Tips for sharing your
faith unashamed.
Straight from our book, FAQs About Evangelism, real answers to the questions every believer wrestles with before they open their mouth. Read them, then go and do it. Every moment is the perfect moment.
How to preach on a plane
- 1
Do it once you've landed. There's a brief 3–5 minute window after the plane lands when everyone is getting their luggage from the overhead compartments. I find that time advantageous because it's quiet and everyone is listening, as opposed to the start of the flight when the attendants are still getting everyone settled.
- 2
Be conscious of your audience. In this clip I was preaching to what I perceived to be a predominantly 'Christian' audience, so the Lord gave me a specific message for them, then I spent the last 30–45 seconds focusing on those who weren't born again. Be strategic.
- 3
Be time conscious. You'll only have about 3–5 minutes, so get to the point quickly. People will soon start disembarking and they all have to hear the gospel, so use your time on the flight to pray and strategize with the Lord on what to say.
- 4
Be mentally prepared for resistance. Don't assume everyone will be happy about you preaching. If others try to shut you up, be resolved to keep going. Your conviction and resolve add spice to the message, they show that you really believe what you're talking about.
- 5
Choose not to fear. Don't let negative imaginary outcomes stop you. People do embarrassing things in public and record it all the time, our cause is just, so why be embarrassed about it? Shut off your mind and just do it.
How to preach through a language barrier
- 1
Be patient. When there's a language barrier, you can't preach in a hurry. Be ready to do a lot of back and forth.
- 2
Use simple words like 'Jesus', 'Church' or 'God'. Those words are common enough to help people understand what you're talking about. You may need to use gestures too.
- 3
Use Google Translate to type out the message and have them read it. I've preached the gospel in Russian with Google Translate before, it took about 15 minutes, but the person understood.
- 4
Rely on the Holy Spirit. This one is too important. The Holy Spirit will tell you exactly what to do for the particular situation you're in.
- 5
Leave them with a tract or devotional. The one I use is Rhapsody of Realities, it's in every known language, so I airdrop it to drivers for their convenience. You can get a copy in any language at app.rhapsodyofrealities.org.
How to start a conversation about Christ in an Uber
Starting a conversation about Christ isn't as hard as you may think. If you want to get rid of the fear of preaching the gospel, try preaching in every Uber or bus you take, the best way to learn is by doing.
- 1
Start off friendly. As soon as you enter the car, ask, “How's your day going?” After they reply, ask “How long have you been doing Uber?”, “Do you like it?” A friendly first impression helps start the conversation.
- 2
Always listen. If you listen well, you'll easily find an opening for the gospel. They may say, “the economy is so bad, I'm barely getting by”, reply with, “How do you cope with that?” After they share, introduce the gospel: “Have you ever tried going to church?”, “Have you ever prayed about it?”
- 3
Look for religious pieces in the car. The first place I look is the dashboard, that's where people keep a rosary, cross or statue. Ask what it is and what they believe, then ask, “Have you ever heard about Jesus?”
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Preach the gospel in its simplicity. The gospel is: Jesus came to die for their sins to bring them into fellowship with God. Simple. Let them know that for whatever problem they're facing, Jesus is the answer.
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Ask to pray for them. Ask if they'd like you to pray for anything they're going through, and pray after the ride ends. This is your chance to ask if they have any pain in their body and watch God work miracles that build their faith.
Yes. Not every believer holds the office of an Evangelist, but every believer is called to evangelize. The primary sign that you've received the Holy Spirit is being a witness for Christ (Acts 1:8). Evangelism isn't a suggestion, it's the very reason you were left on earth after you gave your heart to Christ. You were saved so you could help save others.
Acts 1:8
Shyness usually means your conviction isn't strong enough yet. If you had the only cure for a disease everyone around you was dying of, you wouldn't hesitate to give it away. Fully grasp that the Gospel is the only saving power for all men. Spend more time in the Word than in the world, the more you identify with Christ, the less you'll fear standing out.
Acts 4:12
Embarrassment is taught, a mental construct the world uses to condition you. So counter-condition yourself. Do the thing you find embarrassing once (preach open air), then discipline yourself to do it again and again. It'll feel weird at first, but your spirit, soul and body will be re-trained to know it's normal, because it is. And pray for boldness, like the apostles did; God's answer was to fill them afresh with the Spirit.
Acts 4:29-31
More than you know. Once, the Lord led me to preach to a lady who had given her heart to Christ three months earlier, because someone preached open air on the subway and she went home and got saved. If that preacher had judged themselves 'ineffective' because no one responded on the spot, they'd have missed the fruit entirely. Jesus Himself preached to crowds far more often than one-on-one. Seeds take time.
1 Corinthians 3:6
Start with a solid understanding of the Gospel, then pray and plan. Pray for your hearers' hearts to be open, against any hindrance, and for your own boldness. Then: pick a central, visible, audible spot; greet people warmly; find a real human problem and show how the Gospel is the solution to it; and make the call to salvation clearly. When you pray beforehand, God goes ahead of you and softens hearts, you'll say things you never planned.
Luke 4:18
Be genuinely friendly, compliment them, introduce yourself, ask how their day is going, and use the environment (school, work, the commute) to connect. Then segue in. A few openers that work: “How do you cope with the ups and downs of life?”, “Have you tried praying about it?”, or simply, “Do you believe in Jesus?” Listen attentively, people can tell when you actually care.
If you're planning ahead, yes, prepare. But sometimes the Lord will tell you to preach spontaneously, so you must always stay ready with a foundational grasp of the Gospel. Preparing starts in prayer: God will tell you what to talk about, maybe your testimony, maybe the love of God. Write the main points, search the scriptures, and keep it simple and jargon-free so anyone can receive it.
Ephesians 6:15
Don't leave people without a point of contact. Hand out a devotional like Rhapsody of Realities so they can keep growing. Invite them to a church community where they can be discipled, remember, Jesus told us to make disciples, not just converts. And where you can, get their contact details so you can check in. Discipleship should always be on your mind.
Yes, start now. Jesus had all the answers and they still killed Him, so having every answer was never the requirement. As Pastor Chris Oyakhilome says: preach the Gospel with what you know, at the level you're at, and trust the Holy Spirit to maximize your impact as you grow. Many have given their hearts to Christ over 'Jesus loves you and died for your sins.' Don't wait to feel ready, you may never feel it.
Understand the dynamics of salvation. Not everyone will accept it, and someone not responding today doesn't mean they never will. Words are seeds; hearts are soil. You may be the one increasing the fertility of that soil so the next person reaps the harvest. And remember, if they reject the Gospel, they haven't rejected you. They've rejected Christ. Don't take it personally; keep sowing.
Matthew 7:13
Continuous fire isn't a prayer request, it's the result of applying revealed principles. Fire needs fuel. Be consistent and intentional: pray with a focused mind (see yourself winning souls), study and meditate on the Word, evangelize, go to church, and surround yourself with people who stir you up. You won't always feel like it, do it anyway. Distraction is the number one reason believers go stagnant.
Every moment is the perfect moment.
You were designed to be the answer to the cry of many. Stop waiting.