Sunday, 7/12/2026

Jesus Is Too Good to Keep to Yourself: A Simple Guide to Sharing Your Faith

Sharing the gospel can feel intimidating, but it doesn't have to be. Whether you've been a Christian for decades or are just beginning to explore your faith, the call to share the good news of Jesus belongs to every believer. Here's a practical and encouraging look at what it means to pray, go, tell, and trust God with the results.

Why Every Christian Is Called to Share the Gospel

Jesus gave a clear command in Matthew 28:18-20: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 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 follow all that I commanded you. And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age."

This isn't a calling reserved for pastors or missionaries. It's for ordinary people with day jobs, families, and busy lives. And the promise attached to it is powerful: Jesus said He would be with us always.

The Harvest Is Ready, But the Workers Are Few

In Matthew 9, Jesus said, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest."

Here's the encouraging part: we are the answer to that prayer. God isn't asking us to create the fruit. He's asking us to show up and do our part in the harvest.

Think of a peach orchard. Some fruit is ripe and ready to pick today. Some trees need more time. Others have already been harvested. Our job isn't to force the fruit. It's to tend, water, and be present when the time is right. The results and the timing belong to God.

Step One: Pray for Lost People by Name

Romans 10:1 says, "Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation." Paul had a deep, ongoing burden for people who didn't yet know Jesus. That same burden is something we can carry for the people in our own lives.

What Does Praying for the Lost Actually Look Like?

It starts simply. Think of a family member, friend, or coworker you've been hoping would come to faith. Start praying for them by name, every day, and don't stop.

A woman in Costa Rica prayed for her family members for nine years after they told her to stop talking about Jesus. Nine years later, three separate teams saw seven of her family members come to Christ in a single morning. Prayer works, even when the results are slow in coming.

A small church of about 35 people in Clover, South Carolina made a list of roughly 200 people they committed to pray for. Within six months, over 30 people from that list came to faith. God honors persistent, specific prayer.

Step Two: Go Across the Street or Around the World

Romans 10:15 says, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things."

You don't have to travel internationally to share the gospel. Your Jerusalem is your neighborhood, your workplace, your backyard. The world has also come to us. In any given week, you might cross paths with people from India, Nicaragua, Mexico, Egypt, or dozens of other countries, right here at home.

Real Stories of Everyday Gospel Conversations

One man named Chip spent a long time saying he didn't know how to share his faith. After learning some simple tools, he led a coworker to Christ at work and another man to Christ in His own backyard, all within the same week.

A tree service worker named German came to do some work at someone's house. On a return visit, his nephew Fernando came along and served as a translator. Both men accepted Christ right there in the backyard. The homeowner had no idea that conversation was coming. God had arranged it.

At a local park outreach, three women including a mother and her two teenage daughters came to faith. They had originally connected with the church through an angel tree event months earlier. When the outreach came to their neighborhood, they showed up. All three were later baptized, and all three signed up to help at the next outreach in their own community.

Step Three: Tell Them the Good News

Romans 10:14 asks, "How are they to believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher?"

That preacher is you. Sometimes sharing the gospel means using words. Sometimes it means loving someone through a meal or a kind act. But the message of Jesus needs to be spoken at some point, and here is a simple way to do it.

A Simple Gospel Presentation Anyone Can Use

• God loves you. Start here. John 3:16 says, "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." Put your own name in that verse. God loves you personally.

• We all have a sin problem. Romans 3:23 tells us that all have sinned. Romans 6:23 says the payment for sin is death, not just physical death, but spiritual separation from God for eternity.

• Jesus made a way. He left heaven, lived a sinless life, took on our sin, died on the cross, and rose three days later. He paid the price we could never pay.

• We must receive the gift. Salvation isn't automatic. Like any gift, it has to be received. Romans 10:9 says, "If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."

A Question Worth Asking

One helpful question to ask someone is this: "If you were to die today, on a scale of one to ten, how confident are you that you would go to heaven?" Most people land somewhere in the middle. That opens the door to a real conversation about grace, faith, and what Jesus actually did for us.

Step Four: Trust God With the Results

Romans 10:13 says, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." But verse 16 also reminds us that not everyone will respond. "However, they did not all heed the good news."

Not every conversation ends with someone saying yes. That's okay. Our job is to be faithful and obedient. God handles the results. Some people will say yes immediately. Others may take years. One woman prayed for her husband for 50 years before he accepted Christ. The prayer was never wasted.

Why the Urgency Matters

Two men, both 50 years old, died unexpectedly within a short time of each other. One had accepted Christ two months before His death. The other had made that decision years earlier. Both were ready. But not everyone gets that chance.

Antonio, a man in Costa Rica with an amputated leg, was in the hospital two weeks before a mission team arrived. His family had already asked the pastor to prepare for his funeral. He wasn't expected to survive. Two weeks later, Antonio was home and accepted Christ the morning the team visited. Not everyone gets a second chance. That's why the urgency to share is real.

You Don't Have to Be a Pastor to Do This

Over the past three years, more than 750 ordinary people have been trained to share the gospel using simple tools and their own personal story of faith. Those people have personally witnessed over 2,800 others accept Jesus as their Savior.

People who said they could never do this are now leading coworkers, neighbors, and strangers to Christ. A college student is walking around LSU telling people about Jesus. A man who plays college baseball wore a bracelet that says "Jesus loves you" on his throwing hand all season and shared His faith with teammates. These are new believers doing what comes naturally when the Holy Spirit is at work.

If they can do it, so can you.

Life Application

This week, write down the name of one person in your life who doesn't know Jesus. Commit to praying for them by name every single day this week. Then look for one natural opportunity to show them love, whether through a kind act, a conversation, or simply being present. You don't have to have all the answers. You just have to be willing to show up.

Ask yourself these questions as you reflect:

• Is there someone in my life I've been hoping would come to faith, but I've never actually prayed for them consistently by name?

• When is the last time I told someone what Jesus means to me personally?

• Am I trusting God with the results, or am I letting fear of the outcome keep me from even starting the conversation?

• If someone asked me today how confident I am that I'm going to heaven, what would I say, and why?

Jesus is too good to keep to yourself. The harvest is ready. The workers are needed. And He has promised to be with you every step of the way.

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