the box below so you can review it for a gospel conversation starter.

Be Humble and Positive

Paul said in Philippians 2:5, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond servant.” Humility and patience with people are important. Remember how you came to Christ. We have the most positive news to share with others.

Communicate the Message of Love.

Our motive for sharing the gospel is love. 2 Corinthians 5:14 (NIV) says, “The love of Christ compels us.” Our love for Christ should move us to share the gospel with those who don’t know Christ. Some people attribute this quote to St. Francis of Assisi: “Preach the gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words.” Some historians state there’s no evidence that St. Francis ever said this. No matter who said it, people need to know that God loves them.

“I am convinced that the greatest act of love we can ever perform for people is to tell them about God’s love for them in Christ.”—Billy Graham

A student named Steve Walker was sitting outside on the grass one day by himself, waiting for class to start at Cal Poly, Pomona, California. Two students from Cru walked up to him and asked if they could talk to him about something. He asked them what about, and they said, “Jesus.” That didn’t scare Steve because he had grown up in a very religious family, but he had been taught that Jesus died and suffered on the cross because he (Steve) was a bad person. He believed that God was always mad at him or sad because of his badness. The guilt and shame of his condition was so strong that he never felt there was any chance to please God or any chance that God would love him. These two fellow students shared the Four Spiritual Laws with Steve, and it was the first time he had heard that God loved him. It froze him in his tracks. The students asked Steve if he would like to accept Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, to have his sins forgiven and washed away, and have the Lord change him into the person God wanted him to be. Steve’s response was a combination of anger and disbelief—anger because no one had ever explained this to him in all his years of religion, and disbelief because he couldn’t imagine saying no to such an offer of God’s love and forgiveness, as well as God’s willingness to change him into a person who was pleasing to Him. Steve prayed to receive God’s offer of love and forgiveness. One week later, Steve was walking around campus with the same two students, asking other students if he could talk to them about Jesus. Steve soon got involved in discipleship, and a few months later, he left his engineering major and his college and transferred to a Bible college to study to become a pastor. Eventually, he started an amazing new church that has grown to nearly 5,000 people in Bothell, Washington, and has many amazing ministries that impact people for Christ.

Love in Action

In Matthew, Jesus said we are to love God with all our being. He added, “The second [commandment] is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matthew 22:39 ESV). The gospel message becomes more receptive when we demonstrate God’s love in sacrificial ways. Words coupled with love have a great impact.

We are to be salt and light in the world. “You are the salt of the earth. . . . You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house” (Matthew 5:13–15 ESV).

In 2007, my niece Rebecca Pratt started a ministry called Orphan Relief and Rescue to get children out of human trafficking and domestic abuse in Benin and Liberia, West Africa (a stronghold of voodoo and witchcraft practices). The ministry has rescued hundreds of children who were sold into slavery. Initially, the team decided not to share that they were Christian missionaries because their lives could be at risk. They built friendships, and in time, the parents wanted to know why they were helping their children. The team shared with them the love of Christ, and many parents and children embraced Jesus as their Savior. Orphan Relief and Rescue headquarters is located in Burien, Washington, and can be found online with more details of its ministry.

Lee Strobel writes, “Is there an elderly widow down the block . . . or a junior high student who’s looking for someone to shoot baskets with . . . or a single mother who could use a babysitter for her two children . . . or a colleague who’s going through a divorce. Someone said, ‘People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.’”

Show an Interest in People’s Lives

Recently I returned an item at Home Depot. I asked the cashier in the return section what her name was. She was from India and was a Hindu. She said her name was Kshama. Then she wrote it on a Home Depot business card and gave it to me. She asked, “Do you know what my name means?” I said no. She said it means “forgive me.” I then explained to her that Jesus forgave us at the cross of all our sins when He said, “It is finished” (John 19:30 ESV). She said she had never heard the gospel before. I went back to my car and got her a gospel tract on heaven and the Gospel of John, and she thanked me.

When I occasionally strike up a conversation with someone with tattoos, I ask them the significance of the tattoo and then try to somehow connect that to the gospel.

Offer to Pray

I was working out at a local fitness facility and met a Hindu man named Ranga who was 79 years old. I gave him a booklet my brother wrote called “Why Jesus? Have You Considered Him?” Ranga read the booklet, and then we often talked about what it said. He has lung fibrosis with scarring of the lungs. I asked him if I could pray for him, and he agreed. I touched his shoulder as I prayed for him, and I saw that my prayer touched his heart. Soon after, I gave Ranga the book More Than a Carpenter by Josh Mc Dowell. Ranga texted me, “I am reading the book that you gave me; a page every day.” Then he noted, “I am the way (John 14:6); Jesus claimed to be the visible expression of God (John 14:9). Jesus is the true manifestation of God himself. . . . Blessed is the one that can surrender with unconditional faith and devotion.” The last time I saw Ranga at the fitness facility, he gave me a big hug. I plan on helping him download a Bible app and giving him a copy of the New Testament and a DVD on The Passion of the Christ movie. Ranga recently told me he now believes that Jesus is God.

Reaching Gen Zs and Millennials

Gen Zs were born from 1997 through 2012, and Millennials were born between 1981 and 1996. A large percentage of Millennials and almost 50 percent of Gen Zs are religiously unaffiliated (the “nones”), which means they have walked away from the church. Barna research indicates that over 30 percent of Millennials identify as LGBTQ. In Not Beyond Reach, Aaron Pierce writes, “We can’t wait for people to come to us (church); we have to go to them. . . . We need to learn to share the gospel in ways they will understand.” The global youth culture is based on secular humanism, naturalistic evolution, Eastern religious spirituality, and a religion of self.

Jon Sween has a ministry to Gen Zs in the greater Seattle area. He offers this advice in reaching Gen Zs for Christ:

• Pray for an opportunity to connect with Gen Z young adults (Romans 10:1).
• Listen and ask good questions.
• Be a friend and love them.
• Read Not a Hopeless Case by Halee Gray Scott on Gen Z.

Look for Divine Appointments

When you pray for divine appointments to share your faith, expect that the Lord will open doors for you to share. The enemy of evangelism is often because our schedules are too full. Make time in your schedule for people. Jesus was often interrupted by people, but He always took time to minister to their needs. Ask the Lord to show you how you can be more available to the needs of non-believers.

I like Kevin Harney’s suggestion in Organic Outreach to have a “thirty-second rule” where you say a quick prayer to the Lord such as “Lord, here I am. I’m ready to scatter the seed of your gospel.” Then ask yourself, “How might I extend the love of God and the grace of Jesus in this situation?” This is great advice!

Our son Matt and his wife, Amy, joined the ministry of Church Resources Ministries (CRM) in New Orleans and later decided to move to Columbia City, a highly ethnic area of Seattle, Washington. They intentionally chose to live and serve in this area where more than 60 languages were spoken. Matt is now a successful Realtor in the greater Seattle area. Recently he was the recipient of the Good Neighborhood Award for his donations to local ministries such as World Relief, Orphan Relief and Rescue, and other ministries that reach out with the gospel. God has placed us in our work, recreation, and neighborhood to impact those around us with the gospel. Where has God placed you to live, work, and impact others with the gospel?

Be Gracious and Tactful

Share with others as you would have wanted to be shared with before you came to Christ. Colossians 4:6 (ESV) says, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

1 John 4:7 says, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” God’s infinite love extends to both the believer and the non-believer.

Warren Wiersbe in his book Being a Servant of God says, “Ministry takes place when divine resources meet human needs through loving channels to the glory of God.”

Avoid Being Offensive

In 2022, the Seattle Mariners baseball team was celebrating its first playoff game in 21 years. A friend of mine at church and I decided to pass out tracts at the game, but when we arrived at the Mariners’ stadium, some men with large banners and loudspeakers were telling the crowd, “The Lord hates all workers of iniquity. America declares its sin like Sodom and Gomorrah!” Most people were repelled by their approach.

God can use wrong motives and methods to reach people, but we need to build a bridge for people, not burn one (Philippians 1:15–18). We need to season the gospel with grace and avoid being offensive. The gospel is good news!

Talk about Jesus

The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. During the start of NFL training camp, the legendary and Hall of Fame football coach Vince Lombardi walked into the locker room of the Green Bay Packers, picked up a football, and said, “Gentlemen, this is a football.” Greg Laurie’s advice is to “keep the main thing the main thing. And the main thing is the gospel faithfully delivered.”

The basics of the gospel can be found in 1 Corinthians 2:3 (ESV) where Paul said, “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” It’s important not to get off on tangents but to focus on Christ, who He is, and what He did for us.

Paul Little in his book How to Give Away Your Faith suggests, “In presenting the claims of Christ, it is helpful to use the words of Jesus where possible.”

Be Yourself, and Keep It Simple

When I first became a Christian, I memorized a gospel presentation by Dave Hunt, a Christian author and radio commentator. Staff members of Cru were also required to memorize Bill Bright’s 20-minute gospel presentation called “God’s Plan.” These gospel presentations were more for giving a speech than interacting with a person or sharing a simple gospel presentation. You don’t need a script to share Christ.

Let God use your natural personality to talk about Jesus. Most people are not gifted salespeople and don’t have the gift of gab. Keep it simple and trust the Lord for the results.

