The Simplicity of The Gospel
The gospel calls us to a childlike faith that acknowledges Jesus as King, embraces belonging in His church, and submits to the wisdom of God the Father. Unlike adults, who often filter belief through the complexities of personal experience, children are quick to trust and respond with openness. This humility and simplicity are essential for receiving the kingdom of God. Sharing the gospel effectively means avoiding fear-mongering, pressure, or manipulation and instead fostering genuine, Spirit-led conversations that invite questions and allow time for growth. By centering on the beauty of Christ's kingship and the hope of His kingdom, we can guide others toward a faith that is rooted not in coercion, but in authentic understanding and trust in Jesus as their King.
Transcript:
So, most of you probably know this—I have six brothers and sisters. That’s seven of us in total, spread out over 22 years. This means I had plenty of time to be a mischievous older brother. I’m the second of seven, and I remember when two of my siblings were little, and I still lived at home as a teenager.
You could tell kids all kinds of crazy things, and they’d believe it. Kids are imaginative and quick to embrace fanciful ideas. For example, I used to tell my little sister that there were gnomes living in the dishwasher. We had this routine where, after dinner, we’d load the dishwasher, and before bed, we’d start it. I told her, “That’s when the gnomes come out to wash all the dishes so they’re clean for us in the morning.”
Now, I don’t know if she actually believed the story or just wanted to because it was fun, but she went along with it. My brother did too. We’ve joked about this at so many family gatherings over the years. You’d think, “That’s ridiculous—obviously, there aren’t gnomes in the dishwasher.” But kids aren’t dumb; they understand a lot. Still, they’re quick to believe stories, especially fun, imaginative ones.
Kids don’t stop to ask, “Is this believable?” They’re not thinking, “Well, that doesn’t line up with my understanding of science, history, or personal experience.” When you teach something to a little child, they don’t filter it through the same mental processes as older kids or adults.
As adults, we filter everything we hear through all the data, experiences, and knowledge we’ve accumulated over time. The older you are, the more you’ve collected—historical information, scientific understanding, personal experiences—all of which make it harder to accept new ideas. Adults will only believe something if it makes it through this sieve of prior knowledge.
But kids? Kids believe with a simplicity and innocence that adults often lack. They are imaginative, quick to trust, and eager to embrace what you teach them.
Jesus tells us that believing like a child is the right way to believe. Today’s message is titled “The Simplicity of the Gospel.” This is the final message in our series, The Gospel is Bigger Than You Think.
We’ve spent the last eight weeks unpacking the Gospel, and even with all that time, we haven’t exhausted the depth of what Christ has done. Now the question is: how do you take everything we’ve talked about—eight weeks of rich truth about Jesus and His work—and share it with someone who has never even heard about Him?
We’ve been exploring the idea that the gospel is bigger than we think. But sometimes, in expanding our understanding of the gospel, we may feel like it’s become too complex to share. So today, I want to address this challenge by focusing on how Jesus teaches us to believe. His advice provides the key to simplifying our approach.
Let’s look at Matthew 18:1-5:
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “So who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a small child and had him stand among them. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “unless you turn and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child—this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one child like this in my name welcomes me.”
Here, Jesus emphasizes humility. He isn’t talking about being low in stature like a child, but rather about setting aside what we think we know. He’s saying that to believe, we must humble ourselves, let go of preconceived notions, and have the kind of faith that is open, imaginative, and willing to trust—just like a child.
Jesus reinforces this idea in Mark 10:15:
“Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
Jesus makes it clear that receiving the gospel requires childlike faith. It’s not something we arrive at purely through intellect. That doesn’t mean there’s no intellectual foundation to the gospel or the Scriptures. It means that the gospel must be presented and received in a way that engages the heart and faith, not just the mind.
What Does It Mean to Have Childlike Faith?
Let’s dig into what it means to have faith like a child. I believe there are three qualities children possess that adults often struggle with.
A Willingness to Believe That Jesus Is King
Children have an amazing capacity to believe truths like Jesus being King. Even small children can grasp this concept.
Look at Luke 23:35-43, a passage we discussed a few weeks ago:
The people stood watching, and even the leaders were scoffing: “He saved others; let him save himself if this is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him. They came offering him sour wine and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!” An inscription was placed above him: “This is the King of the Jews.”
Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
Here we see the crucifixion of Jesus. The Jewish leaders, the Roman soldiers, and even one of the criminals mocked Him, challenging His identity as Messiah and King.
