Good News: Tools For Evangelism

August 31st, 2025/Seventh Day Adventist

INTRO: The right tools make all of the difference.

Example: Wanting to work on bikes…

Example 2: Wanting to remodel a bathroom. You could go to Home Depot and buy all the tools, get them in the garage, but then would you go and lay hands on the bathroom and pray it gets remodeled? No! You would probably use the tools you bought to do the work!

Today we’re talking not just about learning new tools, but also putting these tools to work!

Have you ever been in a moment where you wanted to share your faith… but you froze?

Maybe you were in the break room at work, and someone said, “You seem like you actually enjoy Mondays. What’s your deal?” And you thought, This is it! Open door!… but then you panicked and just said, “Uh… I had coffee?”

Or maybe you’ve had a family member, a sibling, or a classmate ask, “Why are you a Christian?” And in your head, you had like 20 answers… and none of them came out.

Has anybody ever been there? (Pause, hand raised, smile.)

Here’s the thing: that’s normal. Every follower of Jesus has been in that spot. And that’s exactly why Peter wrote this:

Passage: “But in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy. Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you to explain the hope you have. But do this in a gentle and respectful way.” - 1 Peter 3:15-16 (paraphrased)

Peter is saying two things at once:

• Be ready to defend your faith.
• And be ready to share your hope.

Two sides of the same coin. And here’s the good news: Evangelism is not about winning an argument; it’s about winning people.

Church, the word Gospel comes from the Greek euangelion, which literally means ‘good news.’ Evangelism comes from the same word, it’s simply the act of sharing the good news. And an evangelist is the one who carries that good news. So evangelism isn’t some weird churchy word, it’s just Good News-sharing. That’s it. That’s what we’re called to do.

Today, I want to put tools in your hands so you feel confident, clear, and Spirit-led when those opportunities come.

Main Points:

1. A POSTURE OF READINESS

   1. “But in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy.”

      1. If we regard Him as holy, it’s the reality that we submit to His authority.

      2. Your readiness comes before sharing your faith. It’s a surrender to His voice and will in your life.

         2. Peter assumes people will ask. The people of God are a unique people in the world! It should be evident that there is a difference in your life.

      3. If Jesus is alive in you, people will notice. They’ll notice your peace when everyone else is anxious. They’ll notice your joy when life is heavy. They’ll notice your integrity when cutting corners would’ve been easier.

         3. That’s why evangelism isn’t just about having the right words, it starts with the right posture. A heart that says, “Lord, I’m ready if You open a door today.”
         4. Robert Coleman in The Master Plan of Evangelism said it like this: “Evangelism is not an optional accessory to our life. It is the heartbeat of all we are called to be and do.”
         5. Question: What if tomorrow morning, you woke up and simply prayed, “God, I’m ready. Put someone in my path today.” How might your day look different?

2. THE BARRIERS WE FACE

   1. “Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you to explain the hope you have.”