Mark Mittelberg writes, “Take a deep breath, say a quick prayer, open your mouth, and let it fly . . . and watch God work.”

It’s a Team Effort

Look for ways to supplement your witnessing efforts such as inviting your friends to church or a small group to meet other believers; giving them a book; or sharing a blog, a YouTube video, a podcast, or a link to a website. I shared Christ to an Uber driver in Arizona and showed him the Bible app where he can listen audibly to God’s Word. He said, “Great! I need to start listening to something other than the news.” He thanked me and added the Bible app to his mobile device.

Your personal testimony is one of the greatest tools you have when you share the gospel. People like stories, especially ones that are true. Stories emotionalize information. Jesus often told stories (parables).

No persuasive argument will ever be a substitute for your personal testimony. To be an effective witness, you simply need to tell others what you have seen, heard, and experienced with Jesus (1 John 1:1–3). The famous apologist Josh McDowell said that when he gives his personal testimony and someone asks him how he knows it’s true, his answer is this: “I know it’s true because I was there.”

Recently, I was on a plane from Seattle to Phoenix, and the passenger next to me was a lady from New Zealand. She was in her early 50s and recently divorced. She had just been hired as a tennis instructor at a high-end resort in Scottsdale, Arizona. She had rarely attended church as a child, but she was very interested in talking to me about spiritual matters. I told her that I became a Christian at the age of 19, and she asked me, “How did that happen?” That gave me a wide-open door to share my personal testimony and the gospel with her, and she listened with keen interest. It was a divine appointment.

Examples of Personal Testimonies in Scripture

There are many instances of personal testimonies in Scripture. The woman at the well, for example, believed in the Lord and immediately began telling others about Christ. She went back to her city and said, “Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done” (John 4:29).

In Mark 5 after Jesus healed the Gerasene demoniac, He told the man, “‘Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you and how He had mercy on you.’ And he went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him” (Mark 5:19–20; Luke 8:39). In the book of John, Jesus healed the man who was born blind, and then the man testified to the skeptical religious leaders. “One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25). This was his personal testimony.

The Apostle Paul shared his personal testimony three times in the book of Acts (Acts 22:1–22; 26:12–18) to segue into the gospel. Paul’s testimony serves as a biblical model you can follow in developing your own personal testimony.

Your personal testimony, a subjective experience, is backed up by the objective evidence of the resurrection of Christ and the Word of God. Cults and false religions do not have this truth.

Greg Laurie wrote, “The point of sharing your story is so you can tell His story . . . we don’t want people marveling over our story, but over . . . the price that He paid because of His great love for us.”

Your Story

Practical Importance

A well-prepared personal testimony is a true story about how you met the Lord.

The Preparation

Prayerfully ask the Lord for wisdom (James 1:5) as you develop your personal testimony. Outline the main elements of your personal testimony.

The Main Elements in a Personal Testimony

A personal testimony has six main parts:

1. The opening: Think of a theme you can use to share your story.
2. Before you came to Christ: What your life was like before you met Christ.
3. How you realized your need for Christ.
4. After you became a Christian: The difference Jesus has made in your life.
5. The closing

The Opening

Look at “Some Personal Testimony Themes” at the end of this chapter and select the one that fits your life before coming to faith in Christ.

Before You Came to Christ

What was your life like before you met Christ? For example:

• What was lacking in your life?
• How did you attempt to meet what you were lacking—through wrong friends, marriage and family, work, sports, physical fitness, drugs, sex?
• Don’t brag about past sins or struggles. Share just enough to show your need for Christ.
• What common circumstances would a non-Christian relate to—attitudes, what was important to you, how you substituted God for something else?

How You Realized Your Need for Christ

What were the circumstances or details that caused you to consider Christ? Explain the events that led to your conversion. How did God get your attention? Be specific. If you became a Christian as a child, focus more on how Christ has made a difference in your life since you became a Christian at an early age.

After You Became a Christian

In the “Before You Came to Christ” section, you expressed your needs and how you did not find fulfillment. In this section, share how Christ made the difference in your life—how He met your needs. Emphasize the changes in your behavior or character since you received Christ. Share a scripture that was meaningful to you at that time. You may want to paraphrase the verse.

The Closing

End with a statement, a question, or a verse that summarizes your story and relates back to your theme, and that requires a response.

Tips on Sharing Your Story

Outline the main points on a 3” x 5” card. Keep it clear and simple (KISS method) and keep it short (2–3 minutes or 100 words or less).

• Ask for permission to share—“Would it be okay if I shared with you how God changed my life?”
• Be honest, positive, and joyful. Don’t lie or embellish. Be truthful.
• Don’t criticize a church or denomination.
• Consider practicing in front of a fellow believer for input.
• Be conversational—you are sharing, not preaching, your personal testimony.
• Use ordinary language—avoid religious jargon such as redeemed, saved, born again, justified, sanctified, baptized by the Holy Ghost, and so on.
• Include some humor and human interest.
• Highlight God’s presence and power in your life.
• Share before and after stories.
• Compare a life without purpose and direction to a life of deep meaning and purpose.
• Compare self-centeredness to a desire to be more giving and loving.
• Compare the fear of death to peace for the future.
• Compare loneliness to a sense of belonging.
• Compare addiction to something like drugs or pornography to freedom.
• You may have more than one testimony since the Lord is teaching you many things in your life with Him and maturing you in relationship with Him.
• Practice sharing your personal testimony with a friend.
• In your personal testimony, be clear how you received Christ, share the gospel, and invite them to respond.

Use the Testimony Worksheet to prepare your testimony.

Power Source #1: The Holy Spirit

Evangelism is about the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit who enables us to share the good news. The Holy Spirit is the One who causes a person to put their faith in Christ. In Acts 1:4, Jesus commanded His disciples to wait for what the Father had promised—to be endowed with power from the Holy Spirit. The Lord will never ask us to do something without giving us the resources to do it. Ephesians 5:18 says, “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit.”

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:4 (NKJV), “My message and preaching was not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” Whether you use a tract or simply share the gospel from your heart, you are to rely on the Holy Spirit. God uses ordinary people filled with extraordinary power to share the good news. All glory goes to the Lord when a person comes to Christ.

Bill Bright in his booklet “How You Can Be Filled with the Holy Spirit” explains how important it is to be controlled by the Holy Spirit when we share Christ with others.

It is Christ himself, living within you in all of his resurrection power . . . speaking with your lips— who will empower you with the Holy Spirit. It is not your wisdom, your eloquence, your logic, your good personality, or your persuasiveness that brings people to our Savior. First-century Christians, controlled and empowered by the Holy Spirit and filled with his love, turned the world upside down. As the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit, they received a divine, supernatural power that changed them from fearful men to radiant witnesses for Christ. They were used by God to change the course of history. And this same omnipotent power, the power of the Holy Spirit, is available to you to enable you to live a . . . fruitful life for Jesus Christ.

Jesus told His disciples that the Holy Spirit “will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8 NKJV). The Holy Spirit shows the non-Christians their need for Christ, and unless they repent of sin and accept Jesus as their Savior and refuge, they will face God’s judgment. Ask the Lord to fill you with the Holy Spirit and show you what steps to take as you share Christ with others, whether they are a neighbor, a relative, a coworker, or a friend.

Power Source #2: Prayer

Someone once said, “When we work, we work, but when we pray, God works.” Without prayer, evangelism is impotent. Author E. M. Bounds said, “Prayer is the mightiest agent to advance God’s work.”

The early church was a model for prayer. They prayed for 10 days and preached for 10 minutes, and 3,000 were saved (Acts 1–2). As Pastor J. D. Greear said, “Nowadays, we pray for 10 minutes, we talk for 10 days, and three people get saved.”

Prayer is an act of humility and aligns our hearts with God’s heart to open blind eyes and deaf ears to the gospel. What should we pray for?

Pray to Have a Heart for the Lost

Ask the Lord to forgive you for being apathetic toward the lost. Talk to the Lord and say, “Lord, please forgive me, and give me a heart for those who don’t know You.” Trust God, and step out in faith as you look for divine appointments. Paul told Philemon, “I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ” (Philemon 6 NIV).

Pray for Boldness

The greatest missionary who ever lived, the Apostle Paul, asked for prayer in Ephesians 6:19: “And pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel . . . that . . . I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”

John and Peter said, “Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to your servants that with all boldness they may speak your word” (Acts 4:29 NKJV).

When I was on staff with Cru, I was given the assignment of reaching the fraternities for Christ at UCLA. Fraternity life is often filled with sexual promiscuity, drunken behavior, and an anything-goes lifestyle. I prayed for boldness, and my team was able to share the gospel to 10 of the 11 fraternities. I claimed 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) where Paul said, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

Ralph Drollinger was on our outreach team to reach the fraternities for Christ. He was a 7’2” basketball player at UCLA, and when we walked into the fraternities, all the frat guys were impressed with his height. They would often walk up to Ralph and ask, “How’s the weather up there?” They listened to Ralph and our team as we presented the gospel. Ralph initially turned down a pro basketball contract in order to share Christ with thousands of college and semi-pro players while playing basketball for Athletes in Action. Today, he is a ministry leader with Capitol Ministries, leading Bible studies with members of Congress.

