A Quick Guide & Encouragement to Share the Gospel (plus a personal story)

Every day we cross paths with people who are spiritually lost. Would you like to help them find their way to Jesus? To exchange their dark and empty existence for abundant life. Many people believe in religions that are...dead. God gives us the opportunity to share the gospel and lead people to life...eternally.

In this article, you will learn how Christianity differs from other religions, the core points to share with unbelievers about the gospel, how life changes when we follow Jesus, and practical tips for developing the habit of sharing your faith. At the end I've included a story of how God recently used me to express the gospel through forgiveness.

Christianity versus other Religions

Every world religion besides Christianity has prophets, teachers, or spiritual leaders who all share one thing in common—they died, and they stayed dead. But the heart of the Christian faith is so different: Jesus is alive. Jesus Christ rose from the grave! And that changes everything.

If you’re going to have a belief system, a spirituality, or an ideology, it seems only logical that you’d want to follow someone who is alive. If I’m going to build my life on something, I’d rather it not end at a tombstone.

In 2 Timothy 2:8–13, ESV, the Apostle Paul puts it this way:

“Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. The saying is trustworthy, for:
If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he also will deny us;
if we are faithless, he remains faithful—
for he cannot deny himself.”

The resurrection is central. That's why Paul begins with the word remember—because we’re prone to forget. We can’t afford to treat the resurrection as just an Easter Sunday theme. Without it, Christianity becomes just another good moral framework. But with it, everything changes: forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and a relationship with the living God.

Jesus didn’t just come to inspire with miracles and parables; He died, and He rose again. As Paul says, that's the heart of the gospel.

What Is the Gospel?

The word gospel simply means “good news.” But what is this good news? It’s more than just a feel-good message—it’s the announcement that:

Jesus, the Son of God, came into the world to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15, ESV).
He lived the perfect life we could not live (Hebrews 4:15, ESV).
He died on the cross for our sins, taking the punishment we deserved (Romans 5:8, ESV).
He rose again on the third day, defeating sin and death forever (1 Corinthians 15:3–4, ESV).
Through Him, we are offered forgiveness, reconciliation with God, and eternal life (John 3:16, ESV).

That’s the gospel. That’s the good news worth sharing.

Living for Jesus by Dying to Self

Sharing the gospel is hard. We need to remember that while receiving forgiveness, reconciliation, and eternal life happens in a moment of time, living it out daily involves discipline and sacrifices. Often, suffering comes with the territory.

Paul says, “for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound” (2 Timothy 2:9, ESV).

When we tell people about Jesus, we can't try to make it sound like it's all lollipops and rainbows. Following Jesus doesn’t guarantee an easy life...but it does guarantee fullness of life. Paul literally ended up in prison because of the gospel. But he knew something important: you can chain Paul, but you can’t chain the gospel.

The good news of Jesus is unstoppable. Even if the messenger is silenced, the message keeps spreading. Keep enduring. The Christian journey isn’t a sprint; it’s a marathon. Your enduring effort is worth it.

Paul puts it this way: “If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him” (2 Timothy 2:11–12, ESV).

Dying to ourselves—our selfish desires and distractions—isn’t easy, but it leads to real life and real opportunities to lead people to life in Christ.

Make Sharing the Gospel a Daily Habit

So how do we live this out?

Speak up. Don’t be silent. People need to hear the hope of the gospel. Share your story, start a conversation, offer truth with love.
Die daily. Ask the Holy Spirit what distractions or desires you need to lay down so you can live more fully for Christ.
Keep going. Faith is a lifelong journey. Surround yourself with other believers, stay grounded in prayer and Scripture, and don’t give up.

A Personal Story

A few weeks ago, someone borrowed my little motor scooter without asking and crashed it. Left it scratched up and broken. I was frustrated—it’s something I’ve treasured and taken care of for years.

But as I prayed through my frustration, I sensed the Holy Spirit reminding me: “Mark, you’ve made mistakes too. And I forgave you. Now extend that same grace.”

So, I met with the young man, told him he didn’t owe me anything, and used the moment to share the gospel. I explained: “You should have to pay for this scooter. But I’m choosing to forgive the debt—because Jesus forgave mine. He paid the debt I could never pay.”

Later he texted me, thanking me for forgiving him and saying it showed him what faith could mean. I don’t know if that was the moment he fully believed, but I know a seed was planted.

Dying to my selfish desire to get my scooter restored showed me that maybe God allowed it to be wrecked so that eternity could be changed for this young man that He loves.

Final Word

Because Jesus rose from the grave, his message still carries power today. Christ's resurrection highlights to unbelievers how it's far better to exchange their religious belief in someone that is dead for believing Jesus who conquered death and is alive forever.

The Apostle Paul was willing to be in chains because he knew the gospel couldn’t be chained. By following Paul's example of dying to self and boldly proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ, you can lead people from death in their sin to life in Christ.

So, let’s remember: Jesus is alive. Let’s open our mouths, scatter the seed of the gospel, and trust God to make it grow.