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OUR GOSPEL STORY

God dwelling among us. Jesus, taken to the cross on behalf of our brokenness and raised to

eternal life. The hope of the nations. The light in our darkness. The only answer for those

crushed and bruised by a world that moves too quickly, tempting us to doubt and cling

only to what is fleeting and passing.

This is what the gospel is.

When we dreamt up Our Gospel Story, it started with this question: If Christ-followers don’t

show & share the only love that heals all, who will? If we don’t reach out to friends and

neighbors, family and strangers, who are journeying this life without the knowledge of a

God who loves them, then how will they ever hear?

If you were to stop and think about how many people you shared the gospel message with

this year, what would you say? 20? 10? 5? 1? 0?

A Lifeway Research survey showed that 79% of unchurched people would engage in a

faith conversation if a friend asked them. Yet only 39% of Christians said that they

shared with someone how to become a Christian in a 6-month period.

So although many still need to hear of a God who loves them unconditionally, too many of

us aren’t talking.

O U R G O S P E L S T O R Y . C O M

INTRODUCTION

“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom

they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” - Romans 10:14

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OUR GOSPEL STORY : INTRODUCTION

Our Gospel Story began with the understanding that no matter how much we read our

Bibles or how deep our own walk with God is, our theology only comes to life when we put

it into action.

Our Gospel Story is a six-chapter journey that you can take individually, with a few friends,

in small groups, or with your church community. It was created to serve as a resource

which would equip and encourage you to show & share the love of Jesus in a broken and

hurting world.

The story of God is the story of a collective community of people being transformed into his

likeness and beauty. We are one body, made up of many parts. Without each part, we

cannot effectively do what God has called us to do.

This is as much true for evangelism as it is for any other activity or service we take part in.

Research has shown that it typically takes 10-12 ‘gospel encounters’ (that is, seeds planted)

before someone comes to trust in Jesus. Your seed may be #8 in a line of 10, but it is no less

important.

We believe that evangelism is a communal effort that finds its perfection in a myriad of

styles and personalities. As we collectively engage in showing & sharing the love of Jesus

with those around us, God’s Spirit moves and increasingly woos unbelievers to himself.

So our witness is collective and manifests itself in a thousand different ways. But it’s also

centered on one message: the good news of God. Our witness is never about us. It’s about a

God who came into our world to reconcile it to himself.

The gospel is always God-centered; it is he we lift high.

Finally, our witness is an ongoing narrative. It’s the book that hasn’t ended—it has been

written by the hand of God but requires our participation, intellect, and commitment.

God’s grand story of creation to re-creation is written into our lives in countless ways. We

must find our unique story and our unique voice that communicates this well with a world

that needs to discover its place in God’s grand story.

Why ‘Our Gospel Story’?

O U R G O S P E L S T O R Y . C O M

We have been put here for a purpose, and that is to make Jesus known and loved.

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Our Gospel Story contains four pieces:

• Our Gospel Story Apartment Stories main interactive evangelism video

• Companion “Going Deeper” training videos

• A six-chapter downloadable curriculum

• Companion Spiritual Disciplines & Evangelism downloadable booklet

Our Gospel Story begins with “Our Gospel Story,” the main interactive evangelism video. As

you choose and make decisions along the way, and then go back and choose to make

different decisions, seek to hear what God is saying to you.

Is there a path you would naturally choose when it comes to gospel witness? Do you

hesitate to start a faith conversation or go further? Do you wonder how even to share the

gospel? Use the interactive video as a launching point for this six-chapter series.

In addition to the interactive video, we have created 10 additional videos, each led by Dr.

Jerry Root, Professor of Evangelism at Wheaton College. Each video is 2-4 minutes in length

and is intended to be viewed at various points throughout the six chapters, or whenever

you have questions. These are meant to help you dig deeper into the following topics:

• What is the content of the gospel?

• What is the role of sympathy & empathy in evangelism?

• How do we use public questions?

• How do we pray for gospel conversations?

• How do we integrate the gospel into all disciplines?

• Outtake stories of evangelism

• How do we work through our fear of evangelism?

• What’s the role of the Holy Spirit in evangelism?

• What are my next steps if someone accepts Jesus?

• What are my next steps if someone rejects Jesus?

How to Use Our Gospel Story

O U R G O S P E L S T O R Y . C O M 3


The six-chapter study is intended to be completed within three months from start to finish.

Each chapter may be completed in anywhere from 7 to 14 days—any shorter and we believe

what your learn won’t be soaked up for lasting effect; any longer and the momentum that

kickstarts you to a new passion and habit won’t be as effective.

If possible, we invite you to journey through Our Gospel Story with others who can speak

into your own evangelism ethos and style, hold you accountable, and join you in

excitement as you see how God can use YOU to lead others to faith in Jesus.

Scripture reminds us that there is much joy in heaven when even one sinner repents, and

we think this joy should extend to earth as well. Our joy in seeing God use all of us to bring

his goodness inspires us to make the most of every moment to show & share his love with

those around us.

Evangelism isn’t hard, but too many of us have been held back by obstacles (whether

internal or external) that have allowed our love for sharing Jesus to grow lukewarm.

The truth is, though, every day we are given new beginnings and opportunities if we have

eyes to see them.

If God desires all to be saved, what does this mean for us? Our prayer for you is that God

would use this journey to build a passion for showing & sharing the love of Jesus that

infiltrates all areas of your life and that leaves a trail of goodness and righteousness among

all those with whom you interact.

God has gifted each of us with the tools to share his love with others. May you see both

your life and the lives of those around you changed as we live out Our Gospel Story.

Our Gospel Story is a free resource of the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College.