Pray for Open Doors and Divine Opportunities

Paul said in Colossians 4:3 (NKJV), “Meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word.” Open doors are divine opportunities bathed in prayer that produce fruit. In Acts 18:9–10 (ESV), the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.”

Crossroads Bible Church has this motto: Passionate Prayer. They have a Sunday morning prayer gathering before the first service, an online prayer ministry during both services, prayer after the services at the foot of the cross, corporate prayer on Tuesday evenings, monthly all-church worship and prayer, prayer in community groups, and prayer in the various ministries of the church.

Pray That Spiritual Eyes and Hearts Will Be Open to the Gospel

Ask the Lord that His Word will not return void (Isaiah 55:11). Pray for a person by name that they will understand the gospel.

“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:3–4). Satan’s main goal is to keep people locked in darkness and take as many people to hell as possible.

Pray that the non-believer will recognize their need for Christ much like the Samaritan woman at the well when she said to Jesus, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst” (John 4:15). Paul said, “Grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and . . . come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil” (2 Timothy 2:25–26).

Ask a non-Christian if you can pray for them. That shows compassion. At a restaurant, ask the waitress, “How are things going?” or “How is your day going?” People are often very receptive to being prayed for.

Pastor Kevin Harney in his book Organic Outreach suggests keeping the prayer simple when you pray for them. Use common language. Lift up their needs and joys, pray in Jesus’s name, and stay in touch. If you see them again, your compassion in praying for them may provide an open door for more spiritual conversations.

Pray That Satan Would Be Hindered from Stealing the Seed of the Gospel

Ephesians 6:10–13 says we are engaged in a spiritual battle. The weapons we fight with are not those of the world. Paul said, “For . . . the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses” (2 Corinthians 10:3–4).

Satan is on an all-out mission to hinder non-Christians, including your neighbors, your family, and your friends, from receiving Christ. He wants to do everything possible to convince believers that they are inadequate to share their faith.

Jesus said, “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart” (Matthew 13:19). As believers, we have the power of prayer, the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God to advance God’s kingdom and tear down strongholds.

Paul told King Agrippa that Jesus sent him to the Jewish people and the Gentiles “to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins” (Acts 26:18).

Prior to a Billy Graham Crusade in Washington state years ago, my friend Jim Hagensen and I went to a room for counselor training. Everyone was dressed conservatively, but one young man stood out. He was dressed in all white, had a shaved head, and looked like he had either just gotten out of jail, was on drugs, was the milkman, or had been in a hospital for cancer treatment. This man among 3,000 conservatively dressed trainees was suddenly in line right next to me. I tried to share the gospel with him, but he immediately fled as if something had beckoned him to leave. When our training session was over, we went to the foyer where hundreds of people were gathered. The security guards who had been interrogating him told us, “We’re absolutely convinced he is demon-possessed.” I believe this young man was dispatched by the enemy to disrupt the crusade’s training orientation.

Pray for Unsaved Family Members

Randy Newman in his book Bringing the Gospel Home writes, “Develop a system for prayer for your family.   Thank God for his love for each family member.” Realize that it may take a long time for a family member to come to Christ.

Dr. Howard Hendricks, President of Dallas Theological Seminary, prayed 42 years for his father, George Hendricks, to come to Christ. In a miraculous way, a chaplain led him to Christ.

Praying for your family is not a guarantee that everyone in your family will come to Christ. We need to rest in the fact that God is completely trustworthy and that He will wipe away every tear from our eyes in heaven.

Pray for Men and Women to Join the Lord’s Army of Witnesses for Christ

Jesus said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few: therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:37–38 ESV).

Pastor David Jeremiah said, “He is praying that your simple work for Him will bring souls into the kingdom and glory to the Father.”

Author and speaker Lee Strobel said, “Prayer isn’t just one more thing we can do. It’s the very best we can do.”

Pray for the lost. Pray that your family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors will be open to the gospel. Pray for divine opportunities and open doors to share the gospel with your unsaved friends and acquaintances. Write down the names of five people you want to see come to Christ:

Write down their needs, concerns, hobbies, and so on. Do they like sports, shopping, or movies? This will help you pray specifically for them and know possible ways to connect with them.

Power Source #3: God’s Word

There are two things in this world that are eternal: people and God’s Word.

Scripture Memory

My older brother was a new Christian at the age of 16. He would wake me up at 5:00 in the morning and ask me to quiz him on some of the 500 Bible verses he had recently memorized. Seven years later when I became a Christian, my brother was overseas traveling, and I had no one to disciple me. I thought to myself, what do I do now that I am a Christian? I decided to engage in scripture memory like my brother had. This was the most important spiritual discipline for my spiritual growth, and it gave me confidence in sharing my faith.

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus explains the parable of the sower. He said, “Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God” (Luke 8:11).

Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing as far as the division of the soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

When evangelist Bill Fay shares his faith, he often asks people to read some key Bible verses out loud. Then he asks, “What does this say to you?” He says there is something dynamic going on when people read God’s Word.

It is because of the work of the gospel through the Holy Spirit and God’s Word that a person can come to Christ. Martin Luther said the Bible is like a lion. If people criticize it, you don’t defend it; you let it out of its cage. The Holy Spirit will use God’s Word to show people their need for Christ (1 Peter 1:23).

Reason from God’s Word

Acts 17 says that on three sabbaths Paul “reasoned with them from the Scriptures” (Acts 17:25). He emphasized who Jesus is (the Messiah and God) and what Jesus did for them (suffer and rise from the dead).

Scripture Answers People’s Emptiness

People are often searching for meaning in their lives. Augustine said, “Thou hast made us for Thyself, O God, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in Thee.”

Ask someone, “Have you ever read the Bible for yourself?” Some will say yes; most will say no. You can follow up with a question such as this: “Do you know what the Bible’s main theme is?” Most will say no, and then you can share the gospel with them and how it addresses their deepest needs—pardon from sin, purpose for living, peace in life, sense of belonging, personal relationship with God, and eternal life. I like the five Ps that only Christ can provide for a person: Purpose (for living), Peace (with God), Pardon (from sin), Power (to live the Christian life), and a Place in heaven.

In Acts 8, an Ethiopian eunuch was reading a passage from Isaiah 53. Philip, the evangelist, asked him, “Do you understand what you are reading?” (Acts 8:30). Philip explained the gospel to him from God’s Word, and the eunuch came to faith in Christ.

God’s Word Gives Us Confidence

Memorizing a handful of Bible verses as it relates to the gospel is important. However, if you have difficulty memorizing scripture, you can use a gospel tract. You can also download a Bible app that you can refer to as you share your faith.

Here are some effective ways to memorize scripture:

1. Read the verse aloud several times.
2. Use notes or flashcards to write down key verses.
3. Review those verses daily.
4. Listen audibly as you read them out loud.
5. Pray for the Lord to help you memorize scripture.
6. Go to www.biblememory.com, and download the app.

Paul Nowak, Founder and CEO of IrisReading.com, says “Memorization serves as a workout for the brain. The brain is like a muscle that requires exercise for optimal functioning.” Pastor Dudley Rutherford, author of Compelled, states, “When you repeat important verses, they will be stored in your long-term memory just like the lyrics of your favorite songs.”

Jesus has given us all the resources to share the gospel, including the power of the Holy Spirit, the power of prayer, the power of the Word of God, and the power of His presence. We should focus not on what we can’t do but what we can do through Christ. He has given us everything we need to be an effective witness for Christ.

In “Next Steps” is a list of scriptures to memorize.

I’m an Atheist

An atheist believes that nothing × nobody = everything.

Sam Chan recommends Tim Keller’s book Making Sense of God because it focuses on the reasons we need to believe in the existence of God.

Anthony Flew, probably the most respected atheist of the last 100 years, changed from atheism after studying DNA and said, “I now believe that the universe was brought into existence by an infinite Intelligence. I believe that this universe’s intricate laws manifest what scientists have called the Mind of God.”

Norman Geisler’s book I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist wrote, “If there is no God, why is there something rather than nothing at all?

Years ago, I was canvassing a neighborhood for a new church plant. I knocked on the door of a home and introduced myself. The man at the front door stated, “We’re atheists. We don’t believe in God. Just make God appear right now on the front lawn, and I’ll believe. Go ahead, make Him appear!” I replied, “The universe is 15 billion light years in all directions, and you’re a dot in the universe. Is it possible that God could exist outside your realm of experience?” And he said yes. Then I said, “You’re not an atheist. You’d be an agnostic, and there are two kinds of agnostics. One says, ‘I don’t know, and I don’t care.’ The other one says, ‘I don’t know, but I’m willing to find out.’ Which one are you?” He said, “I don’t know, but I’m willing to find out.” I noticed that his countenance had dropped from one of arrogance to one of astonishment and humility. I began to share the gospel with him, but his common-law wife (the neighbors at the next door I knocked on told me they weren’t married) behind the door yelled, “Honey, it’s dinner time,” so I was unable to finish sharing the gospel with him. I gave him a tract, and I often wonder to this day if he ever pondered what I shared with him and if later on he came to Christ.

