Sermon: How to Share the Gospel – Rom 6.23 (8/2/26)
Introduction
Scripture
Turn in your Bibles to Romans 6.
Gospel Knowledge
Let me begin with two bold statements...
Number one: Hardly anyone you know understands the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Number two: Hardly any of you know how to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Do you think I'm wrong?
I AM wrong.
But I am not WAY wrong.
How about you?
Do you know the gospel?
Do you know how to explain the gospel?
Let's see...
There are no more important questions than those two!
Gospel Inquiries
People are asking you to share the gospel all of the time.
We usually do not recognize they are asking...
And they usually do not recognize that they are asking...
But they are.
Examples...
When you hear people talking about their fears and anxieties...
They are asking about the gospel!
Fear of...
Widening was in the Middle East...
Some dreaded medical diagnosis...
The uncertainty of their job...
Anxiety about...
The health of their marriage...
The economy...
When you hear people wonder why...
Why is there so much suffering in the world?
Why is there so much evil in the news?
When you hear people struggle with their sin or failure...
Why would I do something so hurtful?
Why am I so selfish?
Why can I not step away from this addiction?
When you hear people talk about how excited they are with the birth of a new child or grandchild...
When someone apologizes...
When someone expresses disappointment or hurt connected to a church...
When someone is searching for purpose, direction, or a fresh start...
When someone asks you to pray...
I'm not suggesting that every person who struggles through those things is lost and without Christ...
But MANY are...
John 4.35 | Don’t you say, ‘There are still four more months, and then comes the harvest’? Listen to what I’m telling you: Open your eyes and look at the fields, because they are ready for harvest. (CSB)
Matthew 7.13 | Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. (CSB)
And I am telling you the best answer to every one of those struggles is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Even for those who are genuine children of God, their greatest need may be to hear and be reminded of the gospel!
And whenever someone expresses any of those emotions, you are only one half step from having a gospel conversation.
Gospel Introductions
So, what is the one half step we should take to get to a gospel conversation?
Boldness!
Romans 1.16 | For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. (CSB)
Boldness will allow you to pivot...
Pivots...
“Have you seen the latest news about the widening war in the Middle East? I am so afraid this is going to turn into World War III.”
Response: “I understand why that frightens you; may I tell you where I have found peace even when the world feels out of control?”
“I feel anxious all the time, and I cannot seem to shut my mind off.”
Response: “I have struggled with anxiety too, but I've learned something about Jesus that gives me peace. May I show you this right quick?"
“Would you please pray for me? I am desperate, and I do not know what else to do.”
Response: “I would be honored to pray for you, and I would also love to tell you why I believe you can bring this directly to God through Jesus.”
“The doctor gave me some frightening news, and I do not know what is going to happen.”
Response: “I am so sorry, and while I cannot promise what will happen medically, I can tell you about the hope Jesus gives us even when our future is uncertain.”
“I miss her so much, and I do not know how I am supposed to keep going without her.”
Response: “I am so sorry, and if you are willing, I would love to tell you about the hope Jesus gives us in the face of death.”
“I am having surgery next week, and honestly, I am scared.”
Response: “That fear is completely understandable; may I tell you why trusting Jesus helps me face things I cannot control?”
“I lost my job, and I have no idea how I am going to provide for my family.”
Response: “I am so sorry, and I would love to tell you about the God who knows your needs, loves you deeply, and gave his Son for you.”
“Our marriage is falling apart, and I do not know whether we can fix it.”
Response: “I hate that you are going through this, and I would love to tell you how the grace of Jesus can bring forgiveness, hope, and the possibility of a new beginning.”
“I have done something terrible, and I do not think I will ever be able to forgive myself.”
Response: “What you did may be serious, but may I tell you about the forgiveness Jesus purchased for guilty people like you and me?”
“I have a good life, but it still feels empty, like something important is missing.”
Response: “I know that feeling, and I believe the emptiness points to our deepest need, which is to know the God who made us through Jesus Christ.”
“I just do not know what to do anymore.”