To learn more about the Billy Graham Center, or to see other evangelism and missional resources,

visit billygrahamcenter.org and gospel-life.net.

A Final Word

http://www.gospel-life.net/

CHAPTER 1 : WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?

In the Greek New Testament, the word gospel is the translation of the Greek noun

euangelion, “good news,” and the verb euangelizo, meaning “to bring or announce good

news.” Both terms come from the noun angelos, which means “messenger.”

In classical Greek, an euangelos was one who brought a message of victory or other

political or personal news that caused joy. In addition, euangelizomai (the middle voice

form of the verb) meant “to speak as a messenger of gladness, to proclaim good news.”

So if the gospel is ‘good news’, what is the good news? Luke 2:10-11 declares this upon the

birth of Jesus Christ into our world:

So the good news is about the birth of Jesus. But why was this birth different from any

other? Who was this Jesus?

Matthew 3:17 answers, “And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with

him I am well pleased.’”

So Jesus was the Son of God, okay. But what else?

Second Corinthians 5:21 says, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him

we might become the righteousness of God.”

He was the sinless Son of God who took our sin upon himself so that we can be reconciled

to God.

In John 10:30, Jesus says of himself: “I and the Father are one.” And John 1:1-2 adds, “In the

beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with

God in the beginning.”

But what does Jesus actually do? Isaiah 53:5 says, “But he was pierced for our

transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace

was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”

DEFINING THE GOSPEL MESSAGE

"But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all

the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.'"

So the good news is Jesus—one with the Father, sinless, and eternally existent.

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John 3:16 explains: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that

whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

In it’s simplest form, the gospel is God sending his perfect Son into the world for our sake,

taking our sin and shame upon himself, so that we could be reconciled to God both now

and for all eternity.

And this good news—this gospel—is for all: “…God our Savior…wants all people to be saved

and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:3b-4). (To learn more about the gospel,

view "What is the Content of the Gospel?" video.)

KEY BIBLICAL PASSAGES

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in

him shall not perish but have eternal life.” - John 3:16

“All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives

forgiveness of sins through his name.” - Acts 10:43

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died

for us.” - Romans 5:8

“Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which

you re-ceived and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if

you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For

what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins

according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day

according to the Scriptures…” - 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of

righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the

washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously

through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might

become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” - Titus 3:4-7

“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the

punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”

- Isaiah 53:5


When asked to define evangelism, many of us may think we know what it is—it is sharing

the gospel (i.e., the good news of Jesus Christ) with others. And we would not be wrong.

Many of us think of evangelism in terms of proclamation—the words which speak to the

gospel message. And we would not be wrong. But it’s a little more than that.

Evangelism is birthed in a compassionate heart that seeks, whenever possible, to

demonstrate the heart of God while proclaiming him as Creator, Sustainer, Reconciler,

King, and Healer. Showing & sharing work together in tandem like the very DNA strands

that make up our bodies. It is impossible to separate our words that ask people to draw

near to God from our actions which offer empathy and kindness.

Evangelism is sharing words of hope wrapped in love.

So on its surface, evangelism is actually a very neutral, semi-pleasant activity—we work with

the Holy Spirit to tell others about the God who has changed our lives and we deeply

desire that they too would experience new life in Christ.

If that were the end of the story, then there would be no need for this type of resource.

Unfortunately, evangelism has been buried under stereotypes and pitfalls of many kinds

and has been filtered through a funnel of (often) negative emotions. In fact, we asked a

number of Christians if 'evangelism' has become a dirty word, and here is what they had to

say (link: youtube.com/watch?v=FhGqwCFg0rc). This activity that God has called to

permeate the Church’s mission in the world has been sabotaged by:

The biggest problem we have is not the activity of evangelism, but the pitfalls that keep us

from showing & sharing the love of Jesus with those who are broken, hurting, and lonely

around us.

DEFINING EVANGELISM

Simply put, evangelism is being led by the Holy Spirit to effectively & simultaneously show AND

share the love of Jesus Christ to those who haven’t yet trusted in him.

PITFALLS & STEREOTYPES

• Perceptions that evangelism is difficult

• Perceptions that only certain people are called to share the gospel

• Stereotypes of evangelism that are off-putting to Christians themselves

• Other important discipleship and faith activities

• A theology that teaches that God doesn’t need us to bring people to himself

• Apathy towards faith conversations

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhGqwCFg0rc


Jesus’ last command to us ought always be our first priority:

"

What we see in this is the command to “go” and “make disciples” in partnership with Jesus

and his Holy Spirit. No amount of good Christian activity can negate the critical

importance of evangelism. We must show & share his love with a waiting world. Sound

scary? No worries; we don’t engage in evangelism alone.

Our fear of failure, chastisement, or mockery may be high. These things may in fact halt us

in our tracks before we take the first step in telling others about Jesus. But one thing we

must remember: God is already at work in the lives of people before we even get there.

Our faith conversations have already been paved by the path of the Holy Spirit, who seeks

to woo all people to God. Consider the difference this makes as you approach the idea of

evangelism.

So God has gone before us, preparing the hearts of others. That means that he is also the

one who will open or close their hearts. John 6:44 reminds us, “No one can come to me

unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

Whether or not people say 'yes' or 'no' when we ask them to trust in Christ is not up to us,

nor is it a reflection of how well we showed & shared God’s love with them.

We can finally breathe a sigh of relief knowing that as we throw our seeds out there in love,

God will do with them what he will. (To learn more, view "What’s the Role of the Holy Spirit

in Evangelism?" video.)