William Craig, an American philosopher and Christian apologist, has five powerful arguments for God and Christianity. I’ll use the acronym CAUSE.

C—CAUSE: Whatever begins to exist has a cause. The universe began to exist; therefore, the universe has a cause. Either no one created something out of nothing, or someone created something out of nothing. If you can’t believe that nothing caused something, then you don’t have enough faith to be an atheist.

A—ACCURACY: Design of the universe defies coincidence and shows there is an Intelligent Designer. Every design had a designer. The universe is highly complex in its design. Stephen Hawking wrote, “If the rate of expansion one second after the big bang had been smaller by even one part in a hundred thousand million million, the universe would have re-collapsed before it ever reached its present size.” The universe had a Designer.

U—UNIVERSAL MORALITY is evidence that there is a God. There must be a God to account for the sense of right and wrong that is universal to humankind.

S—SUBJECTIVE EXPERIENCE is that God can be known by those who seek Him. Your personal testimony is proof that God can be known and exists.

E—EMPTY TOMB and eyewitness accounts. Many atheists such as Josh McDowell, Lee Strobel, Simon Greenleaf, Frank Morison, and others became Christians by studying the resurrection of Christ. Read or watch “Did Jesus Rise from the Dead?“.

What About Those Who Have Never Heard about Jesus?

A guy named Mark mentioned to me that he had asked several people a question that no one could answer. Here was his question: “What about those who have never heard the gospel before? God won’t send them to hell, will he?” I could tell by the expression on his face after I answered his question that he had never heard the answer before. His ignorance, which was really arrogance, was self-imposed. He didn’t want to believe. He wanted to continue in his sinful lifestyle.

This question calls into question the justice and fairness of God. There are books, videos, and articles on this question, but the way I answer this question is by using the acrostic JUSTICE.

J—GOD IS JUST: Whatever God does, He does fairly and with perfect justice. Genesis 18:25 (NKJV) says, “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” People in general want justice. We all want justice, and when history comes to an end, everyone will see how perfect God’s justice is.

U—GOD’S LOVE IS UNCONDITIONAL and infinite. First John 4:8, says, “God is love.” He “desires all men to be saved” (1 Timothy 2:4). God longs for people to come to repentance and to return to Him. He wants heaven to be populated. “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9 NIV).

S—GOD HAS SHOWN all men that He exists by creation (Romans 1:19–20; Psalm 19:1–4) and by conscience (Romans 2:14–15; 1:19; John 1:9). Every person born into this world knows that there is a God by external means (creation) and by internal witness (their conscience). Every culture has a belief in gods or God. But what do people do with this knowledge that God exists? Most people suppress the truth of God (Romans 1:18–19).

T—TRANSGRESSED TERMS: Every person has sinned before a holy God in thought, word, and deed (Romans 3:23; James 2:10; Romans 3:10–12; James 4:17; Isaiah 64:6). They have also violated the moral standard written in their hearts, which is why their conscience bothers them when they violate that moral law. All stand guilty before the holy God of the universe.

I—INITIATE (CALL UPON) GOD: The Bible tells us that if a person wholeheartedly seeks God, they will find him. “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). Before Jesus came to earth, Abraham, Rahab, and others in the Old Testament put their faith in the one true God and His provision for their sins (Genesis 15:6; Joshua 2:9–11). God will move heaven and earth to see that a person comes to know God if they will earnestly seek Him.

In Dreams and Visions: Is Jesus Awakening the Muslim World? Tom Doyle shows how many Muslims are coming to Christ through spectacular dreams. The wise men in Matthew 2:1–12 followed the light God gave them (the star) and brought them to the Christ child. In Acts 10, Peter and Cornelius both had dreams, and Cornelius’ whole household came to Christ.

C—JESUS IS THE CATEGORICAL CURE: Jesus is the only way to salvation (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). People before Christ put their faith in a Messiah who would ultimately die for their sins. We look back to the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ as having paid for our sins on the cross.

E—EXPECT EXAMINATION: When you witness to a person who has clearly heard the gospel, the God of the universe will not ask them, “What about those who have never heard?” Rather, the Lord will show them the many ways He has tried to get their attention and will ask them, “What have you done with my Son, Jesus, who died for you and has paid the full price for your sins?”

Is Jesus Christ God?

Jesus never acquiesced to the idea that He was simply a great moral teacher.

Jesus Claimed to Be God

Many times, Jesus claimed to be God, the Creator of the universe. He said to Philip, “Whoever has seen Me, has seen the Father” (John 14:9 ESV).

Jesus claimed to be the great “I AM” (John 8:58), which infuriated the Jewish leaders of His day, and they sought to kill Him “because you, a mere man, have made yourself God” (John 10:33). His power over nature, disease, and death (Mark 4:41; John 9:1– 41) proved He was God.

Jesus Predicted His Resurrection from the Dead

No other great religious leader dared to predict that he would rise from the dead (John 2:19; John 11:25–26).

Examining the Alternatives

• Liar: How could the greatest moral teacher who ever lived be the greatest deceiver of all time, even among his closest friends?
• Lunatic: Psychologists state that Jesus had the most stable personality ever. When Jesus was being crucified, He exhibited great composure and poise, and uttered these words: “Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).
• Legend: The overwhelming evidence from history both by secular historians and Christian scholars is that Jesus was an historical figure of great significance.
• Lord: That Jesus is Lord is backed up by His life, incredible teachings, miracles, and resurrection.

Did Jesus Rise from the Dead?

Evidence of Christ’s Death. Gregory Koukl in The Story of Reality indicates that the vast majority of scholars, including those who are entirely secular, agree that Jesus died on a Roman cross on a Friday, that He was buried in a tomb, and that the tomb was empty on Sunday morning. Numerous witnesses testified that they saw Jesus alive multiple times.

Early Accounts. The earliest creed taken from 1 Corinthians 15:3–4 alludes to the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. It has been dated within months of Christ’s death.

Empty Tomb. All the enemies of Christ had to do to destroy Christianity was simply to produce the body of Christ, which they never did. Christ’s tomb remains empty. Theologian R. C. Sproul said, “Buddha is dead. Mohammad is dead. Moses is dead. Confucius is dead. But . . . Christ is alive.”

Eyewitnesses. Besides the four Gospels, there are non-biblical sources that reference the resurrection of Christ (e.g., Tacitus, Pliny the Younger, Josephus, Lucian).

Experience of Christ. Every believer, the moment they receive Christ, are indwelt by Jesus (Colossians 1:27). Jesus says in Revelation 3:20 (ESV), “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door [of their heart], I will come into him and eat with him, and he with me.”

Why Do People Suffer?

Greek philosopher Epicurus who lived a few hundred years before Christ proposed this argument:

1. God is all-good and all-powerful.
2. An all-good God would want there to be no evil.
3. An all-powerful God would have the power to eradicate evil.
4. There is evil.
5. Therefore, God is not both all-good and all-powerful.

A good answer to this argument can be found in Lee Strobel’s book The Case for Faith where he quotes philosopher Peter Kreeft that evil is evidence for God: “If there is no God, where did we get the standard of goodness by which we judge evil as evil?” God created the possibility of evil. Man’s freedom is the source of evil. God could decree by midnight all evil cease, but by 12:01 a.m., none of us would be left. Someday God will destroy all evil.

In his book The Case for Christ, Lee Strobel wrote that God has “demonstrated how the very worst thing that has ever happened in the history of the world ended up resulting in the very best thing that has ever happened in the history of the world” (the death of God on the cross).

Isn’t the Christian Experience Only a Psychological Crutch

Conversions Contrast

Paul Little in Know Why You Believe states, “We cannot explain Christian experience on a conditioned reflex basis . . . since thousands reared in Christian homes unfortunately never become Christians. . . . In Christianity, our personal subjective experience is tied into the objective historical fact of the resurrection of Christ.” Some people who were raised in a Christian home later abdicated their faith, whereas many who had no exposure at all to Christ became followers of Christ. Christianity is not based on wish fulfillment; it is based on the objective historical fact that Jesus rose from the dead.

Christ Is Constant

Over 60 generations have shown that Jesus changes lives. We are created for God. St. Augustine said, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”

The ultimate answer to the argument of wish fulfillment or that Christianity is a psychological crutch is that our experience with Christ is that it is based on irrefutable, objective facts—the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. See the video and article “Did Jesus Rise from the Dead?”.

Is the Bible the Word of God?

Here are some of the answers to this question:

Argument from Analogy

God has instituted communication in the natural world. Therefore, it seems probable that communication from God to man would take place.

Argument from the Indestructibility of the Bible

The Bible is the best preserved of all books transmitted from antiquity. The Bible has been preserved despite attempts to destroy it and deny it.

Argument from the Character of the Bible

The contents of the Bible are unsurpassed in its subjects (creation, sin, trinity, etc.). The Bible was written by 40 authors over 1,500 years but clearly the product of one Author (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20–21).

Argument from the Influence of the Bible

The Bible has had a scientific, cultural, social, political, and domestic influence. It has answers to the major questions of philosophy such as “Why does evil exist? What is good and right?”

Argument from Fulfilled Prophecy

One-fourth of the Bible is prophetic. Jesus fulfilled over 300 specific prophecies (Psalm 22; Isaiah 52, 53), and the Bible gives a panorama of future events with many prophecies that have already been fulfilled (Matthew 24; Revelation).

