Preaching the gospel is about telling people about the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ: what He came to do and what He has done. He died and rose again for our sins, to reconcile us to our holy Father, God Almighty, and create a living relationship with Him. Sometimes, simply sharing the testimony of what the Lord Jesus has done in your life since you became a believer is enough.
Before You Open Your Mouth: Prayer and the Power of the Spirit
This is a sacred mission. It is not your words that save people—it is the power and touch of God. You want your words to carry that power when you preach.
That means before you ever show up in public to speak to anyone, you must spend both quantity and quality time on your knees, interceding privately for God's Word to pierce into human souls and save them. Prayerful preparation is not optional. There is no shortcut around this.
Utterance comes from the Lord (Ephesians 6:19–20). It comes from a life lived in prayer, one that is dependent on fellowship with God's Spirit. This is why Paul himself asked others to pray for him. Be a studious and prayerful Christian, and your preaching will be effective and powerful.
Know the Message
Study as much as you can, and preach what you know. The summary is straightforward: 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 captures the entire gospel message. You can also read our first article on how to become a Christian to understand the basics of the message to preach.
Be prayerful, be prepared, and after that, simply open your mouth. It will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of God in you (Matthew 10:20). Amen.
Practical Approaches
Invite the Listener to Ask God for a Sign
One approach is to ask the person you're preaching to if they would be willing to ask God for a sign. Perhaps there is something in their life, something reasonable that they know only a supernatural God could take care of, and you can encourage them to ask God to do that very thing as confirmation that this message is true.
This is especially helpful when there is no headway, when the listener shows no sign of believing, or when they are leaning toward faith but need some confirmation. Be sure to pray fervently beforehand so that you are in tune with God. Listen to your heart and spirit as you do this, seeking God's approval.
Demonstrate the Power of God
The most effective way to preach is through a demonstration of God's power (1 Corinthians 2:4-6). One powerful avenue is through the healing of sick bodies.
Look out for the sick around you, or ask the listener if they or someone in their life is dealing with illness. But if you are going to pray for the sick in public, you must first have prayed thoroughly in private, interceding fervently, asking God to make healing power available for any sick person you might encounter (Acts 4:29-31).
Always be in tune with the Holy Spirit in your heart as you venture to lay hands on the sick. Do not abuse this privilege, and do not neglect it either. Be bold, but be cautious.
Do Not Be Discouraged
If the person does not respond when you preach, or if the conversation turns into a debate, do not be discouraged. Keep it civil and explain things in love. Sometimes you are sowing a seed to be harvested by someone else. Sometimes you are there to grab the harvest (1 Corinthians 3:6). So long as you have prayerfully prepared and you have preached, thank God for the opportunity and keep sowing.
Where and How to Preach
We can preach in public places: malls, parks, bus stations. We can share the gospel with friends privately or on social media. The opportunities are everywhere.
This means we must live a life of holiness that exemplifies the Lord and Savior we worship and follow, and a life of prayer, so that we are always ready to proclaim the message.
"But 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 meekness and fear." ~ 1 Peter 3:15
Amen.