OUR CALL TO SHOW & SHARE THE LOVE OF JESUS

THE ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

"Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the

Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I

am with you always, to the very end of the age.'” - MattHEW 20:18-20

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhGqwCFg0rc


REFLECTION QUESTIONS

HOMEWORK

List three people you know who haven’t yet trusted in Christ. Begin praying for each person daily—

that God would open their hearts to the good news of the gospel.

Pray about one specific way you can show & share the love of Jesus with each person this week.

Begin to memorize the Key Biblical Passages for this week.

Is this definition of the gospel different from the one you previously held? If yes, how?

When you hear the term evangelism, what is your first thought/emotion? Where do you think this

came from?

What is your understanding of the Holy Spirit’s work in our world today? Does this conflict/agree

with what scripture tells us?

Please use the following page for your own notes.

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NOTES | CHAPTER 1 : WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?

CHAPTER 2 : MY EVANGELISM : AN ASSESSMENT

In the last chapter we redefined evangelism as being led by the Holy Spirit to effectively &

simultaneously show AND share the love of Jesus Christ to those who haven’t yet trusted in

him.

Evangelism is words of hope centered on the demonstration of the work of Jesus to

reconcile all to himself and renew the wrongs in the world. It’s caring enough about all

those around us that we tell them that even in our brokenness, all is well because there is a

good God who wants to make us new.

We must let go of any stereotypes that hinder us from telling others the gospel message.

Evangelism calls us to:

REDEFINING EVANGELISM IN A NEW LIGHT

1. Be willing to follow God. Isaiah 6:8 says, “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying,

‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us. And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’”

2. Be in tune with the Holy Spirit. Luke 12:11-12 states, “When you are brought before

synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or

what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”

3. Be clear in our message. Isaiah 45:22 calls us to share with others, “Turn to Me and be

saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.” And John 14:6 says,

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father

except through me.’”

4. Be consistent in action and words. Matthew 5:15-16 says, “Neither do people light a

lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to

everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may

see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

5. Pursue it until our final breath here on earth. In Acts 20:24, Paul states, “However, I

consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the

task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”

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The foundation of prayer cannot be overstated when it comes to showing & sharing the

love of Jesus with others. We are treading on territory that can be jarring and unsettling—

parts of life that are not yet claimed by Christ and are in need of restoring.

This requires a deep connection with the Lord we love, and his guidance and wisdom in

next steps.

Matthew 9:37-38 says, “Then He said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the

workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest

field.’”

We ask God for help as we, his workers, go out.

A quick note: this passage does not mean we just pray for others to go. God has called all of

us to show & share his love with those around us. But this begins with and is covered in

prayer, whether that’s a whisper of help or an hour set aside for interceding for another

before we go.

We are not engaging in evangelism if all we do is pray for others to trust in Christ and his

work on the cross. Prayer is vitally important, but it’s not the only necessary thing.

Evangelism requires us to show the love of Christ through our actions AND tell others of

the love of Christ with words. Both/and, not either/or. Our demonstration of care and

compassion emphasizes the transformative work of Christ in our lives. When others see the

way God loves through us, they will be drawn to him.

So prayer and evangelism go hand in hand. One cannot exist without the other.

THE ROLE OF PRAYER

THE ROLE OF ACTION

Warning!

It is important to reject any notion that evangelism is ‘works-based’ and is part of our

salvation. We do not show & share the love of Jesus with others so that we can earn

brownie points with God; we engage in evangelism because we love him, and want

others to know about his love for them.

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After we have properly defined evangelism, we are at the point of taking a hard look at

ourselves and assessing how we are doing when it comes to showing & sharing the love of

Jesus with others. Take five minutes and consider ways in which you showed AND shared

the love of Jesus with others over the past one year, two years, five years, and when first

trusting in Christ.

Now honestly answer these questions:

A PERSONAL ASSESSMENT: HOW AM i DOING?

1. On a scale of 1 to 10, as far as you can remember, when you first trusted in Christ, how

passionate were you about telling others about Jesus (10 being very excited; 1 being

not at all excited)?

2. On a scale of 1 to 10, how passionate are you today when it comes to telling others

about Jesus (10 being very excited; 1 being not at all excited)?

3. How often do you pray for others to trust in Christ?

Daily

Weekly

Monthly

Rarely

Never

4. How often do you share some part of the gospel with others?

Daily

Weekly

Monthly

Rarely

Never

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5. How often do you pray for opportunities to share the gospel with others?

Daily

Weekly

Monthly

Rarely

Never

6. In the past year, how often have you been in a conversation that may have led to a

gospel conversation if you hadn’t cut it short?

Never

1-5 times

6-10 times

More than 10 times

7. On a scale of 1 to 10, how easy is it for you to ‘show’ the love of Jesus with others

through acts of kindness (1 being easy; 10 being hard)?

8. On a scale of 1 to 10, how easy is it for you to ‘share’ the love of Jesus with others

through the verbal proclamation of the gospel (1 being easy; 10 being hard)?

9. When you hear the word evangelism, what general emotions stir up within you?

Circle all that apply.

Fear

Ambivilence

Apathy

Confusion

Anger

Excitement

Joy

Other _____________________________

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10. When you hear of people leading others to Jesus, what general emotions stir up

within you? Circle all that apply.

Joy

Excitement

Gratitude

Jealousy

Resentment

Sadness

Other _____________________________

If your answers to these questions seem disheartening to you, don’t be discouraged!

Honesty is the first step towards discovering a new way of seeing things, and a new

openness to trying new things.

Evangelism is a lifelong journey of learning to be authentic and holistic in our love for

others and our witness of a God who desires all to be saved and come to a knowledge of

himself.

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HOMEWORK

Continue to pray for opportunities to show & share the love of Jesus with each of the three people

you have been praying for.