Argument from the Claims of Scripture

Over 3,000 times, the Bible declares itself the Word of God and having divine authorship. Aristotle said that a book is innocent until proven guilty.

Argument from the Scientific Accuracy of the Bible

The Bible says that the stars in the heavens are innumerable (Jeremiah 33:22). Scientists in the past thought there were only a few thousand stars in the universe, but recent scientific discoveries reveal millions of galaxies with hundreds of millions of stars. Until the 19th century, physicians bled a patient, hoping that would heal them. But the Bible all along stated that blood is the source of life (Leviticus 17:11). In his book Scientific Facts in the Bible, Ray Comfort lists 100 scientific facts.

Won’t a Good, Moral Life Get Me to Heaven?

If someone asks this question, ask them if they ever told a lie, stole something, took the Lord’s name in vain, looked at someone of the opposite sex in a lustful way, and so on. Every person has broken God’s commandments (James 2:10; Matthew 5:48; Romans 3:10, 23).

Acknowledge that you as well as they have sinned, but the difference is that you have found forgiveness in Christ. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

You may be a great swimmer, but none of us could swim to Hawaii. We’d all fall short. People often don’t receive Christ because they won’t believe, not because they can’t believe.

Nicodemus: In John 3, Nicodemus, a Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin in Israel, comes to Jesus, who tells him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Faith in Jesus Christ, the One who paid the penalty of sin, is how a person is born again. It is trusting in Jesus Christ alone, repenting of sin, and receiving Him as your Savior and Lord. None of Nicodemus’ good deeds could earn him a place in heaven. By the end of the Gospel of John, Nicodemus appears to have become a disciple of Christ.

The Thief on the Cross: The thief on the cross said to Jesus, “‘Remember me when you come into your Kingdom.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise’” (Luke 23:43). He entered into heaven solely on the mercy and grace of God, just like everyone else who puts their faith in Christ. Jesus paid for our sins at the cross and offers us the free gift of His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Why Would a Loving God Send Someone to Hell?

You could reverse this question by asking, “If God is so holy, why would He ever let anyone into heaven?” The Bible is very clear. God says: “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live” (Ezekiel 33:11). The cross of Christ shows God’s desire that people can receive His grace and forgiveness and spend eternity in heaven as opposed to hell.

When people ask how a loving God can send a person to hell, Sam Chan asks them to read with him Jesus’s parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19–31). He then asks them what they like about the story and what it says about hell. He says that people often think the rich man justly deserves to be in hell. C. S. Lewis wrote, “The door of hell is locked on the inside.” There are only two kinds of people— those who say to God, “Thy will be done” and those to whom God in the end says, “Thy will be done.” All that are in hell ultimately choose it.

The Bible is Full of Errors, and There Are So Many Translations

If someone says, “The Bible is full of errors,” ask them to show you one. Chances are they have never read the Bible and can’t point to a single so-called error. If they say, “There are so many translations,” implying that the Bible can’t be trusted, the simple answer is that all translations come from the Hebrew (Old Testament) and Greek (New Testament), and they all say basically the same thing. Ask them, “Do you mind if I share with you what the main theme of the Bible is and how it changed my life?” Then share the gospel and/or your personal testimony with them.

What About Other Religions?

All religions other than Christianity exhort people to reach God by their own efforts with no assurance of eternal life or heaven. They can be summed up in one word—Do. Even Mohammad, the founder of Islam, did not know what Allah would do to him after he died (Quran 46:9). If Mohammad had no assurance of salvation, what hope is there for his followers?

Christianity is based on one word—Done. Jesus paid for all our sins at the cross (Gal. 2:16). By accepting Jesus and His death on our behalf, we are justified and made righteous before a holy God. Jesus staked His full claims to deity on His resurrection. Today, Jesus’s tomb is empty. Buddha, Mohammed, Confucius— their tombs are occupied. Only Jesus claimed to be God incarnate and the only way to heaven. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6).

I’m Not Ready

Ask someone, “What is the reason you’re not ready?” You might ask them, “What would it take to make you ready?” They may say they don’t know enough. Review with them the benefits of receiving Christ and share your personal testimony. Offer to meet with them again. If they are interested, they will agree to meet with you. Consider going through the Gospel of John with them.

There Are Too Many Hypocrites in the Church

Agree with them. Say, “There is no perfect church because there are no perfect people.” If you were to join a perfect church, it wouldn’t be perfect anymore. We’re all hypocrites in a way because we all fall short of living up to all of God’s commands. The only people who will get to heaven are forgiven people. The only perfect person who ever lived is Jesus. That’s why Christ came. He came to die for our sins and offer us forgiveness of all our sins. Would you like to receive the Lord’s offer of love and forgiveness for your sins?

I’m a Good Person

Ask, “Have you obeyed all of God’s commands?” James 2:10 says, “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.” Some other scriptures to share are Romans 3:10; 3:23; James 4:17; Matthew 5:48; Isaiah 64:6, and the Ten Commandments to show we’re all guilty before a holy God. But God offers complete forgiveness, and He paid the full price for all our sins. After sharing these verses with them, ask them if they would like to receive the Lord’s offer of forgiveness.

I Tried That, but It Didn’t Work for Me

Ask them what they have tried. What church did they go to? Maybe it was a liberal church or a cult. Maybe they got baptized or prayed the prayer to receive Christ but never really understood what they were doing (that happened to me). It’s possible they don’t really know what it means to be born again. Ask them if they would like to make sure they know God personally and review the gospel with them. Some may have been exposed to a Bible-believing church and the gospel, but now they are living in sin—viewing pornography, taking drugs, and so on. They may have had parents who distorted the gospel by their lives, and now they are in rebellion against God. Review the gospel with them and share with them the story of the prodigal son—that God, like a perfect, loving Father, is there for them to return to Him like the story Jesus tells in Luke 15.

Evangelistic surveys can be effective in sharing the gospel. Here are a few samples from a church in Washington state that uses them when they visit malls, parks, and bus stations to engage people in conversations about the gospel.

Christmas Survey

1. What would you say is the meaning of Christmas?
   • It’s a family holiday.
   • It’s a time to party/enjoy your friends.
   • It’s a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
   • It’s a religious holiday.
   • Other: _________________________________
2. What is the most meaningful part of the holidays to you?
   • Time spent with my family.
   • Time to enjoy the fun and festivities of the season.
   • Time to enjoy friends and activities.
   • I like to go to church and celebrate the meaning of Christmas.
   • Other: _________________________________
3. In what ways does celebrating Christmas impact you?
   • It makes me a more giving person.
   • I volunteer to help others in need.
   • I am happier and more optimistic.
   • It fills me with joy and gives meaning to life.
   • I love giving gifts to others.
   • Other: _________________________________
4. Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ.To you, who is Jesus Christ?
   • Prophet
   • Myth
   • Son of God
   • Savior of the world
   • Other: _________________________________

Easter Survey

1. To you, what is the meaning of Easter?
2. In what ways do you celebrate Easter?
   • Gather with family for a meal.
   • Get together with friends.
   • Take the day off to relax.
   • Do a fun activity.
   • Go to church.
   • Other: _________________________________
3. Why in your opinion is Easter an important holiday?
   • It’s something that is always done.
   • It brings families closer together.
   • It gives us something spiritual to think about.
   • It is the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
   • Other: _________________________________
4. Do you have any spiritual belief in your life?
5. To you, who is Jesus?

General Spiritual Interest Questionnaire

1. What is your spiritual/church background?
2. How much of the Bible have you read?
   • ❑ All
   • ❑ More than half
   • ❑ Less than half
   • ❑ None
3. To you, who is Jesus?
4. Let’s suppose you were to die tonight and stand before God. If He asked you, “Why should I let you into heaven?” what would you tell Him?
   • ❑ I tried to be a good person and follow the rules.
   • ❑ I haven’t sinned.
   • ❑ Jesus is my Savior.
   • ❑ Other: _________________________________
5. On a scale of 1 to 100, how would you rate your certainty of going to heaven?
   • ❑ 0–49%
   • ❑ 50–74%
   • ❑ 75–99%
   • ❑ 100%
   • ❑ No clue
6. May I get your opinion on a brief outline that explains how you can be certain of going to heaven and how to know God in a personal way?

