Sharing the Gospel in One Sentence
Sharing the gospel of Christ can seem daunting, especially with people of other faiths (like Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus). If no one taught you how, and you’ve never seen it done before, how would you know?
Where would you start?
Well, you could search “share the gospel” online and find thousands of gospel presentations. Then you’d face a new hurdle. Which should you use with your Hindu neighbor? Is it different from what you should say to your Muslim or Buddhist coworker?
What if you did it “wrong,” and then damaged someone’s chance to know Jesus?
It’s easy to get overwhelmed.
“Figuring out how to share Jesus with people of other faiths seems like rocket science.” Mirelle, Actual Rocket Scientist.
Sharing your faith with people of other faiths isn’t rocket science. You can say it in just one sentence. The best part is, that it’s easy to remember and simple to do.
Can you share the gospel in one sentence? 
First, let’s talk about what not to do. The phrase “sharing the gospel” can be loaded with negative connotations of pushing one’s agenda onto other people.
“I imagine having to present some long, formulaic speech that I would have to struggle to memorize along with a personal testimony that I’ve labored over.”
“It’s intimidating to think the responsibility would be on me to learn some complicated gospel presentation, then go out and just randomly say it to someone.”
“I feel the pressure that if I don’t share the gospel with the right words, or have all the right answers, I couldn’t somehow fail and blow the opportunity.”
If you’ve shared these concerns, be encouraged. Your perfect gospel presentation or flawless testimony won’t ever draw people to Jesus. See John [spp-timestamp time="6:44"], 65, and 1 Corinthians 12:3.
Plus, most people don’t even remember the first time they heard the Good News. Just look for someone God is already wooing to Himself by sharing the gospel in one sentence soon after you’ve met. Even if you mess it up, if God is wooing them, you’ll hear clues.
“If the Father is not wooing them, they won’t believe no matter how perfectly you present the gospel.”
How do you share the gospel in a sentence?
The first time I met “Mariam,” a Muslim from Somalia, I didn’t think God was wooing her because she didn’t smile. (First impressions are often wrong.)
I sensed the Holy Spirit nudging me to tell her I was a Jesus-follower ASAP. My heart raced, and my negative self-talk kicked in. Still, I knew I should tell her. So, I took a deep breath and blurted out this simple one-sentence gospel statement directly from Romans 10:9.
“Hi, Mariam. I’m Karen, and I’m a follower of Jesus – that just means that when you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you’ll be saved. Tell me about you.”
An awkward silence followed. Miriam stared at me, trying to process what I’d said.
The clock on the wall ticked.
I was sure I’d just made the biggest mistake of my life.
Then, she flashed a huge smile and hugged me. She peppered me with questions and comments like “You’re the first Christian I’ve ever met!” and “Do you know any Muslims who became Christian?”
I’ve shared this simple one-sentence gospel statement (in bold text above) many times since then. Some people, like Miriam, asked many questions right away. Others ignored me but circled back months and years later to ask questions.
Regardless of the immediate outcome, I’ve learned that being authentic about who I am and what I believe through a simple, one-sentence gospel statement opens doors for amazing spiritual conversations in the future.
“Being authentic about what you believe opens doors for future spiritual conversations.”
Think it Through
Now it’s your turn. What is the Lord stirring you to think or do differently around sharing your faith? What small steps (such as memorizing Romans 10:9) will you take to get the ball rolling in that direction?
- How many times did you hear the gospel presented to you before you understood and accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior?
- What would hold you back from identifying yourself as a follower of Jesus and explaining what that means early in a relationship?
- Are you willing to “put yourself out there” and share a simple one-sentence gospel statement like Romans 10:9 with someone of another faith? Why or why not?
Take your Learning Deeper
- Read these books: Muslims: 5 Biblical Essentials. and The Blue Cord.
- Listen to our podcasts for stories of everyday Christians who are sharing Jesus with people of other faiths.
- Read this popular blog to learn four more faith-sharing fundamentals every Christian should know and do with people of other faiths.
Tags: What is the gospel, share the gospel simply, explain the gospel,
