Faith Foundations: Living for What Matters Mostናሙና

Gospel Threads

A friend of mine, who has since passed away, once lived courageously on the front lines in a dangerous red zone country. He and his family chose an unsafe place for Christians, yet they fearlessly shared the gospel, and people came to faith in Jesus. When someone from the community was converted, my friend always carefully explained not only the cost of following Jesus but also the command to make disciples. He would ask the new believer to list friends and family members, and then to circle the names of five of these loved ones most likely to kill them if they shared the gospel with them. My friend would then guide the new believer to begin sharing Jesus with these circled names, establishing a foundational principle: sharing the gospel, no matter the risk, is intrinsic to following Jesus.

Sound extreme? That’s because many Christians, years into their faith journey, don’t actively share the gospel. Satan capitalizes on this, keeping believers from experiencing God’s purpose and preventing others from hearing about God’s love.

I’ve spent time with a group of Christians in a Middle Eastern red zone where sharing the gospel is illegal. They run a business employing Muslims, and I’ve listened to them casually but intentionally weaving gospel threads into their daily conversations with their co-workers, taking every opportunity to talk about God’s love and his sacrifice in Jesus. They’ve prayed that, over time, God would open the eyes of the Muslims around them to see the tapestry of the gospel that’s been woven in front of them; they want to see these Muslims would come to Jesus. These Christians have earned the community’s trust and affection, and people have responded to God’s love through their witness. One by one, co-workers and whole families have come to know Jesus.

When we hear inspiring stories like this, we might ask, Why don’t we all do this, all the time? Using GOSPEL as an acrostic reminder, consider these six gospel threads for everyday interactions:

GOD’S CHARACTER – Mention God in conversation, showing gratitude for his provision and acknowledging his presence.

OFFENCE OF SIN – Speak humbly about sin, suffering, and pain, pointing to the world’s brokenness due to separation from God.

SUFFICIENCY OF JESUS – Talk about Jesus like you know him – because you do! Share how Jesus has brought you peace and joy amidst challenges. Look for ways to talk about his teachings, sacrificial death, and resurrection.

PERSONAL RESPONSE – Tell the story of how you came to faith, emphasizing the transformative effect of putting your trust in Jesus. Talk about what it means to be forgiven and free.

ETERNAL URGENCY – Take conversations deeper. Talk with people about the reality that this world and all that’s in it won’t last. Ask people if they know what will happen to them when they die, knowing that that could be any day for any one of us.

LIFE TRANSFORMATION – Share and show how your life is better because of faith in Jesus. Obviously, better doesn’t mean easier. But explain the supernatural difference Jesus makes in your life and encourage others with all the ways Jesus desires to change their lives for good.

Ask God to lead you as you intentionally weave gospel threads into everyday conversations with people who don’t yet know Jesus. Pray for boldness, trusting that God will open their hearts to his love.