Future Events Survey

Date: _________________________________

Name: _________________________________

1. What concerns you most about the major challenges facing our world in the future?
   • ❑ World War
   • ❑ Famine
   • ❑ Israel/Middle East
   • ❑ Other
2. If you were to die by a disease like COVID or from nuclear war, where would you go?
   • ❑ Heaven
   • ❑ Hell
   • ❑ Don’t know
   • ❑ Other
3. On a scale of 1 to 100, how certain would you be to get to heaven? ______________%.
4. Do you know what the Bible says in order to get to heaven?
   • ❑ No
   • ❑ Yes
5. May I share with you the general entrance requirements for heaven based on what the Bible says?
   • ❑ Yes
   • ❑ No
   • ❑ Already know

Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8–9; John 14:6; John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 10:9– 10; Revelation 3:20; 1 John 5:11–12

COMMENTS:

Books on Evangelism and Discipleship

• One Heartbeat Away by Mark Cahill
• Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J. I. Packer
• One Thing You Can’t Do in Heaven by Mark Cahill
• Good News for a Change by Matt Mikalatos
• Bringing the Gospel Home by Randy Newman
• Organic Outreach by Kevin Harney
• The Unexpected Adventure by Lee Strobel and Mark Mittelberg
• Tell Someone by Greg Laurie
• How to Talk about Jesus by Sam Chan
• How to Give Away Your Faith by Paul Little
• Becoming a Contagious Church by Mark Mittleberg
• Becoming a Contagious Christian by Bill Hybels and Mark Mittelberg
• Turning Everyday Conversations into Gospel Conversations by Bennett Leslie and Steve Wright
• Digital Evangelism by Jeffrey Akers
• e-Vangelism by Martin Luther Quick
• The Art of Neighboring by Jay Pathak and Dave Runyon
• Sharing the Gospel with Ease by Thom S. Rainer
• The Evangelist by Richard D. Phillips
• Share Jesus without Fear by William Fay
• Questioning Evangelism by Randy Newman
• Compelled—The Irresistible Call to Share Your Faith by Dudley Rutherford
• Not Beyond Reach by Aaron Pierce
• Evangelism That Works by George Barna
• Street Smarts by Gregory Koukl
• Tactics by Gregory Koukl
• Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert Coleman
• Real-Life Discipleship by Jim Putman
• Discipleship Shift: Five Shifts to Help Your Church Make Disciples by Jim Putman and Bobby Harrington
• Discipleship Essentials by Greg Ogden

Books for Sharing with Jewish People

• A Rabbi Looks at Jesus of Nazareth by Jonathan Bernis
• A Rabbi Looks at the Last Days by Jonathan Bernis
• Betrayed by Stan Telchin

Resources for Sharing with Muslims

• Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus by Nabeel Qureshi
• No God but One—Allah or Jesus? by Nabeel Qureshi
• Glad News! God Loves You My Muslim Friend by Samy Tanagho
• A Christian’s Pocket Guide to Islam by Patrick Sookhdeo
• Answering Islam at answering-islam.org
• Dreams and Visions: Is Jesus Awakening the Muslim World? by Tom Doyle
• The Islam Debate by Josh McDowell
• The Camel—How Muslims Are Coming to Christ by Kevin Greeson
• Son of Hamas by Mosab Hassan Yousef
• Standing in the Fire by Tom Doyle Standin

Resources for Sharing with Hindus and Buddhists

• Sharing Christ with Hindus by Madasamy Thirumalai
• Marg Network
• Disciple Making Among Hindus by Tim Shultz
• Christian Barriers to Jesus by Paul Pennington
• Connecting With Hindu International Students by W Stephens
• Ten Tips for Ministering to Hindus by HL Richard
• Is the Commission Still Great by Steve Richardson
• Sharing Your Faith with a Buddhist by Madasamy Thirumalai

Resources on Apologetics

• A New Kind of Evangelism by Sean McDowell
• Evidence That Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell
• The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel
• The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel
• The Case for the Creator by Lee Strobel
• Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis
• Cold-Case Christianity by J. Warner Wallace
• I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist by Norman Geisler
• Apologetics Study Bible by Broadman & Holman Publishers
• The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism by Timothy Keller
• Answers to Tough Questions Skeptics Ask about the Christian Faith by Josh McDowell and Don Stewart
• When Skeptics Ask by Norman Geisler and Ronald Brooks
• The Kingdom of the Cults by Walter Martin
• Fast Facts on False Teaching by Ron Carlson and Ed Decker
• A Different Gospel by Dan McConnell and Hank Hanegraff
• Reason to Believe by R. C. Sproul
• Letters from a Skeptic by Dr. Gregory A. Boyd and Edward K. Boyd
• The Story of Reality by Gregory Koukl
• God Doesn’t Believe in Atheists by Ray Comfort
• Is God Real? by Lee Strobel

Web Resources

• Josh.org/resources/apologetics/
• GotQuestions.org/content_apologetics_basics.html
• Y-Jesus.com
• Apologetics315.com
• Summit Ministries (Summit.org)
• “Does God Exist?” William Lane Craig vs. Christopher Hitchens Debate (reasonablefaith.org, YouTube)

Websites, DVDs, YouTube, and Apps

• JO App by JesusOnline Ministries—downloaded by millions with vast resources on evangelism, apologetics, discipleship, and more. View the web app at app.JesusOnline.com, or download it at Jesus Online.com/app.
• GodTools by Cru—training on how to share your faith, the Four Spiritual Laws, Knowing God Personally, and other tools for Christian growth
• Y-Jesus.com, Jesusonline.com, and Jesusonlineministries.org
• Francis Chan’s YouTube video “Just Stop and Think”—an excellent 15-minute presentation of the gospel.
• Gospel Coalition website: thegospelcoalition.org
• Outreachmagazine.com—ideas, resources, and innovations for Christian leaders and churches

Witnessing Tools and Resources

• “Eternal Answers to Life’s Most Important Questions”—tract
• “The Gift of Heaven—5 Keys to God’s Incredible Offer”—tract
• “One Second After You . . . ” by Mark Cahill—an excellent 62-page booklet; order at: www.markcahill.org
• “Two Ways to Live”—tract (https://twowaystolive.com/)

Now What?

We are to be involved in the Lord’s command to fulfill the Great Commission. It’s as simple as ABC.

A—ASK

Ask the Lord to show you who in your life needs Jesus. God has put you in certain people’s lives to share the good news with them.

Lee Strobel concludes his book The Unexpected Adventure with this challenge: “Whose door is God telling you to knock on? What phone call do you need to make, or what email do you know you ought to send? Which neighbor . . . what relative . . . who is the old friend you need to reestablish contact with? Ask the Holy Spirit to show you the steps to take—big or small—to engage in the unexpected adventure. Then step out and follow His lead today.”

Make a list of perhaps five or more friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, or social media connections who need Jesus, and commit them to the Lord in prayer.

B—BASIC STRATEGY

1. Get Trained

Learn how to share your faith at your church or from a parachurch ministry. Select a gospel method that you prefer and develop your personal testimony so you can share it at anytime and anywhere.

“We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life” (1 John 1:1 NLT).

2. Memorize Key Scriptures

Pick five or more of these 11 verses to memorize so you can share your faith and repeat them on a regular basis.

• Romans 3:23 (ESV): “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
• Romans 5:8 (ESV): “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
• Romans 6:23 (ESV): “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
• John 3:3 (ESV): Jesus said: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
• John 14:6 (ESV): “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”
• Romans 10:9–10 (ESV): “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.”
• John 3:16 (ESV): “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
• Revelation 3:20 (ESV): “Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone opens the door, I will come into him and eat with him, and he with Me.”
• John 1:12 (ESV): “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
• Ephesians 2:8–9 (ESV): “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
• I John 5:11–12 (ESV): “And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”

C—COMMIT Your Time and Resources to Fulfilling the Great Commission

Here are Jesus’s final words before ascending to the Father: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18–20).

Read a book on evangelism that includes discipleship as a strategy to fulfill the Great Commission. There are many ways to strategically reach people for Christ in our day and age. One of the most cost-effective ways is through the Internet. Today it’s possible to reach people with the gospel in nearly every country of the world for as little as three cents. A ministry my wife and I personally support—JesusOnline.com—is seeing people indicate decisions for Christ for under 50 cents each.

Phil Wiegand, a business investor and author, wrote, “Whenever I invest my treasure in His Kingdom, I am storing up treasure in heaven that will last for eternity. A few years ago, I became aware of the tremendously effective outreach JesusOnline is having around the world on the Internet. . . . It took me a nano-second to decide I wanted to get in on this eternal investment opportunity.”

Whatever ministry you choose, invest your financial resources to proclaim the extravagant news of the gospel that will echo into eternity.

It Only Takes a Spark to Get a Fire Going

Have you ever heard of Mordecai Ham? Mordecai came to Charlotte, North Carolina, to put on an evangelistic crusade. A sandy-haired young man named Billy Frank heard Mordecai preach. Frank responded to the invitation, was converted, and became known as Billy Franklin Graham who probably preached to more people than any other person who has ever lived.

Who knows? The next Billy Graham may be someone you share Christ with and later gives their life to Christ. God has placed you and me at a certain place at a certain time to make an eternal impact for others.

The Story of Charles Peace

Charlie Peace was an English burglar and murderer who embarked on a life of crime. In 1879, he was arrested and taken on the death-walk to be hung. A prison chaplain routinely read some Bible verses, and Charlie Peace was shocked at the way the chaplain showed no emotion when reading about hell. Could this preacher believe the words that there is an eternal fire? This was too much for Charlie Peace. “Sir,” he said, addressing the preacher, “if I believed what you and the church of God say that you believe, even if England were covered with broken glass from coast to coast, I would walk over it, if need be, on hands and knees and think it worthwhile living, just to save one soul from an eternal hell like that!”

Our salvation and the gospel are “things into which angels long to look” (1 Peter 1:12). Angels who have a front-row seat to God’s power and miraculous works are awestruck by the fact that the Son of God laid down His life to save us. There is nothing on earth or in God’s universe that can compare to the gospel. During Jesus’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out” (Luke 19:39–40). Let’s not become silent. Let’s proclaim the most amazing news ever to the world.