Find at least one creative way this week to show the love of Jesus with each of the three people you

have been praying for. This could be sending them a card of appreciation or prayer, bringing them

flowers, mowing their lawn, offering a meal, etc.

Spend at least 20-30 minutes this week doing an honest assessment of your passion for evangelism,

asking God to birth in you a spirit of openness and excitement in sharing the good news with those

around you.

Does this new definition of evangelism as showing & sharing the love of Jesus where God is already

at work excite you or scare you?

As you look around our world, do you feel the church is doing a good job at evangelism? If so, how? If

not, why?

How can you put your prayers for those who haven’t trusted in Jesus into tangible acts of love? If

you aren’t doing this already, what is holding you back?


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NOTES : CHAPTER 2 : MY EVANGELISM : AN ASSESSMENT

CHAPTER 3 : OBSTACLES IN EVANGELISM

For many of us, the unknown can be terrifying—and as creatures who are highly social and

connected to each other, the unknown of how someone will respond to something we say

can even cause us to say nothing at all.

When it comes to the gospel, silence is never satisfying. Even as our hearts can burn within

us to tell others about the loving heart and forgiving nature of Jesus, our fears often win

out. Whether real or perceived, fear is our enemy when it comes to evangelism. The Bible

tells us much about how to deal with fear.

Take a moment and consider what role fear plays in your life, especially when it comes to

evangelism. Now re-read the verses above, knowing that God has called us to move past

fear into faith. After all, the unknown may include realities and responses more positive

and responsive than you could imagine. (To learn more, view "How Do We Work through

Our Fear of Evangelism?" video.)

MOVING PAST FEAR

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen

you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

- Isaiah 41:10

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with

thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all

understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

- Philippians 4:6-7

“Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the

world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid.”

- John 14:27

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

- 2 Timothy 1:7

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with

punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

- 1 John 4:18

"When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.”

- Psalm 94:19

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If we are honest, none of us enjoys reading the warning given to the Church of Laodicea in

Revelation 3:14-17:

It is not uncommon that there are moments when our love for God wanes. Each morning,

we wake up and must work to keep God at the center of our lives. This world clamors to

get our attention and take our eyes off the One who matters most of all. Some of these are

very good things, like family, friends, and work. Others are either neutral or harmful.

Regardless, when our lives get so full that days pass without even a moment when we are

concerned about reaching others with the love of Jesus, something has gone wrong. The

eternal has been crowded out by the temporal.

When you consider evangelism, are you complacent? Apathetic? Does the thought of

evangelism not excite or interest you? There can be many reasons this is the case,

including poor examples of others doing it wrong, inexperience of what it’s like to lead

another to Jesus, or biblical illiteracy concerning either the importance of showing &

sharing the love of Jesus on a regular basis or our missional mandate. The Bible has much

to say about the singular importance of our faith and witness.

MOVING PAST COMPLACENCY

"These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s

creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one

or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you

out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.'”

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off

every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance

the race set out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith,

who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at

the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such hostility from

sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.…” - Hebrews 12:1-3

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be

added to you.” - Matthew 6:33

“Making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if

you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and

search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and

find the knowledge of God.” - Proverbs 2:2-5


Take a moment and consider what role complacency plays in your life, especially when it

comes to evangelism. Now re-read the verses above, knowing that God has called us to

love him with our whole heart. We must not let the things of this world crowd out our

opportunities for showing & sharing his love with others.

Like any other relationship, time is critical. The more time we spend with someone, the

more we come to know him or her and understand him or her. Our love is reflected in

what we sacrifice in order to be with that person.

This is also true with God. We have developed a companion resource called Spiritual

Disciplines & Evangelism which you will find at ourgospelstory.com that we encourage you

read through. Investing time in practicing the spiritual disciplines is a good way to draw

near to God and learn more about his heartbeat for our broken and hurting world.

Tom* had been praying for opportunities to show & share the love of Jesus with others for

months. It seemed like a dry season of life when it came to his witness. As Tom continued

to pray, God began bringing to mind Dale*, a neighbor who lived down the street and who

he knew only slightly. Tom had heard that Dale had recently lost his father to a heart

attack. Tom decided to reach out to Dale and invite him to breakfast one day, and Dale

took him up on the offer.

As the two talked and got to know each other, Tom shared how he had heard that Dale

had recently lost his father and asked him how he was doing. Dale began to open up about

how it was causing him to reassess what is important and how he spends his time. He also

shared that he had been trying to keep himself busy because he didn't know how to

handle the grief.

Tom shared words of encouragement, even offering to mow his lawn each week so that

Dale could take that time instead to be by himself and process his grief. And Tom offered

to meet weekly with Dale to be a listening ear and offer encouragement.

DEVELOPING A DEEPER LOVE OF GOD

“Come near to God and he will come near to you.” - James 4:8

A STORY TO INSPIRE

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http://www.ourgospelstory.com/


Only four weeks later, during one breakfast meeting, Dale finally asked Tom, “How did you

know I needed someone to talk with when you contacted me weeks ago?" Tom told Dale

about his prayer and about God’s prompting.

He began to tell Dale about who God is and his desire to heal Dale and draw him near to

himself as a result of this loss. Dale responded, and two weeks later, after Tom asked him,

“Dale, is there any reason you shouldn’t trust in Christ right now?” Dale’s answer was,

“There’s not, and I’d like to!” and he gave his life to Christ.

Since that time, Dale has been attending church with Tom and his family and Dale’s wife

and kids have recently started attending as well.

* pseudonym

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HOMEWORK

Spend at least 20-30 minutes in prayer, asking God to lessen the obstacles that hold you back from

sharing his love with those around you.