The thief on the cross mocked Jesus, saying, “Aren’t you the King? Save yourself and us!” But the other thief rebuked him:
“Don’t you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment? We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
And Jesus replied,
“Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
We’ve asked this question before: how can this man be saved? What happened in his thinking that changed his perspective and brought him into the kingdom of God? The answer is simple: he believed Jesus is King.
It wasn’t about understanding the full scope of his sin or having a deep theological grasp of atonement. He recognized that Jesus was the King. Let’s break this down into three key moments in the thief’s journey:
1. Reverence for God
The thief had reverence for Jesus, as seen when he rebuked the other man mocking Him.
“Don’t you even fear God?”
When he saw Jesus hanging on the cross, this great teacher of Israel who had done nothing wrong, he recognized the contrast between himself—a wretched man who deserved punishment—and Jesus, who was innocent. His reverence for Jesus reflected his acknowledgment that this man truly was the Messiah, the King of Israel.
2. Confession of Jesus as King
The thief openly confessed Jesus as King when he said,
“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Even as he faced death, he expressed faith in Jesus’ kingship and the certainty of His kingdom. He understood, in some way, that Jesus’ reign extended beyond death into glory. His plea wasn’t for escape from his immediate suffering but to be remembered in Jesus’ eternal kingdom.
3. Hope in Jesus’ Kingdom
Finally, the thief placed his hope in Jesus’ promise:
“Today you will be with me in paradise.”
When the King says, “You will be with me,” there’s no question—it’s a guarantee. The thief trusted Jesus’ word and had hope in His eternal kingdom.
This is where the story ends for the thief. We’re not told anything else about him. But I imagine he didn’t have anything left to say after that. He simply rested, let go, and died with peace, knowing that everything he needed for life and eternity was accomplished.
Childlike Faith
This is what childlike faith looks like. It means:
Revering Christ as King.
Confessing Christ as King.
Hoping in His eternal kingdom.
Children find it easier to embrace this kind of faith. From the day they’re born, they’re used to living under authority—whether it’s the rules of the home, the rules at school, or the natural order of the world.
For example, have you ever been driving, and your child looks over at the speedometer? “Mom, what are you doing? The speed limit’s 45, you know.” And you realize they’re right. Maybe you’re caught up in your own thoughts, or maybe you just weren’t paying attention. But why does this happen?
Why is it that your child knows what you’re doing is wrong, but you don’t see it as clearly? It’s because, as adults, we do this complex thing where we rationalize our actions. The libertarian streak in us rebels against rules, so we weigh the consequences of our actions against whatever perceived benefit—like getting somewhere two minutes faster. We get so caught up in our own reasoning and experiences that we fail to see things as clearly as children do.
This convolution of experience, knowledge, and ego clutters our thinking. And Jesus says, “If you’re going to come to faith like a child, you need to set all of that aside. You need to see me as King.”
As adults, we have this propensity to build our own kingdoms, to make ourselves the rulers. But Jesus says, “No. Let me be King.”
I think children have an edge here. They’re quicker to acknowledge Jesus as King because they haven’t yet built their own little kingdoms. As long as they still believe in things like gnomes cleaning the dishes, they’re happy to do their part. By the time we’re adults, we resist even going near the dishwasher unless we absolutely have to!
A Sense of Belonging
The second quality children possess is a better sense of belonging.
Kids who experience some stability at home—whether or not it’s a “perfect” home—develop an understanding of patterns and relationships. They recognize the structure of family life. Even at school, kids naturally form friend groups. They know their friends aren’t family, but when recess starts, they find their group and stick together. They bond, day in and day out.
Children are built for relationships. They’re born relationally centered. But as adults, we get jaded. We start thinking we don’t need others. We buy into the idea that we can handle everything on our own.
Children, on the other hand, rely on others by design. They trust their families, friends, and communities.
I’ve seen this in my own kids. They were raised in the church, just like I was. They grew up with a deep sense of belonging in the church community. If I were to move, it would be painful for them because it would feel like tearing them away from their family.
See, Kaylee agrees that I can’t take my kids anywhere—right? The one who’s about to head off to college in a year! Anyway, kids are just relationally centered. They instinctively understand belonging, and they naturally connect with certain circles.
What’s fascinating is that children belong in the church far more easily than adults do. As adults, we have multiple relational circles—family at home, coworkers at our jobs, friends, and social groups. Because of this, it’s not natural for us to re-prioritize all our other relationships to place the church community at the center.