In Luke 14:15–24 Jesus tells the parable of the great banquet to show how God is graciously extending His invitation to everyone. Many of those invited to the banquet made excuses not to come. The head of the household then invited “the poor and crippled and blind and lame” so that his house would be filled. God is inviting everyone to His eternal home. Someday perhaps very soon, the entry door to God’s great invitation into Heaven will be closed.

Revelation 22:17 says: “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes would take the water of life without cost.”

May God grant us the courage to faithfully witness to those who don’t know Christ before the door to heaven is eternally closed.

The Great Commission is found in Matthew 28:18–20. The main phrase of the Great Commission is “make disciples.” We tell unbelievers the good news and then help those who believe in Christ to grow in their faith.

Some churches prioritize evangelism, while others prioritize discipleship. These are like two wings on an airplane. Lifeway Research says biblical disciplemaking involves the whole process of winning the lost, building the believer, equipping the worker, and sending out proven multipliers.

Paul said in 2 Timothy 2:2 (ESV), “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” There are four generations of discipleship in this verse: (1) Paul’s own generation, (2) Timothy’s generation, (3) the people Timothy will teach, and (4) the ones they will teach and disciple.

Today, there are vast resources on the Internet for spiritual growth, including ministries committed to discipleship and disciple-making. Here is a list of resources on discipleship:

• Master Plan of Evangelism, a classic book on discipleship.
• Cru has the “10 Basic Steps toward Christian Maturity,” which is designed to provide the new believer with a sure foundation of their faith. Cru also has “Transferable Concepts” in print and on video that teaches the principles of the Christian life.
• Since 1933, the Navigators (Navigators.org) have helped people worldwide know Jesus through what is called Life-to-Life Discipleship. It includes a Digital-Discipleship Journey that includes emailing a person on a weekly basis and topics to help you grow spiritually. These and other great resources can be found on their website at www.Navigators.org/resources.
• Bible Study Fellowship (bsfinternational.org) offers free, in-depth Bible studies for men and women to uncover the truths of God’s Word together.

Churches should focus on building disciples who are followers and learners of Jesus. Pastor Marc Fournier of Crossroads Bible Church in Bellevue, Washington, says, “All that we do at our church is about building disciples who will bring Jesus to our world and who then build other disciples. Our discipleship pathway includes helping folks get ‘planted’ in Truth or God’s Word. Mature disciples seek to make other disciples as well as serve in our church community.”

Canyon Hills Community Church in Bothell, Washington, has as their motto “to make more and better disciples of Jesus Christ.” They have a School of Discipleship where they offer courses on topics such as How to Study the Bible, Know What You Believe, Theology, the Life of Christ, and more.

Real-Life Ministries is a church led by Pastor Jim Putman that started with a few people and now has several thousand each week based on a focus on discipleship. Putman’s book Real-Life Discipleship focuses on true, effective discipleship for churches. DiscipleShift: Five Shifts to Help Your Church Make Disciples Who Make Disciples written by Putman and Bobby Harrington is another great resource.

Discipleship.org breaks down these three key parts to what it means to be a disciple:

1. “Following” Jesus (head)
2. “Being changed” by Jesus through the Holy Spirit (heart)
3. “Fishers of men” being committed to the mission of Christ (hands)

JesusOnline Discipleship

JesusOnline Ministries (JOM) helps website visitors and JO Discipleship App users become faithful and fruitful disciples of Jesus Christ. This is an online ministry that helps believers develop a more comprehensive understanding of who Jesus is, what He has done, and what His purpose is for their lives so they can follow Him more wholeheartedly. This online discipleship is not meant to replace or compete against discipleship that takes place in a local church.

Their Strategy

After presenting the gospel, JOM invites visitors to download the free JO App, the primary platform for discipleship. It allows users to communicate directly with the JO App online ministers. Over 500,000 people to date have downloaded this free JO App.

Their Resources

Those who come to Christ can access on the JO App:

• The Adventure of Living with Jesus
• New Life in Christ
• R.E.C.A.P. Bible Study Method
• Time with God section with devotionals and a Bible study series
• Building Blocks for Maturity with key topics of discipleship
• Share Jesus with articles on evangelism and evangelistic tools
• Facts for Faith with apologetic articles to deepen their faith in Christ

Below are two of the thousands of comments on JOM’s online discipleship materials. These comments are from the continent of Africa in particular.

“The discipleship booklet has transformed my life and my understanding about what it is to live for Christ and trust His Word. The Adventure of Living with Jesus discipleship booklet is a real treasure for me!” —Pastor Assah, Togo

“My name is Pastor Stanley Fachi in Malawi. The JO App has helped me be grounded in the Word of God. I preach to thousands of people every Sunday and also teach about 600 pastors in Malawi and Mozambique. I have printed everything on the JO App, and I have started already making some tracts and sharing them with people. Thanks again for all you’ve done to encourage and equip me.” —Pastor Stanley Fachi, Malawi

Discipleship Is God’s Strategy

Jesus told His disciples to teach all that He taught to their disciples. In a few short years, they had “turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6). Discipleship starts with evangelism, and we should never forget that, but we should always pursue making disciples who will in turn make disciples. To reach the world for Christ, we need to share the gospel to as many people as possible and disciple those who come to Christ. This was the model Jesus commanded in the Great Commission.

Ed Stetzer is an author, speaker, pastor, church planter, Christian missiologist, and Billy Graham’s Distinguished Chair of Church Mission and Evangelism at Wheaton College. He summed up the relationship of evangelism and discipleship: “Our evangelism has to be focused on making disciples who become disciple-makers, and our discipleship has to be mission-driven, leading those discipled to share Christ.”

True discipleship leads to evangelism, and true evangelism leads to discipleship, which is the Lord’s way of reaching the world for His glory.

When the Apostle Paul was led by the Holy Spirit to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the Roman Empire, his efforts were greatly facilitated by the network of Roman roads that covered 120,000 kilometers (almost 75,000 miles). God used these roads to spread the good news of Christ throughout the Roman Empire.

Jesus told His disciples that just prior to His return, “this gospel will be preached to all nations” (Matthew 24:14 NIV). How could this be possible unless God raised up a new technology that would enable the gospel to reach every person on earth? Little did they realize that 2,000 years later, God would raise up a new Roman road that would lead to the literal fulfillment of Jesus’s words.

Just as the gospel was spread throughout the Roman roads during the birth of Christianity, so today the gospel is being spread worldwide by the Internet. As of this writing in 2024, there are 5.35 billion global Internet users of this new Roman road. That number is expected to reach 6.54 billion in 2025 primarily through the proliferation of smartphones.

Easier and Faster Ways of Communicating

At the click of a mouse on a computer or a tap on a smartphone, the gospel can be sent out in seconds around the world and in different languages. We are in a new digital era where almost everything is done digitally, and technology is affecting the spread of the good news all over the world.

Easy Understanding of Scripture and Gospel Resources

Because of technological changes, people can obtain gospel and biblical materials even in remote areas where they were previously unavailable. The gospel is being spread worldwide through this new technology of the Internet.

Many ministries are using this new Roman road to fulfill Jesus’s Great Commission to take the gospel worldwide before He returns.

JesusOnline Ministries is one such ministry that has been proclaiming the gospel on the Internet since 2005 and has reached nearly every nation of the world.

JesusOnline Ministries

JesusOnline Ministries (JOM) has received over a quarter of a billion website visits from people in 195 countries who have read the articles or watched videos about Jesus’s life, crucifixion, and resurrection. For each person who indicates a decision for Christ, the cost to the website is incredibly low at less than one dollar.

JesusOnline Ministries uses a proven four-step outreach strategy to reach them with the truth about Jesus.

Step 1. JOM poses questions people are asking about Jesus. They identify those with an online search history related to questions they’re asking about God, Jesus, faith, and the Bible.

Step 2. People click ads that link them to compelling gospel articles and videos. By placing curiosity-provoking ads on thousands of promising websites every day, JOM captures interest and makes people think about who this Jesus is that they have heard about.

Step 3. Visitors to the website then discover answers that reveal Jesus’s true identity and the life He offers. After hearing the gospel on video or in print, they discover that Jesus is their Savior and Lord and have the opportunity to come to Him by faith.

Step 4. JOM follows up with those who respond and encourages them to join the JO App community where a discipleship pastor and team of volunteers help members nurture their relationship with Jesus. The team also prays for people and helps guide individuals to find biblical answers for their challenges.

The three main websites are Y-Jesus.com, JesusOnline.com, and JesusOnlineMinistries.org.

Y-Jesus has PDF articles and videos on such topics as “Is Jesus God?” “Did Jesus Rise from the Dead?” (also, a video version); “Has Science Discovered God?” “The Gift of Heaven” (in PDF and video formats), and a host of other topics. These articles and videos can be placed on Facebook or Instagram, or emailed to your non-Christian friends with whom you are sharing the gospel. I have sent some of these articles and videos to non-Christians who are looking for reasons to believe and have also posted these articles on Facebook.
Jesusonlineministries.org shares the vision of JOM along with “The Gift of Heaven” video that has reached millions of viewers with hundreds of thousands making a decision for Christ.