Ask one person in your life who you believe is passionate about showing & sharing the love of Jesus

with others what motivates him or her and how he or she goes about it.

Find at least one creative way this week to show the love of Jesus with each of the three people you

have been praying for.

What is the biggest obstacle that holds you back when it comes to evangelism? How do you think

this came about?

Think about scripture. What is one example of showing & sharing the love of Jesus that inspires you?

Who serves as a model to you when it comes to evangelism? As you consider his or her life, what

takeaways might encourage you to step out in faith when it comes to evangelism?


22

NOTES : CHAPTER 3 : OBSTACLES IN EVANGELISM

CHAPTER 4 : FINDING MY EVANGELISM ‘NATURAL PLACE ’

No two people are the same. We take in—and offer out—emotions, processing, and

thoughts in an infinite number of ways. When 1 Corinthians 12 tells us about the “gifts of

the Spirit” and the “parts of the body,” it isn’t simply a recognition of how we serve fellow

believers. Our gifts are given to us for the good of both the church and the world.

If you have the gift of service, mercy, teaching, or encouragement, it is for your non-

Christian neighbor or friend. It’s for the checkout clerk at the grocery store and the

homeless man on the street. It’s for the angry co-worker and the tired and weary mom.

Too many of us think that we need to have the gift of an ‘evangelist’ (Eph. 4:11) to engage in

evangelism. More of us think that because we aren’t pastors or counselors or ‘professional’

missionaries, we aren’t as capable of showing & sharing the love of Jesus with those around

us.

Consider for a moment if all those with the gift of evangelist, pastor, and full-time

missionary were suddenly unable to share the gospel with others. This would be a small

number—maybe less than 10% of the Christian population. Eliminate these groups and we

still have 90% of the Church—you! If everyone had your perspective on evangelism, how far

would the gospel reach?

In his book, A History of the Expansion of Christianity, historian Kenneth Scott Latourette

writes about the spread of the gospel this way:

It is not a mistake that God made us each differently. Take a few minutes and consider

how God has made you. What are your top gifts, talents, or passions?

WHY GOD MADE US EACH DIFFERENT

"The chief agents in the expansion of Christianity appear not to have been those who

made it a profession or a major part of their occupation, but men and women who

earned their livelihood in some purely secular manner and spoke of their faith to those

whom they met in this natural fashion."

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CHAPTER 4 : FINDING MY EVANGELISM 'NATURAL PLACE '

Certain things transcend personalities and giftings when it comes to evangelism, and one

of the key components is a clear presentation of the gospel message. Let’s remind

ourselves what the gospel is:

So despite how we may go about evangelism, our message must include the key concepts

of sin, forgiveness, and redemption. We cannot scoot by one of these; if we do, the gospel

message crumbles.

That said, we are all made differently. How one goes about sharing the gospel may look

very different from someone else. This is where the general concept of 1 Corinthians 12

comes in.


“…speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of

him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together

by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its

work.” - Ephesians 4:15-16

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are

different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in

all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the

manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” - 1 Corinthians 12: 4-7

“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is

with Christ….Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many….Now you are the

body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” - 1 Corinthians 12: 12, 14, 27

“All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the

ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not

counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of

reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through

us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

- 2 Corinthians 5:18-20

DIFFERENT EVANGELISM STYLES

In its simplest form, the gospel is God sending his perfect Son into the world for our sake, taking our

sin and shame upon himself, so that we could be reconciled to God both now and for all eternity.

25


In their book, Becoming a Contagious Christian, Bill Hybels and Mark Mittleberg point out

that there are a variety of different evangelism styles:

• Confrontational (Peter, Acts 2)

• Intellectual / Philosophical (Paul, Acts 17)

• Testimonial (Blind Man, John 9)

• Invitational (Woman at the Well, John 4)

• Serving (Dorcas/Tabitha), Acts 9: 36ff)

• Signs and Wonders (1 Corinthians 2:1-5)

Intervarsity Christian Fellowship created their own list of nine ‘witness’ styles. These, they

note, are “not so much styles of evangelism as they are natural or default ways of relating to

people, which then serves effective evangelism.” The nine styles are:

• Prophetic (Stephen, Acts 7; John the Baptist, Mark 6; Jesus, Matthew 15)

• Proclamation (Peter, Acts 3; Philip, Acts 8; Jesus, Luke 4)

• Intellectual (Paul, Acts 17; Jesus, Matthew 22)

• Storyteller (King Solomon, Proverbs 7; Jesus, Matthew 12, Matthew 13 and Luke 15)

• Testimonial (Blind man, John 9; Paul, Acts 26; Jesus, John 14-15)

• Interactive (Andrew with Simon, John 1; Jesus with the Samaritan woman, John 4)

• Invitational (Samaritan woman, John 4; Levi, Matthew 5; Jesus, Mark 1)

• Service (Paralytic’s friends, Mark 2; Disciples, Acts 6; Jesus, John 13)

• Power Encounter (Elijah and Philip, Acts 8; Apostles, Acts 5; Jesus, John 4)

We commend both of these resources to you as excellent starting points for discovering

what style would feel most comfortable to you as you show & share the love of Jesus with

others.

However, because we believe that each of us likely have manifestations of many of these at

one time or other—and that each situation requires something different—we instead

believe that looking at our personalities and passions is a good starting point for how we

will approach others with the gospel.

26

https://evangelism.intervarsity.org/resource/discover-your-witness-style-9-styles-explained


Many of us have heard of and taken personality tests that tell us if we are extroverted or

introverted, shy or outspoken, hesitant or daring, calculated or quickly adaptable. Take a

few minutes and consider your own personality by answering the following questions:

A PERSONAL ASSESSMENT: WHAT IS MY PERSONALITY?