Some people manage to do this quickly. You can see it in the way they’re bonded to the church—not just because they’ve placed membership but because they’ve invested their lives in the body of Christ. On the other hand, some people find their stability and relationships primarily outside the church. For them, the church is an add-on rather than the center of their community.
Yet Scripture calls us to prioritize the church. We’re told not to forsake the fellowship but to become active, functioning members of the body of Christ. This was a natural transition for my family. Even before we had kids, Jamie and I were already involved in the daily life of the church. We attended multiple services on Sundays—our church had two or even three services at one point—and we participated in serving God’s people however we could.
When we had kids, they were simply born into that rhythm. Kids take to it. They’re looking for community, for something to belong to. Adults, on the other hand, often find their stability outside the church and only plug in their involvement as an “extra thing.”
But what are we really called to do? We’re called to belong. To be an assembly that’s together, actively centered around Christ and His church.
The Challenge of Belonging for Adults
When you share the gospel with someone and explain what your church does, the response varies. Some people immediately embrace it. They’ve been longing for that kind of connection their entire lives, especially if they’ve struggled to find belonging with friends or family. They dive in and love the body of Christ, eager to participate in everything the church is doing.
Others, however, struggle to re-prioritize their lives to become actively involved. Church feels like just another thing to add to their already busy schedules. For adults, this can be a major hang-up.
But children don’t have that problem. They’re all in. They have that sense of belonging, of being part of something bigger. Childlike faith means embracing that same all-in mentality—belonging to Christ and His church fully and wholeheartedly.
Fatherly Submission
Another aspect of childlike faith is fatherly submission. If we are children of God, our relationship with Him is like that of a father to a son or daughter. Kids understand this dynamic almost instinctively.
From the moment they’re born, children begin adapting to the patterns and rules of their environment. Even though you can’t explain rules to an infant, they start to pick up on the rhythms of the household. As they grow, you introduce basic rules, and eventually, they learn the words and concepts to match the way the household functions. They learn the ropes as they mature.
That’s normal. Kids grow up with rules everywhere—in the home, in their classrooms, in their schools. Over time, they start to understand those rules, like speed limits, as part of a structure set by authority figures. And often, they’re more willing to obey those rules than we are.
Going back to that illustration: kids take to the idea of fatherly submission far more readily than adults do. Because of this, they’re often more inclined to seek God’s wisdom.
For example, it always catches my attention when one of my kids asks me to pray for them. It doesn’t happen every day, but when it does, it’s a significant moment. They’re coming to their father—but in a way, they’re also stepping past me. By asking me to pray, they’re acknowledging that the situation requires going to the Heavenly Father, taking the issue all the way up the ladder.
As adults, we often default to the world’s way of dealing with problems. What does the world do? When there’s a problem, you try to fix it. You hustle, you strategize, you work harder. Or maybe you just give up and mope about it. But either way, the approach is self-reliant.
Children, however, are naturally inclined to take their needs to someone higher. They already do it every day with their parents: “Mom, can I have a glass of water?” “Dad, can you help me?” They’ve spent their entire lives trusting someone else to provide for them. So when it comes to trusting God for provision or protection, it’s a natural extension of what they already do.
For adults, this is where humility comes into play. We must recognize that God’s ways are higher than our own. Trusting His wisdom instead of relying on man’s wisdom is a significant challenge. Yet that’s what we’re called to do—live in obedience to His laws and trust in His ways.
The Simplicity of Childlike Faith
This week, I researched what others have said about childlike faith. Honestly, there’s not much out there. Many seem to think it’s self-evident—simple enough not to need explanation. Maybe that’s true, but here’s what I walked away with:
Childlike faith encompasses three key aspects:
A sense of fatherly submission – Trusting and obeying God as our Father.
A sense of belonging to Christ and His church – Being part of His body.
A sense that Jesus is King – Recognizing and submitting to His authority.
When we come to know Jesus, this is where it begins. We profess Jesus as King. We join a church. We listen to God. And that’s good, right? That’s foundational. But is that all there is?
If you ask, “What is a Christian?” you might answer: someone who professes Jesus as King, goes to church, and listens to God’s Word. But that definition feels reductionistic. It simplifies what the Christian life is meant to be.
Childlike faith is what you need to enter God’s kingdom. But is it sufficient for the entire Christian life? Is that where we’re supposed to stay?
