Following the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19) is a command Christ gave to all Christians.  He didn't give us the truth just to hoard it. He gave us the gospel to share. Today is the day of salvation. We must infiltrate, not isolate. We are to be God's paperboys by delivering the Good News. God doesn't ask for our ability but our availability.

Living a Christian life is so much more than getting saved, trying to be a good person and going to church. If the Disciples did that Christ would have wasted his time and there would be no Christians today. All are called but not all answer the call. The way we're going the next generation will be in real trouble because sadly today, about 95% of Christians never led anyone to the Lord which explains why the earth is in such disarray today. We must answer the call. Jesus never said to leave it all to the pastor.

Being a good Christian is more than just leading someone to Christ. We must disciple them. It's not just about getting into heaven. It's about heaven getting into you. It is not ok to say the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. It's also not ok to say we must decrease so He can increase. This is admitting we have strongholds or addictions we haven't released to Christ which means Satan still has controls over certain areas of your life. This keeps people from sharing the gospel for fear of being called a hypocrite and they'd be right. But by sharing your testimony on how the Lord saved you and is moving in your life to release you from certain strongholds, others can then relate, won't call you a hypocrite, self-righteous, or anything else. The worse thing you can do is tell someone what they need to do or they will go to hell. Although a true statement, this is the quickest way to turn someone away and they'll quickly tell you where to go.

Colossians 3 says we must die to self so we can live. We are commanded to be filled with the Spirit which means to be totally controlled by the Holy Spirit and depend on Him in everything we do. Only then can we be a truly good witness where others will see Christ in you and not just see you as another good person. It's about bringing glory to God and not yourself.

But you may say, "I only hang around with Christians and don't associate with others." Most Christians today put themselves in this category and are specifically the ones I'm writing this article for.

When and Where to Share the Gospel

We are to "Be On Duty" at all times. We meet people every day beyond the relatively small group we hang around with which provides endless opportunities if we keep our eyes and ears open.

An effective witness includes both a good witness and verbalization of the gospel. You may be the only Bible some people ever read. Some people will develop their whole opinion of God based on you, His representative. This can be friends, relatives, associates, neighbors and others. How does that make you feel and what does that motivate you to do, change, or stop doing? Did you ever think there's a reason God put you where you are for a reason?

The Power of Your Personal Testimony

We have been called to make a difference. Our personal story is an effective tool in evangelism. It cannot be argued with and acts as a bridge in relating to others without sounding like you're preaching at them.

How to Share the Gospel

There's not a one-size-fits-all approach to evangelism. As Christians, we are called to always be ready to answer for our faith (1 Peter 3:15). When sharing the gospel, establish a dialogue and engage people with tact and humility.

You can start a conversation with, "Hi how's it going?" If they tell you good things, say something like, "That's great! God is good. He loves us so much and wants nothing but the best for us." Followup with your testimony and what God has done for you. If they tell you bad news regarding health issues or the like, respond with something like, "I'm so sorry, can I pray with you about that?" Most people will say yes and thank you for caring. As your conversations continue always look for opportunities to lead them to Christ if not saved. People like to be complimented so when you say they have a nice smile or you like their clothes, tattoo or whatever, you're building a relationship. Tell them how much you enjoyed talking with them and would like to call them sometime, befriend them on facebook or whatever seems fitting. Hopefully they'll respond with, "That would be great." If so, pull out a pen and piece of paper (which you should always keep on hand) to record their name, phone number, email, address, etc. Then make sure you followup.