• Do I generally prefer being alone, or with other people?

• Do large crowds make me nervous, or excite me?

• Do I like confrontation when done well, or do I try to avoid it at all costs?

• Do I take time to warm up to people, or is it easy for me to get into conversations quickly?

• Am I driven more by relationships or tasks?

• Am I driven more by emotions or by facts and data?

• Am I often moved by personal stories, or do I find it hard to emotionally connect with what isn’t

scientifically proven?

27


These may seem like random questions, but here’s what this exercise does: it allows you to

take some time to assess who God made YOU to be. If you are doing this study with a small

group, go through these questions together. How are you like others; how are you different

from others? What patterns do you notice?

• Do I generally prefer to put others before myself, or are other people often a side thought?

• Do I feel best when I am giving of myself financially? Through service? Through intellectual

thought? Through creative means?

• When I am in a hurry, how easy is it for me to interrupt what I am doing if I see needs around me?

28


In addition to the above questions, one reflective question more than perhaps any other

can serve as a launching point to help you engage in gospel conversations:

Some may say reading. Others may say spending time with family. Still others say being in

nature. Others may say cooking. The options are as endless as the differences in each of us:

cooking, calculus, crafting, biking, sailing, sewing, gaming…

Consider these as natural places and launching points for you to begin to engage others in

gospel conversations.

If you love to read, how can a book club and your love of certain genres help you engage

others around the gospel? If gaming is your thing, how can you use the online community

as a place to begin to show & share the love of Jesus with others? If nature is where you feel

most comfortable, head to a park and strike up a conversation with another person about

the beauty around you, tying it back to the Creator God.

Your love is your natural platform that will most naturally pull out your evangelism passion

and ‘style’. The easiest way to engage others with the gospel is by starting at a place of

intrinsic joy. Our love for Polish food leads us to the Polish section of the store, where we

may meet others with a similar love.

Then it gets exciting. You can dive in using public questions (see Chapter 5). Do you have a

Polish heritage? When did your ancestors immigrate here? What are some of the Polish

traditions you celebrate? What about around the holidays? And before you know it, you are

in a gospel conversation that began from a mutual place of excitement and is grounded in

you ‘showing’ the love of Jesus because you are asking good questions. This may lead to

‘sharing’ the gospel message if God opens the door.

The issue in evangelism is not whether we are introverted or extroverted. The thread of

evangelism is that God has uniquely gifted each of us with passions—whether broad like

‘loving being with people’ or narrow like developing the best white chili in our

neighborhood. And each space needs people who are either soft-spoken or blunt, assertive

or reserved.

THE ONE BIG QUESTION

What is the one thing that excites you more than anything else in the world?

EMBRACING HOW GOD MADE US

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Take five minutes and consider the opportunities God might give you which surround your

biggest passion in life. How can you use your great joy to integrate the gospel in a way that

those around you will open the door wide for a faith conversation? Write any notes here.

Your passion is not an accident. In fact, it just may be an open door that none can close.

30



HOMEWORK

Spend at least 20-30 minutes asking God to reveal to you your personality and passions that may

lead to gospel conversations. Take notes about what you hear from God and ideas you may get.

Make a list of possible ways to use your passion to begin showing & sharing the love of Jesus with

other like-minded people.

Ask God if there is a way to use your passion when you engage the three people for whom you’ve been

praying and begun reaching out.

what would you say your 'passions' are?

How much has others’ ‘personal evangelism styles’ influenced you, either for better or worse? Have

you ever thought of evangelism as expressed through your ‘passions’?

How do you think your own passions can be assets for the kingdom?


31

NOTES : CHAPTER 4 : FINDING MY EVANGELISM 'NATURAL PLACE '

CHAPTER 5 : BEGINNING A GOSPEL CONVERSATION

Before we begin a gospel conversation, it is worth considering strategies that can make our

conversations more fruitful. Seek to memorize these seven, as they will serve you well

when you engage others with the good news.

SEVEN FOUNDATIONAL PRACTICES

Strategy #1: Love Jesus. This may seem silly, but it’s actually one of the key reasons

people either don’t engage in evangelism, or do it poorly. We must be so in love with

our beloved Savior that not talking about him would seem very odd since he is our #1

priority. We have found our true love and want to tell the world about him. Let Psalm

51:1 be your mantra: “Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise.”

Strategy #2: Spend a lot of time with God. A lot. Read scripture, pray, maybe even

journal. Make these things a priority so that other things don’t crowd them out. We

must take very seriously what God has called us to and we ought to want to do it with

excellence. Let Colossians 3:23 be your mantra: “Whatever you do, work at it with all

your heart, as working for the Lord.”

Strategy #3: Be bold. No, not bold as in, “Let me tell you how to get out of hell, you

who I just met on the street.” Rather, bold as in, you are not afraid to speak the name

of Jesus or to celebrate his goodness. Ignore the voice of doubt that whispers, “Who

are you to tell people about Jesus?” Understand that Jesus is Lord and Savior and the

hope of the world, and be unashamed to say so! Let Romans 1:16 be your mantra: “For I

am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to

everyone who believes.”

Strategy #4: Embrace humility. As followers of Christ who are filled with his Holy

Spirit, we never take the credit for leading people to Jesus. It is always God’s work.

Understand it is God’s world, God’s field, God’s saving grace. Like the Apostle Paul, we

can let 1 Corinthians 9:16 be our mantra: “For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast,

since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!”

Strategy #5: Be a good reporter. Ask good questions: “So, tell me more about

yourself…” or “Do you have a faith background?” Whatever the question, understand

that Jesus’ modus operandi was often to ask questions to get people thinking. It’s a

way of engaging others on a deeper and more meaningful level.