Sharing the Gospel with Childlike Faith
As we think about sharing the gospel, I’m challenging you to approach it with childlike faith. This means acknowledging that Jesus is King, understanding belonging in His church, and embracing fatherly submission. But here’s the question: is that where you stay?
The apostles believed we should progress in spiritual maturity. Childlike faith brings you into the kingdom of God, but it’s not where you’re meant to remain. Let’s look at 1 Corinthians 3:1-2, where Paul writes:
For my part, brothers and sisters, I was not able to speak to you as spiritual people but as people of the flesh—as babies in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, since you were not yet ready for it. In fact, you are still not ready.
Paul is calling them “babies.” He’s saying, “Yes, childlike faith brings you into the kingdom, but don’t stay there.” When he mentions giving them “milk,” he’s talking about the basics of the faith:
Jesus is King—higher than all other kings, God of gods, Lord of lords.
Belonging to His body, the church, as a community working and assembling together.
Trusting and obeying God, seeking His wisdom.
The Corinthians initially understood and embraced these foundational truths. But the problem was—they stayed there. They didn’t grow. Paul describes them as growing physically, but their faith remained infantile.
Peter addresses the same issue in 1 Peter 2:2:
Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow up into your salvation.
Peter uses the same metaphor of milk to emphasize growth. Just as a newborn must begin nursing immediately to sustain life and grow, so new believers need the Word of God to nourish their faith. It’s self-evident: you can’t have a child and not feed it. Likewise, you can’t come to faith and neglect spiritual nourishment.
Growing into Maturity
Peter and Paul both saw progress as essential to the Christian life. They recognized that while childlike faith is the starting point, believers must grow in their understanding and application of the gospel.
Peter’s reference to the "pure milk of the word" highlights the importance of the Scriptures. Growth happens as we learn the Word and live it out. It’s not necessarily about learning something new but about persevering in the foundational principles of the faith and applying them more deeply over time.
I’ve shared this with you before, but I always smile when someone comes up to me and says, “That thing you mentioned in your sermon today—we were just talking about that in our small group!” Or, “We were studying that in our personal devotions!” Recently, Talena mentioned something about a discussion in Galatians at home.
These moments are reminders that as we grow in our faith, the Spirit continually brings us back to these core truths—not because we need something new, but because we need to grow deeper in the basics.
You say that all the time, huh? “It happens every week,” she says. I was having a conversation with a member over at Little Rock Community Church a couple of weeks ago, and she was amazed by how often this happens. She said, “It’s because of God’s sovereignty.”
She saw it as this cosmic coincidence—how the same themes come up in sermons, small groups, and personal study. And she was right in a way; God is sovereign over these things. But I told her, “It’s also because the Bible is really only about a few core things. When you’re teaching and studying the Bible rightly, you’re learning the same fundamental truths from different angles.”
The Milk of the Word
Like Peter said, you’re receiving the Word, the "milk of the Word," so you can grow in your salvation. But it’s not about learning an endless list of new things. It’s about diving deeper into the most important truths and learning how to live them out.
The Bible tells many stories, but they all point back to the same handful of realities:
Jesus is King – He is higher than all other kings, Lord of lords, God of gods.
Belonging – The gospel isn’t about individual inheritances or a solitary eternity. Heaven is about being with Christ, together with His people, in His kingdom.
Submission to God the Father – All the prohibitions against following other gods point us back to Yahweh. We are called to know Him as Lord, submit to His wisdom, and follow His fatherly guidance.
These three truths—Jesus as King, belonging to His kingdom, and submission to God—are woven throughout the entire Bible. As we grow, we deepen our understanding of these truths and their application in our lives.
Growing in Maturity
Paul highlights this in Ephesians 4:11-14:
“He himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness. Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit.”
Paul teaches that growing in the knowledge of Christ leads to spiritual maturity. To move from being an infant in Christ to maturity, you have to learn about Christ. If Christ is the goal, you must know who He is and what He’s calling you to.
Active Pursuit of Growth
Many Christians fall into the trap of thinking they can coast through life. They believe, they go to church, and they expect the Holy Spirit to make all the changes for them. But that’s not how spiritual growth works.
The Holy Spirit does the work of regeneration, but He works through the Word—truth proclaimed, heard, and understood. Unless you’re gaining theological insight and learning more about Christ, you’re not growing. Growth requires intentional pursuit.
Let me explain the word theological. It comes from two Greek words: theos (God) and logos (word or reason). Essentially, theology is God-reasoning—thinking about God and His ways.