      1. So let’s prepare to give an answer, let’s get equipped to share.
         2. Now… let’s get honest. Because before we talk about how to share the Good News, we have to talk about why we often don’t.
         3. Can we be honest in church? The truth is—most of us find evangelism hard. Not because we don’t love Jesus. Not because we don’t care about people. But because there are some real barriers, both inside us and around us.
         4. So let’s take some notes on this, because I think it’s going to set a lot of people free today.
         5. Barriers Inside of Us – Why We Don’t Share Our Faith
      2. Fear of offending people.
         1. Barna found that 65% of Christian Millennials believe people today are more likely to be offended if they share their faith.
         2. And almost half of them, 47%, say it’s actually wrong to share your beliefs in hopes someone else would adopt them.
         3. Translation: we live in a culture where disagreement often feels like judgment. And because of that fear, we stay silent.
      3. Fear of rejection.
         1. Many believers admit they avoid faith conversations if they think their friend might reject them.
         2. In other words: “If I bring this up, things could get awkward… so I won’t.”
      4. Feeling unprepared or unequipped.
         1. Lifeway Research found in 2022 that 66% of Christians are unfamiliar with any method for sharing their faith.
         2. And 42% say the very thought of sharing their faith feels scary.
         3. We think: “What if they ask me a question I can’t answer?”
      5. Lack of conviction about personal responsibility.
         1. Back in 1993, 89% of Christians said it was their responsibility to share their faith.
         2. By 2017, that dropped to 64%.
         3. Almost 30% now say evangelism is the job of the church staff, not me.
         4. Church, that’s a drastic decline in one generation.
      6. Cultural avoidance & busyness.
         1. Pew Research found that about half of Americans seldom or never talk about religion outside their family.
         2. And 33% say the best thing to do when people disagree about religion… is to avoid the topic.
         3. Add that to our packed calendars—soccer practice, work deadlines, Netflix binges, laundry piles—and spiritual conversations get pushed to the margins.
      7. (Pause, look around the room): So if you’ve ever felt nervous… or guilty… or underprepared about sharing your faith… guess what? You’re not alone. This is where most Christians are.
      8. But here’s the danger: if the church goes silent, how will the world ever hear the Good News?
         6. Barriers Around Us – Pushbacks from Culture
      9. And it’s not just internal. So we’ve seen the barriers inside of us… but let’s be honest, there are barriers around us too. Boulder is not neutral ground. People here are smart, spiritual, and skeptical. Let’s look at some of the pushbacks you’ll face.
      10. “Hasn’t science disproved God?”
          1. Response: No. In fact, science points us toward design. John Lennox, Oxford mathematician, put it this way: “Faith is not a leap in the dark; it’s the exact opposite. It’s a commitment based on evidence.”
      11. “How can Jesus be the only way?”
          1. Response: By nature, truth is exclusive. Two things can’t contradict and both be true. Jesus didn’t claim to be a way. He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
      12. “If God is good, why is there so much suffering?”
          1. Response: The cross shows us God is not distant. He entered into suffering, bore it, and overcame it.
      13. “Christians are hypocrites.”
          1. Response: Absolutely. The church is full of them, including me. And the reality is that hypocrisy is all over our culture as well. If anything, hypocrites reveal our desperate need for grace.
      14. Tool for us: Don’t get defensive. Don’t get nervous. Simply ask questions. Listen. Respect people enough to engage, not attack.
      15. Tim Keller modeled this in The Reason for God. In New York City, surrounded by skeptics, he always led with gentleness and respect. I highly recommend this read if you are looking to walk with someone who is a skeptic.
          7. Truths That Empower Us – Scripture to Stand On
      16. So—what do we do with all these barriers, inside and out? We anchor ourselves in God’s Word. Here are three truths to write down:
      17. We Are Unashamed
          1. “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.” (Romans 1:16)
          2. The Gospel itself is powerful—it doesn’t depend on your ability.
      18. We Are the Light of the World
          1. “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden… let your light shine before others.” (Matthew 5:14–16)
          2. Jesus says your life, your words, your witness—they shine in the darkness.

      19. We Are Ambassadors for Christ

          1. “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us.” (2 Corinthians 5:20)
          2. Every believer is sent. You are His representative in your family, your workplace, your neighborhood, your city.
          3. Church—don’t let fear silence you. Don’t let culture intimidate you. Don’t let busyness distract you.

      20. God has called you to be unashamed.

      21. God has called you to shine as light.
      22. God has called you to represent Him as an ambassador.
      23. This is not just the calling of a few. This is the responsibility and the privilege of every believer.

3. THE MESSAGE MADE SIMPLE

   1. “But do this in a gentle and respectful way.”
   2. And that leads us to the next question: When God opens the door, what exactly do we say?
   3. Because we don’t just want to be bold, we want to be clear. And the good news is, the Gospel can be remembered in just four simple words: Problem, Penalty, Provision, Decision.
   4. Here’s the Gospel in four words:
      1. Problem – Sin. “All have sinned and fall short…” (Romans 3:23).
      2. Penalty – Death. “The wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23).
      3. Provision – Jesus. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8).
      4. Decision – Faith. “By grace you are saved through faith…” (Ephesians 2:8–9).
   5. That’s it. Clear. Simple. Powerful.
   6. Parents, you explain big things to your kids every day. “Here’s how math works… here’s why broccoli is good for you.” You simplify without losing truth. That’s evangelism, explaining the best news in the world in a way your friend can understand.
   7. Evangelism Explosion built their whole training on this clarity: “If you died tonight, do you know for certain where you’d spend eternity?” Simple question, eternal impact.