Response: “I may not have an easy answer, but I would love to tell you about the One who has promised to receive us, forgive us, and lead us.”
“I do not trust anybody anymore because everyone I believed in has let me down.”
Response: “People will fail us, but may I tell you about Jesus, the one person who loved us perfectly and will never abandon those who trust him?”
“I look at everything happening in the world, and I wonder whether there is any hope left.”
Response: “The world gives us plenty of reasons to despair, but I believe the death and resurrection of Jesus give us a hope that nothing happening in this world can destroy.”
“If God is good, why would he let something like this happen?”
Response: “I do not pretend to understand every reason God permits suffering, but may I tell you how Jesus entered our suffering and ultimately defeated sin and death?”
“Lately I have been thinking a lot about death and wondering what happens afterward.”
Response: “That is an important question, and I would love to tell you what Jesus said about death, eternal life, and how we can be ready.”
“That funeral really made me think about how quickly life passes.”
Response: “Funerals remind us that we will all face death, but they also give us an opportunity to consider the eternal life Jesus offers us.”
“Holding my baby for the first time made me feel like I was witnessing a miracle.”
Response: “New life really is amazing, and it reminds me of the new spiritual life God offers us through Jesus.”
“I just got back from vacation in the mountains, and I could not get over the beauty of what I saw.”
Response: “I understand, because I believe the Lord makes beautiful things; may I show you what I think is the most beautiful thing the Lord has ever done?”
“Something wonderful happened that I never expected, and I feel incredibly blessed.”
Response: “That really is a gift, and it reminds me of God’s greatest gift to us, his Son, Jesus Christ.”
“I prayed about it, and I really think God answered my prayer.”
Response: “That is wonderful, and may I tell you about the greatest answer God has given to our deepest need through Jesus?”
“You are going through so much, but you still seem to have hope; how do you do it?”
Response: “My hope is not in my circumstances but in Jesus, who died for me, rose again, and has promised never to leave me.”
“You seem to have a peace and joy that I do not understand.”
Response: “Whatever you see in me is not something I produced on my own; it comes from knowing that Jesus has forgiven me and made me his own.”
“I apologized, but I do not know whether I can ever really make up for what I did.”
Response: “You may not be able to undo what happened, but Jesus offers a forgiveness and a new beginning that none of us could ever earn.”
“I would like to come to God, but I am not a good enough person.”
Response: “None of us is good enough, which is exactly why Jesus came to save us by grace rather than asking us to save ourselves.”
“I used to go to church, but I have gotten pretty far away from all of that.”
Response: “You may feel far from God, but the good news is that Jesus came seeking people who were far from him.”
“I was hurt badly by a church, and I do not think I can trust Christians anymore.”
Response: “I am deeply sorry that Christians hurt you, but would you be willing to consider Jesus himself and the kind of Savior he truly is?”
“What do you actually believe about Jesus?”
Response: “I believe Jesus is God’s Son, who died for our sins, rose from the dead, and offers forgiveness and eternal life to everyone who trusts him.”
“I feel like I need a fresh start, but I do not know where to begin.”
Response: “The best fresh start I know is the new life Jesus gives when we turn from our sin and place our trust in him.”
“I have accomplished most of what I wanted, but none of it has made me as happy as I expected.”
Response: “Success can give us many good things, but it cannot give us what our hearts need most, which is reconciliation with God through Jesus.”
“Everything is changing in my life right now, and I am not sure who I am anymore.”
Response: “Major changes can shake our identity, but Jesus offers us an identity and a future that no change can take away.”
“Would you tell me more about your faith?”
Response: “I would love to, because the heart of my faith is the good news that Jesus died for our sins, rose again, and saves everyone who trusts in him.”
Gospel
There are many approaches that will help you share the gospel, but let me give you the one I almost always use...
This is so clear...
And you can do this...
Scripture
Romans 6.23 | For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.(CSB)
Cross Diagram in 20 Minutes
Cross Diagram in 2 Minutes
Invitation
To those who need to share...
To those who need to embrace...