When we study theology, we’re not just focusing on the details and stories of the Bible (that’s biblical studies). Theology is about thinking critically about what those truths mean. It’s reasoning about God and applying His Word to our lives.
We’re thinking God thoughts—that’s theology. We need to engage in that kind of thinking to grow in our knowledge of Christ. By seeing the goal clearly, we can intentionally strive toward it. For Paul, maturity means not staying as little children. That’s why he says, “no longer be little children.”
What’s the problem with staying immature in your faith? What’s the issue with being a Christian who hasn’t studied the Bible deeply, who hasn’t wrestled with its truths? Paul explains:
“...tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit.”
The Danger of Staying Spiritually Immature
Think about going to the beach. Even as an adult, you walk out into the water, get distracted, and suddenly a big wave hits you square in the back. You’re reminded of the power of the ocean.
Now imagine a child in that same situation. A wave knocks them over, and they’re flailing, trying to grab onto anything—maybe even a total stranger.
Paul is warning that spiritual immaturity puts us in the same position. If you don’t know the Scriptures, if you don’t know who Christ is or understand God’s promises, then when life hits you like a wave, you’ll be tossed around. You’ll cling to anything—human cunning, clever but false teachings, or outright deceit—because you don’t have a firm foundation.
That’s why spiritual growth is essential. Knowing Christ deeply and studying God’s Word protects us from being led astray. It anchors us in truth and keeps us from falling into patterns of destruction that lead us away from the kingdom of God.
The Challenge of Maturity in a Teaching-Heavy Church
Now, here’s where things get tricky. Those who are maturing in the faith often expect others to start where they are. That’s a natural tendency, but it can create a disconnect.
Let’s be honest—our church is teaching-heavy. I ask a lot from you, don’t I? We expect a high level of understanding and engagement with Scripture. If you’ve been part of other churches, you’ve probably noticed this difference. We’re not the only church with this focus, but we are intentional about it, and there’s a reason for that: growing in knowledge and faith protects us from spiritual immaturity.
But there’s a downside. Sometimes we forget what it’s like to be an infant Christian. We forget what it’s like to wrestle with the basics—like the simple truth that Jesus is King.
If I were to ask you, “Who’s the King of the universe?” you’d probably roll your eyes and say, “Jesus, obviously. Why are you asking such a basic question?” You already know that truth, and it seems unnecessary to dwell on it.
Yet for someone new to the faith, these core discussions are critical. They need to start with the basics: Jesus is King, we belong to His kingdom, and we are called to submit to Him as Lord.
Bridging the Gap
It’s hard for us to set aside everything we’ve learned and meet someone where they are. But we must.
Think about the church 50 or 100 years ago. Many of the sermons were simple. They focused on the core truths of the gospel because people didn’t have access to the same level of biblical education we have today. In some ways, we’ve benefited greatly from that growth in knowledge, but in other ways, it’s made it harder for us to connect with those who are just starting their journey of faith.
Sharing the Gospel with Childlike Faith
Fifty or a hundred years ago, you could have advanced theological conversations with just about anyone. Whether it was your neighbor, the cashier, or your mail carrier, people generally had a basic Christian framework. Even if they weren’t practicing believers, they understood key concepts. But that’s not where we live today.
Now, when you talk about Jesus, most people have no idea what you mean. At best, they recognize it as something “religious.” This means we need to build up a lot of foundational understanding before we can even share the gospel effectively.
So, how do you share the gospel in its simplest form? How do you communicate it in a way that inspires faith like a child? It’s not about bombarding someone with complex theological ideas; it’s about conveying three simple truths:
Jesus is King.
Belonging to Christ and His body.
Submission to a heavenly Father.
How Not to Share the Gospel
Before we get into how to share the gospel effectively, let’s talk about how not to do it. These are approaches that may have “worked” in the past but were never truly biblical or healthy.
1. Fear-Mongering
The gospel is the good news that Jesus is King. It’s the solution to every problem people are searching to solve. When you declare that Jesus is King, you’re offering the beauty of His kingdom—a perfect King who brings peace, joy, and eternal harmony.
Fear-mongering reduces the gospel to, “Profess Jesus or burn in hell.” It focuses on the negative rather than the positive.
Now, let’s be clear—I’m not saying hell isn’t real. We’ve talked about hell plenty of times. But the gospel is the escape from hell. It’s the victory, the joy, and the eternal peace that Christ offers. That’s what we share.