33


Showing & sharing the love of Jesus with others requires sensitivity and the ability to work

with the Holy Spirit. As much as we’d like to jump ahead at times, most of the

conversations we will have will take time. They require us showing love by being patient

and interested in each person for who God made them to be.

We begin, therefore, with respecting people’s privacy even if outwardly they seem to be

hurting. We begin with ‘public’ questions—these are questions that are known to many. (To

learn more about public questions, view "The Role of Public Questions" video.) For

example, we can ask:

• What is your name?

• Where are you from?

• (If traveling) What brings you to ____ ?

• Do you have family here?

• Do you work around here?

As people answer these questions, they will give you more information as to where the

conversation may head and how open they are willing to be. We must never go where

people don’t show an openness to go. If we try to engage people in conversation and they

only answer with short, curt statements, we needn’t keep pressing further. The timing may

not be right. But as people give us more information, we can go further in conversation. It

is at this point when spiritual questions enter the scene.

WHERE DO I START?

Strategy #6: Be a good listener. As followers of Christ, we take on the character of

Christ, one of which is listening well. Listening = caring. Otherwise, we are just a

“clanging cymbal or a resounding gong.” We must remember that we have two ears and

one mouth for a reason. We must listen intently and ask God for guidance in

responding. We can let James 1:19 be our mantra: “Everyone should be quick to listen,

slow to speak and slow to become angry.”

Strategy #7: Believe God has called YOU to evangelism. Oftentimes, we ‘non-

evangelist’ people see evangelists as better and more righteous and holy than us. We

erroneously believe they are closer to God and have it all together. The truth is, the more

time we spend with evangelist friends, the more we realize they are just like us. They

have fears and uncertainties that occasionally paralyze them. They get bumps and

bruises along the way. But they always get back up and continue to live in a manner

worthy of what God has called them to. This must be our strategy as well.

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Jesus was the master of using questions to engage his audience. Who of you by worrying

can add a single hour to his life? Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s

eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? What did you go out into the desert

to see? Why do you call me good?

In Mark 10, we read about Jesus engaging the blind man Bartimaeus, who was sitting

beside the road as Jesus walked by. As he shouted, people told him to be quiet, but Jesus

stopped and engaged the man with this question: “What do you want me to do for you?”

(Mark 10:51).

His question addressed the man’s need—and need is often the place where the gospel can

penetrate the deepest.

But what kind of questions can you use to move your conversations in a spiritual direction?

Here are a number that are non-confrontational, yet direct:

Pray for God to give you an opportunity as you engage with those around you to use the

above questions. As you move through conversations, there will inevitably be a good

moment to ask one of the above.

Although there is only one gospel, there is no one way to share the gospel. Sometimes, it

will feel natural and easy. This can especially be the case if someone is going through a

difficult time and there is a felt need for comfort and hope.

Other times, sharing the gospel may be a lengthy process, planting seeds one by one until

the time of harvest.

QUESTIONS TO SEGUE INTO A GOSPEL CONVERSATION

• Do you have a spiritual background? What is your spiritual heritage?

• What one thing would you ask God?

• Would you tell me your story?

• Can I pray for you?

• Where’s your hope?

• What’s the greatest thing that’s happened to you?

• When you hear someone talk about Jesus, what are your thoughts?

LISTENING TO GOD

35


When we are in relationships with people who seem to have it all together and are in

‘good’ seasons of life, it may seem more difficult to talk about Jesus. We may ask where the

felt need is. But regardless of where someone is at in life, there is always an opportunity to

praise God for the good things around us.

The key is always listening for God’s promptings—either ones that move us forward, or that

tell us when to stop. Severed from the guiding hand of the Holy Spirit, we may push too

hard—or not hard enough—when it comes to evangelism. Take a few minutes to ask God to

guide you as you engage in gospel conversations in the days to come.

“For at that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you should say.” - Luke 12:12

“Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” - Exodus 4:12

36



HOMEWORK

Seek to begin a faith conversation this week with at least one of the three people you’ve been

praying for and reaching out to.

Spend 20-30 minutes in prayer, asking God to prepare your heart and the person’s heart for the

conversation.

Make your own list of questions that you feel comfortable with when engaging others in a faith

conversation.

Does the idea of beginning a conversation about the gospel excite you or scare you?

Which of the three people you’ve been praying for and reaching out to seem the most receptive to

going deeper into a faith conversation? How can you reach out to that person this week to take

that next step?

How does the role of the Holy Spirit make our evangelism more ‘do-able’?


37

NOTES : CHAPTER 5 : BEGINNING A GOSPEL CONVERSATION

CHAPTER 6 : THE INVITATION

It’s the big moment when we utter the words, “Is there any reason you shouldn’t trust Jesus

right now?” Inside, we might be filled with anxiety, and that’s okay. But what we must

remember is that the moment is not about us; it’s about following God because he wants

to see people come to a knowledge of himself: “…God our Savior, who wants all people to

be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4).

We ask people to trust in Jesus Christ because they need him. We all do. We ask because

we love them and want them to experience new life in Christ both now and forever. We

ask because the person hasn’t trusted in Jesus. And he or she needs to.

Once we have moved through public questions to spiritual questions and we sense an

openness to Jesus, the next logical step is to make the ask. Here is where, too often, people

cut bait. We may be in a great conversation only to cut it short. Don’t do it! If God has led

you to the point of seeming openness on the part of the other person, don’t cut off the

work of the Holy Spirit. Be a vessel that God wants to use to communicate his full gospel

message to that person.

