How to begin reaching the lost with the Gospel

I came across this daily devotional (By C H Spurgeon - you can read today’s by clicking here) that I feel really opens up “How to begin reaching the lost with the Gospel".

Perhaps you are a new Christian. Perhaps you have been very cold in your life and profession of faith in Jesus. Either way, we must be urgently about the Work of the Lord to reach people with the most important message any person could ever hear in this lifetime.

Spurgeon's take on How to begin reaching the lost with the Gospel

"I have yet to speak on God's behalf."Job 36:2

We ought not to court publicity for our virtue, or notoriety for our zeal; but, at the same time, it is a sin to be always seeking to hide that which God has bestowed upon us for the good of others. A Christian is not to be a village in a valley, but "a city set upon a hill;" he is not to be a candle under a bushel, but a candle in a candlestick, giving light to all. Retirement may be lovely in its season, and to hide one's self is doubtless modest, but the hiding of Christ in us can never be justified, and the keeping back of truth which is precious to ourselves is a sin against others and an offence against God. If you are of a nervous temperament and of retiring disposition, take care that you do not too much indulge this trembling propensity, lest you should be useless to the church. Seek in the name of him who was not ashamed of you to do some little violence to your feelings, and tell to others what Christ has told to you. If thou canst not speak with trumpet tongue, use the still small voice. If the pulpit must not be thy tribune, if the press may not carry on its wings thy words, yet say with Peter and John, "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee." By Sychar's well talk to the Samaritan woman, if thou canst not on the mountain preach a sermon; utter the praises of Jesus in the house, if not in the temple; in the field, if not upon the exchange; in the midst of thine own household, if thou canst not in the midst of the great family of man. From the hidden springs within let sweetly flowing rivulets of testimony flow forth, giving drink to every passer-by. Hide not thy talent; trade with it; and thou shalt bring in good interest to thy Lord and Master. To speak for God will be refreshing to ourselves, cheering to saints, useful to sinners, and honouring to the Saviour. Dumb children are an affliction to their parents. Lord, unloose all thy children's tongue.

So, the question is, when will you begin to make Him known if you have not already?

One idea to begin reaching people with the Gospel.

One of the hardest things I found in witnessing to others when I first started actively doing it, was the fear that I would not know the answers to the questions I would face. I have since found that you can never be fully prepared for what people can ask you. However, you can try to be more prepared.

“sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with.” 1 Peter 3:15.

I had a great zeal to get going somehow, but my pride hindered me from doing it in person. So I opted for witnessing to people on the internet.

Why? Because it gave me the ability to post truths about the Gospel, and then, if the person responded with a question I did not know the answer to, then it gave me time to research the subject.

I really do encourage this if you are struggling to do evangelism face to face. However, there is a great danger that we forget that the people we are speaking to are Image bearers of God. They are flesh and blood, with feelings. With a history. At one stage, I became over zealous in simply replying very quickly, giving little or no thought and prayer in doing so. We can’t assume the Lord wants us to minister to people in the same way. We also can’t assume that people will read what you type correctly. The internet’s text has little scope for conveying emotions.

That being said, we can’t chuck out the baby with the bathwater. The Lord can use our works on the internet for a great good. I know of a brother who was witnessed to online and was converted as a result. I once reasoned with a man that the trinity was true of the Bible and he admitted I was correct, even though his pastor was someone who taught otherwise.

It was ten years from when I left school, was saved and then made my way onto the “social” media platform Facebook. When I arrived at Facebook, I started to find school friends I had not heard from since I was at school. This gave great opportunity to witness to the people of the way in which God had changed my life and explain why. Many conversation came as a result of not hiding on Facebook my faith in Christ. I have sent many Bible’s to people as a result.

Don’t forget to pray.

It’s very easy to have a conversation with someone over the internet but forget the seriousness of what we are doing. The conversation is not as trivial as describing our meal or favourite hobby. It is the words of eternal life. A weighty conversation. All the more reason we should surround such with prayer and humility. Remember that we are only able to bring that message to them by the grace of God acting upon our lives.

It’s not somewhere to hide behind.

I challenge you to be watchful that you don’t speak with people in a way that you would never do in person. It’s very easy to think you can say many things – in a harsh way, or a misplaced timing – and only do so because you are not face to face with them.

Ask yourself, if they were in the room, would you say the same thing? Is the way the conversation is going better to be moved out of the public arena and onto the telephone? Or better still, in person?

Stand beside people and listen.

It can be very tempting to think that you can spend all of your time behind a computer screen and never speak with someone in person. But if you are able to go outside and converse with people, then you need to do this too, or instead.

One way to do this as a first step is to come alongside someone who is already doing it. Just being there will encourage the other person and give them much strength in their witness toward others. You will discover the great benefits of this when perhaps in the future you decide to go it alone, or the person who was due to meet with you does not turn up.

When you come along side them, listen and pray. Ask God to help you in some way make the next step from listening to trying to hand out a Gospel tract or have a conversation.

I will never forget the first time I went came alongside someone who was handing out Gospel tracts. I was too fearful to do it myself on the whole. But it was very helpful to me to observe and encourage me on to do it myself.

Ice breakers

Printed Gospel literature would be our first recommendation to break the ice into a conversation about eternal things. We would also encourage the display of posters that contain scriptures or questions about God. Pray that the Lord would give you ideas about how you could break the ice with someone to talk with them about the Lord Jesus. It will be difficult, because there is a spiritual wrestling going on:

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12.

Do you have no desire to speak with others about the Lord Jesus?

Please consider the challenging word from C.H. Spurgeon

“Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you're not saved yourself, be sure of that!” 

Have you been doing the work of an evangelist for a long time?

Then always seek to encourage and equip others to do so where you can.

Would you like us to help you with the printing of Christian posters to break the ice with people? Did you know we give away free Christian Posters? Speak with us also if you would like some free Christian flyers or help with the design and print of your own. Click here to contact us to discuss your evangelism project.