2. Pressuring
Another ineffective method is pressuring someone into a response.
As a church rooted in the Reformation tradition, we believe God is sovereign, and His Holy Spirit is the power that regenerates human hearts. Transformation into Christ’s image is the work of the Spirit, not something we manufacture.
When you pressure someone, it often looks like this:
You explain that Jesus died for their sins.
You sprinkle in some fear-mongering: “If you don’t believe in Jesus, you’ll go to hell.”
You push for an immediate response: “Let’s pray right now to accept Jesus into your heart.”
Here’s the thing—you won’t find “pray to accept Jesus into your heart” in the New Testament. It’s not a historic or biblical approach to evangelism. This method originated in the 19th century when a Presbyterian minister invented it to boost conversion numbers. While it may have occasionally worked, it often manipulated people into making an emotional decision rather than a genuine one.
Why Fear and Pressure Fall Short
Fear and pressure may produce short-term results, but they don’t foster genuine, lasting faith. People may respond emotionally in the moment, but without the Spirit’s transformative work in their hearts, there’s no real change.
Just because one out of ten people pressured into a decision might stick around and grow into a faithful Christian doesn’t make the method right or biblical. And today, it’s even less effective. Decades ago, someone might have said, “Alright, let’s pray,” after being pressured. But today, most people will respond with, “Take your crazy religious stuff out of my face.”
We live in a different world now, and using fear or pressure doesn’t align with the gospel.
3. Manipulation
Manipulation is another pitfall to avoid. This happens when people rely on entertainment, emotional appeals, or setting a staged atmosphere to try to “move” people into making a decision.
When we do this, we’re putting the focus on the wrong thing. Instead of pointing people to Christ and His kingdom, we’re creating a shallow emotional experience. But the gospel isn’t about manipulating emotions—it’s about presenting the beauty and reward of Christ and His kingdom and inviting people to believe.
Sharing the Gospel Simply
With that foundation, here are three simple ways to share the gospel effectively:
1. Let People Have Questions and Reservations
When you start sharing the gospel, people will likely have questions or reservations. They might say:
“How can a good God allow so much suffering in the world?” (the problem of evil)
“I don’t even believe in God—Jesus was just a man.”
“Why the Bible? Why not the Quran or another holy book?”
It’s okay not to have all the answers immediately. Here’s how to respond:
Acknowledge their questions as valid. Say, “That’s a great question.” This shows respect for their concerns and creates an open dialogue.
Ask follow-up questions. Try to understand their perspective. For example:
“What do you mean by God allowing evil?”
“Why do you think Jesus was just a man?”
“What leads you to trust or distrust the Bible?”
Follow-up questions help you understand their beliefs and where they’re coming from.
Admit when you don’t know the answer. People respect honesty. If you’re not ready to answer a question, say, “That’s a great question, and I’d like to think about it more. Let me pray about it and get back to you.” This shows humility and a willingness to learn.
Take Your Time and Let Conversations Develop
When someone asks a question you can’t answer right away, it’s okay to say, “I want to think about that. I’ll study it, ask my pastor, and get back to you.” People respect that kind of honesty.
I’ll tell you this: I feel more pressure to have answers for every biblical question from people in the church than from those outside the church. That’s probably cultural, and a lot of it is in my head. Except for Talena—she always wants answers now!
But outside the church, people don’t expect you to be an expert on everything, even religion. Most people are content to let you come back later with a thoughtful response.
Evangelism Isn’t One Conversation
For many long-time Christians, there’s this idea that evangelism is a single conversation where you “seal the deal.” That’s not true. Don’t feel like you have to share everything all at once.
If God is sovereign and the Holy Spirit transforms hearts according to His timing, we’re not on a time crunch. God will save His people. You can take your time, helping someone gain understanding over a series of conversations.
At our church, we’ve seen this work. We didn’t fear-monger, pressure, or manipulate anyone into the kingdom, yet people still came to faith in Christ. It happens through genuine, patient conversations over time.
Learn from Paul at Mars Hill
In Acts 17, Paul speaks at Mars Hill to a Greek audience in a philosophical setting. He shares about Jesus, and the responses fall into three categories:
Rejection – Some people called him crazy and dismissed the message.
Immediate Belief – Others accepted the gospel right away.
Curiosity – Many said, “That’s interesting; we’d like to hear more.”