The simple question, “Is there any reason you shouldn’t trust in Jesus right now?” allows the

person the dignity to answer yes or no. It leaves the door open if more conversation needs

to happen, and gives you the peace of knowing that in that instance, it is between God and

that person on next steps.

TRANSITIONING INTO THE INVITATION

"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” - Romans 10:13

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings

salvation to everyone who believes…” - Romans 1:16

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it

is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” - Ephesians 2:8-9

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes

in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the

world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” - John 3:16-17


39


Sometimes things don’t go well when we engage in evangelism. We may honestly seek to

show & share the love of Jesus to another who may not accept what we are saying. There

are many reasons this may be the case:

Remember, no attempt to share the gospel is a bad attempt. There will be times when

people say no, and that’s okay. (To learn more about how to respond when someone

rejects the gospel, view the "What If Someone Says 'No' to the Gospel?" video.) It is

important in these moments to:

WHAT DO I DO IF SOMEONE SAYS 'NO'?

• The timing may not be right. God may still be working on the person’s heart. He may

need us to simply continue to witness of his grace and love. We are a stepping stone in

that person’s faith journey.

• He or she may have unanswered questions when it comes to the Christian faith. The

person may be on the road to faith but needs to resolve a few concerns first. Perhaps we

can play that role and help him or her discover the answers; perhaps it will be someone

else to come alongside the person. Regardless, our efforts are not in vain.

• The person may be hostile to the Christian faith because of past experiences and

hurts. This may take time and continual compassion and care in order for the person to

begin to open his or her heart to matters related to faith. Sometimes, we can act as

surrogates, offering an apology on behalf of Christians who did not act as scripture calls

us to.

1. Don't take it personally. Remember, the faith journey is God’s doing. How people

respond to us is not an outright rejection of us or a reflection of our evangelism.

2. Keep on loving. The worst thing we can do when people says no is to then reject

them or treat them differently in any way. Our evangelism is not a task to be done—it’s

a relationship to be nourished. Romans 5:8 must reverberate through our very being:

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ

died for us.” We emulate God in all things. Whether in Christ or apart from Christ,

we are called to treat all people equally with love.

40


There is nothing in the world like having the privilege of leading others to trust in Jesus

Christ as their Lord and Savior. Any number of emotions can bubble to the surface—joy,

relief, praise, even fear.

Yes, even fear. We wonder, What do I do now that _________ has trusted in Christ? You will

have now been pushed into Discipleship 101. At this point, based on each situation, you can

take any number of directions:

The point is this: As much as you are able, continue the journey with them. If it’s someone

you led to Christ during travels, seek to stay in touch via email, texting, and calling. If it’s

someone in your area, provide them with tools and community where you live. Like

anything else in life, the Christian faith walk is best done in community and

companionship. (To learn more about how to respond when someone accepts the gospel,

view the "What If Someone Says 'Yes' to the Gospel?" video.)

Additionally, here are a few key passages to talk through immediately after a person has

trusted in Christ:

WHAT DO I DO IF SOMEONE SAYS 'YES'?

• Offer to purchase a Bible for them and begin a Bible study with them

• Invite them to an Alpha class or some other such group for new believers

• Invite them to church with you

• Offer to purchase additional reading/audio materials created for new believers

• Point them to digital resources where they can grow in their new faith

“Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life.” - John 6:47

“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have

sent.” - John 17:3

Matthew 13 - The Parable of the Sower

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Just as we didn’t stop growing, learning, and trusting when we first accepted Christ, so too

when others come to faith, it is only the first step in what we pray will be a lifelong love

affair with the God who loves them. Our goals as we disciple others are the very goals we

are to have in our own faith life:

All of these things are found in studying God’s Word. Scripture teaches us what it looks like

to follow Christ in the easy and the hard places of life. It forces us to ask hard questions

that take us deeper in our faith, and it stretches us to live in ways that our carnal nature

could never imagine.

Your commitment to discipleship—both your own and others'—is a reflection of your

commitment to God himself. Take a few minutes and ask God to reveal areas where you

can grow in your own discipleship, and offer up your heart and life to invest in others’

journeys of faith as well.

THE ONGOING ROLE OF DISCIPLESHIP

• A passion to soak in God’s word and learn more about him and his world

• A desire to communicate to God and intercede for others through prayer

• An openness to give sacrificially of ourselves through time, money, giftings, and community

• A commitment to a lifestyle of showing & sharing the love of Jesus with others

42



HOMEWORK

Begin to memorize the Key Biblical Passages for this week.

Share the gospel message with at least one of the three people you’ve been praying for and reaching

out to.

Spend 20-30 minutes praying, asking God to stir in your heart a lifelong passion for showing & sharing

his love with our lost world.

Commit to finding ways to intentionally reach out to those around you who don’t know Jesus, making

it a high priority in your life.

Have you ever told another person about Jesus and he or she rejected the message? How did that

make you feel?

Have you ever pressed through the fear to share the gospel message with another? How did that

make you feel?

If someone were to accept Christ with you, do you feel prepared to take the next step of discipleship

with him or her? Why or why not?


43

NOTES : CHAPTER 6 : THE INVITATION

Our prayer for you is that you feel more equipped and excited to show & share the love of

Jesus with those around you then when you first began this study. As we share the good

news of the gospel, our God is honored, our faith is bolstered, and our world is changed.

Each interaction matters. Every conversation is important in God's economy.

May the Lord guide you as you follow his lead into speaking hope into our broken world.

He desires to use you to change our world. Let him do just that.

OUR PRAYER FOR YOU

"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who

proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion,

'Your God reigns!'" - Isaiah 52:7

ourgospelstory.com | billygrahamcenter.org45

in memory of Rev. billy graham. may all of us pick up the baton of gospel witness

so that our world would come to know jesus.

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