JesusOnline.com has an app downloaded by millions called the JOApp. This app has resources such as Bible studies, gospel tracts, online Bibles, New Adventure with Jesus, and several other resources.

In 2023, JOM had 98,393 daily visits, 6,625 daily decisions, and 2,418,015 people who committed their lives to follow Jesus from 190 countries around the world. Over 300,000 of these decisions were from “The Gift of Heaven” video that reached people even in many countries where Christians are persecuted.

2030 Ministry Vision:

• One billion website all-time visits
• 30 million all-time decisions for Christ

Below are brief samplings of the thousands of comments JOM receives on a monthly basis.

Moges, Ethiopia
I was thinking to kill myself. I was in depression and stress, and I think I’m alone and everybody hates me, but Jesus told me if you’re alone I am with you. If anyone doesn’t love you, I love you and he is my friend and my father. I can’t describe his love to me.

Roberto, Guatemala
I’ve been an atheist for a long time. I asked God to show me if He was real. But last month I began fearing about death and asked God to show me if He was real. I prayed and asked Him for a sign to help me know the truth. Then I was navigating on Pinterest, and your ad came about the resurrection. Although I wasn’t searching for anything about life after death, I realized this was God’s answer, and I read the article showing that Jesus really rose. I’m glad that God answered me. Thank you for your website.

Kalyani, India
I am a Hindu who was told the truth of Christ very recently. . . . I have seen and heard enough to believe in Jesus, but my nagging mind plagued me with doubts, and I ended up on this wonderful site. Such direct, amazing facts. Verifiable, sourcecited. You people don’t know how much it helps me to read these articles. How much it calms me. Keep up the good job. Hope this site helps many lost sheep reach the truth. God bless.

Reynaldo, Israel
I am now truly convinced that Jesus and God truly exist . . . and His promises are true . . . I like to devote my life to Him. . . . Amen!

Serwaa, Ghana
Could you believe I was crying before I clicked on the link? I’m in debt to the extent of thinking of taking my life for everything to end. I have a seven-month-old baby girl too. And now I have seen how wrong I am thinking I have nobody to help me, Almighty God is here for me.

Ahmed, Ghana
Although I’ve been a Muslim for 10 years, I read your article and am very grateful for your insightful facts about Jesus. I’m really inspired how your website helped me discover the truth of the gospel.

Pastor Ayodele, Nigeria
I am a minister of the gospel for over 30 years now, but I have never seen the gospel so clearly presented as this. This message will help us present the gospel message better. Thank you.

Neil, Philippines
This article really captures my heart, my whole being. . . . It makes me cry out loud alone in my room. . . . I feel sorry for all my sins.

Sakeena, Pakistan
It was amazing. I never read such content. May God accept me with my sins.

Michael, New Guinea
Convincing and heart-touching, and this is my turning point. My tears rolled down my eyes while praying the prayer. I need to return to Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God. Eternal life is real, and Jesus Christ is the firstborn into the eternal life.

Miguel, Venezuela
Until today I never understood why God gave His only Son as a sacrifice for us who literally do not deserve it. I cannot imagine giving my son for other people. That’s how great God’s love is, and today more than ever, my God, I love you, and I receive you.

Ariel, Colombia
Now I understand that Jesus Christ is the one who will help me fill that void in my life. I receive Him in my heart and my life and accept Him as owner and master of my life. I ask you, Jesus, to come in and take control of my being and make me what you want me to be. Amen. For a long time, I was looking for you, but I did not see until today.

Beverly, Guyana
I was deeply moved by these wonderful words of life today. I feel that I found a new life. I am moved to live my life with Jesus. I found this new birth with tears in my eyes. These words touched my soul, and I think I am now free to live my true life and have that relationship with God.

Abdel, Peru
It has helped me to understand many new things. I am grateful, and I do not consider it a coincidence to find this spiritual help. I was a convinced atheist, but I had the opportunity to meet God.

Alexander, Canada
I now believe in God; I finally have faith. Sweet Jesus, I love you. You’re everything to us. It’s true. I acknowledge Your sacrifice of Your life for us!

Rosario, Mexico
I’ve had some questions about Jesus’s resurrection, but now I see it so clearly. He rose again, to the tears that now run down my cheeks. He resurrected. Thank you very much.

Kathleen, USA
This is the most wonderful article I have ever read. Being raised Catholic, it never crossed my mind that Jesus is my Lord and He rose up to heaven so we could have eternal life with Him. And that I pray for.

Enrico, Italy
I was having a crisis of faith, and suddenly I got this link where I found so much benefit. Jesus sought me out, and I accepted Him.

Zhimoka, India
I am struggling to get out of addiction and sinful habits. This article indeed has helped me answer my questions and doubts about whether a person like me can be given a chance in life. Now I believe I can because Jesus is indeed my Savior and my one true God.

Sujatha, India
I am a Hindu, but while reading about Jesus I am crying. I don’t know why, but after reading your article, I feel peace in my heart. I accept Jesus as my saviour. Thank you very much.

Youcef, Algeria
Now I have evidence that Jesus died on the cross and three days later He resurrected from death. In spite of my precedent belief as a Muslim that Jesus never died on the Cross, today I feel free on discovering the reality about the Christ thanks to so wonderful evidence. Life without Jesus is not worth living.”

Global Media Outreach (GMO) is another effective ministry that leverages technology to reach the world for Christ. GMO has seen millions receive Christ worldwide since it began. In summary, several ministries such as JesusOnline Ministries are taking the Lord’s words seriously and using the new Roman road of the Internet to proclaim the gospel to every nation.

Articles and Videos to Share Christ

You can go to Y-Jesus.com and send an article or video to those you are witnessing to and ask them their opinion for further follow-up. You can also post the gospel or an apologetic article on Facebook, Instagram, or other social media about the Lord and how Christ has changed your life.

The Social Media Phenomenon

The gospel remains the same, but the methods change. Today, social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Pinterest, and Reddit are reaching billions of people daily. Facebook is the world’s largest social network. As of January 2024, Facebook had 3.05 billion monthly active users (MAU). It’s the most used, most universal, and most effective social media tool for evangelism. The vast majority of users are between 25 and 54 years of age.

YouTube has 2.5 billion MAU; Instagram has 2 billion MAU. More than 80 percent of every generation uses social media at least once per day.

First Chronicles 12:32 says, “Of the sons of Issachar, men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do.”

The Internet and social media present an amazing opportunity to get the gospel out to the world. Thousands of evangelists are using social media platforms to spread the gospel.

Here are some ways to use social media to share the gospel.

1. Understand your audience and the social media platform you want to reach. With Facebook, tap the circle to the right of the audience you’d like to see your content (example: friends, public, only me). Thirty percent or more of people between the ages of 18 and 24 make up most Instagram users. To post on Instagram, you can turn on your Facebook account in the share section. The share to section will be set to your Instagram account. For public accounts, anyone on Instagram can see your posts.
2. In general, ages 20 to 29 are the biggest users of social media.
3. Pray for people viewing your post. Ask for prayer requests. “How can I pray for you and follow up for an update?” Share prayers and praises.
4. Share your story or personal testimony, scripture, and what it means to you. Share posts from your church. Share burdens. Share resources to meet needs. Share opportunities to connect. Share the gospel message and how to know Christ.
5. Post regularly because over time the message of the gospel will penetrate a person’s heart. Be consistent.
6. Respond to comments you may receive. Follow-up is important, and over time a person may come to Christ since it takes time for people to understand and receive the gospel.
7. Many pastors post their sermons on the Internet and social media. David Jeremiah’s ministry Turning Point is available on most all social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. His organization informed me recently that they have reached more than 300 million organically on these platforms in a short period of time.
8. R. York Moore, President and CEO of the Coalition of Christian Outreach and Tellthestory.net, posts three to five short videos a day, mainly on basic doctrines of sin, judgment, and common struggles such as pornography, anxiety, and fear, as well as what salvation is and how a person is saved. Moore uses TikTok as a social media platform and has been doing that for two years. He says that the most effective platforms for getting the gospel out are TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels. As of November 2023, Moore’s sites have 717,000 followers, over 8 million hitting his posts, and an estimated 400,000 people who have received Christ. Moore commented, “God is using TikTok in a powerful way to reach Gen Z with the gospel.” He suggested using www.robertbenjaminconsulting.com to learn how to use social media.
9. Search on Instagram or YouTube on topics such as faith in Jesus, apologetics, sermons, evangelism, salvation, the resurrection of Jesus, the second coming, and other topics. You will get a host of posts.

Edigital ministries such as www.godkulture.global, www.udemy.com, and www.delmethod.com explain how to use social media to share the gospel. You can also contact someone in your church who is tech-savvy and ask them to show you how to use social media to share Christ evangelistically.

SeekGrowLove.com says, “Internet evangelism is how the nations will have an opportunity to hear and receive the good news. . . . Today one person, right out of the comfort of his home, can reach millions of people in places he has never been and most likely, never will go. . . . As good stewards, we must use what God has given us if we desire to obey the Great Commission and bring the return of our anticipated Savior!”