Most people fall into the third category. When you avoid fear-mongering, manipulation, and pressure, you show that you’re a safe person for spiritual conversations. This allows people to let their guard down and talk openly.
Don’t Force a Confession
Another common mistake is pushing for a confession or profession of faith. I don’t ask people, “Would you like to pray to receive Jesus?” And here’s why:
It’s not in the Bible. This method isn’t a historic or biblical practice of evangelism.
It doesn’t change the outcome. When God transforms someone’s heart, they will embrace the gospel on their own.
When you pressure someone into making a confession, it’s often manipulative, preying on their emotions. It doesn’t give them time to process what they believe.
Today, if you push someone to pray right away, they’re more likely to say no and avoid future conversations with you. But if you give them space, the door remains open for future discussions.
Guide People Through Questions
Instead of pressing for a decision, ask questions and let them talk through their beliefs. For example:
Do you believe in God? Most people will say yes.
Do you believe in a personal God? A God who is active, present, and involved in the world—not distant or disengaged.
What about the Bible? What do they believe about it? What’s holding them back from trusting it?
These questions often surface deeper concerns, like the problem of evil or difficult passages in the Old Testament, such as the wars in Canaan.
“Oh, that’s interesting. Let’s talk about that. Maybe I can answer some of your questions.” You could ask them, “Well, what about Jesus? Do you really believe that He is the Son of God who has come to save humankind? Have you been reading the Bible? Do you see that in the New Testament?”
When someone comes to believe the right things, the church baptizes them into its membership. That’s an authentic and natural way to become part of the body of Christ. Some of the healthiest followers of Jesus I know have come to faith that way—not through fear-mongering or high-pressure tactics but through a natural and organic process of discovery.
The Culture of “Raise Your Hand”
I grew up in a culture where people were invited to “raise your hand and repeat after me to be saved.” If I’m honest, even when that approach “works,” my observation is that it often takes years for genuine faith to take root. Someone might pray the prayer in a moment, but it’s the ongoing process of attending church, joining small groups, and reading their Bible that brings it all together.
Eventually, they reach the point where they say, “Yeah, I think I do want to do this Jesus thing.” That’s when their faith truly takes hold. This is why traditions like ours in the Baptist church don’t always baptize people immediately after they profess Christ. Sometimes, it takes years of spiritual growth and maturity before they’re ready to be baptized.
Baptism as a Confirmation of Faith
In my experience, by the time someone says, “I’m praying with my family, I’m following Jesus, and I believe the Bible,” I have the confidence to baptize them. There’s no need to wait for some second reward or blessing—it’s just there. When the fruit of their faith is evident, they are baptized and welcomed as members of the church.
This approach avoids manipulation, fear-mongering, and pressure. It fosters genuine faith and aligns with how evangelism can be most effective in our current culture.
Questions Are Welcome
If you have questions about this or something didn’t sit right with you, I’d love to talk about it. You’re not going to offend me, and I’m not going to “put you in your place” by quoting Scripture at you. Let’s have a conversation about it, because I know this can be a challenging topic.
Stick to the Basics
Let me close with this. Remember the paradigm we laid out:
Jesus is King. This is the central hub of the gospel.
All other gospel motifs—Jesus as the victorious King, forgiveness of sins, adoption as sons of God—are spokes radiating out from that central truth.
If you haven’t shared that Jesus is King, then you haven’t shared the gospel. Think about how you can communicate to your friends and family, “Jesus is my King, and He needs to be your King.”
I hope these warnings and encouragements ease the pressure you feel and help open up meaningful conversations with the people God has placed in your life—your friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors.
Let’s pray.
Lord, we thank You for this series and for the truth of the gospel. In so many ways, it’s the entire Bible—it’s more than we could ever share in a single sitting or even a hundred sittings. Yet, You’ve called us to receive the gospel with faith like children.
I pray for everyone here who follows Jesus. As they encounter people in their lives who do not yet know Christ, fill them with Your Holy Spirit. Give them the words to speak in those moments, helping them share their own stories of how Jesus’ kingship has transformed their lives. Inspire them to share why Jesus’ kingship is not just for them, but a necessity for others.
Lord, we acknowledge the unique challenges of this time and place in history. In a world of increasing secularization and alternate spiritualities, we ask for Your help to be effective in sharing and living out our faith. May those we encounter come to know You, find belonging in Christ and His church, submit to Jesus as King, and seek the wisdom of the Father in obedience to Him.
We pray all of this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