4. METHODS WE SEE IN SCRIPTURE

   1. Now how do we share it?

      1. Scripture shows us different methods. Paul in the synagogue reasoned from Scripture. Paul in Athens quoted philosophers. Jesus had a private conversation with Nicodemus and a relational one with the Samaritan woman.
      2. The point? Be Spirit-led, not method-led. God will give you the right approach at the right moment.
         2. Story: Prayer walking with Brent at Boulder High School

5. THE WITNESS GOD USES

   1. So what does this look like practically for you? Three types of witness:

      1. Body Witness – the church together. When we worship, serve, and love, our unity itself points to Jesus.
      2. Relational Witness – your everyday relationships. Friends, coworkers, family, neighbors.
      3. Initiative Witness – those moments of Spirit-led boldness where you step out with a stranger.

      4. Question: Which of those three do you most naturally lean toward? Which one might God be stretching you into?

         2. Showing & Sharing

      5. Being a witness for Christ requires both showing and sharing the Gospel. You may have heard the saying “Share the Gospel, if necessary, use words.” I get the sentiment behind that, but the reality is that words are necessary for sharing the Good News!

      6. “14 How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? And how can they hear without a preacher? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news. 16 But not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message? 17 So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.” - Romans 10:14-17
      7. Church, the Gospel is good news, but it’s only good news if it gets there in time. Faith comes by hearing, and they won’t hear if we don’t speak.

6. PRACTICAL TOOLS FOR EVERYDAY EVANGELISM

   1. Application: Here are some tools you can actually use this week:

      1. Share your story in 3 minutes. Before Christ → how you met Him → what’s changed.
      2. Invite. Coffee, dinner, or to church.
      3. Prayer. “Can I pray for you right now?”
      4. Questions. Greg Koukl in Tactics says the best way to share is to ask: “What do you mean by that?” “How did you come to that conclusion?”
         2. Illust: Think about how quick you are to recommend a restaurant, a podcast, or a Netflix show. Nobody trains you for that, you just share what you love. That’s evangelism: “Come and see what Jesus has done in me.”

7. OUR ROLE & GOD’S ROLE

   1. Here’s the best news: You don’t save anyone. That’s God’s job.
   2. Paul said, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” (1 Cor. 3:6)
   3. Billy Graham said it best: “It is the Holy Spirit’s job to convict, God’s job to judge, and my job to love.”
   4. You don’t need to carry the pressure. Just carry the invitation.

Closing:

So here’s the challenge: Every morning this week, pray this one prayer:

“God, give me an opportunity to share Jesus with someone today.”

That’s it. One prayer. Seven days. Watch what God does.

What if revival came to Boulder? What if CU students were sent out as missionaries to the nations? What if business leaders, neighbors, city officials met Jesus? What if Boulder was known not just for mountains but for revival?

Invitation:

Some of you have heard the tools today, but you don’t just need tools, you need Jesus. You need the hope you’ve been hearing about.

Prayer of Salvation:

Jesus, I acknowledge that I need you

I confess that I have sinned against you

I believe that God raised you from the dead

And right now, by faith, I say “Jesus is Lord”

Thank you for forgiving me

By your grace I am saved

And by your power I am set free

Commission the whole church.

• Pray for boldness.
• Call out those with the gift of evangelism.
• Send everyone else to live on mission.

Church, we are not here by accident. God has placed us in Boulder for such a time as this. And Boulder will not only be known for its mountains, it will be known for revival.

Communion: 1 Corinthians 11:23-32