Jesus said, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). "How shall they hear without a preacher?" (Romans 10:14). 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). "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ" (Romans 1:16).
Sharing the gospel (also called evangelism or witnessing) means telling others the good news of Jesus, and for many believers it is the most intimidating part of the Christian life. These twelve King James passages cover Christ's command to go, why the message matters, and how to share it with gentleness and boldness, leaving the results to God. This page is about the call to tell others; for what the gospel is and how a person is saved, see Bible verses about salvation.
The Great Commission
1. Matthew 28:18-20
"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."
The Great Commission begins with Jesus' authority and ends with His presence. Between them is the task: go, make disciples of all nations, baptize, and teach.
2. Mark 16:15
"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."
Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. For most of us, all the world starts with the neighbor, coworker, or relative right in front of us.
3. Acts 1:8
"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
Power comes first, then witness: Jerusalem, Judaea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth. The Holy Spirit gives courage and words to ordinary believers, so sharing the gospel never depends on personality alone.
4. 2 Corinthians 5:20
"Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God."
We are ambassadors for Christ. An ambassador does not invent the message; he faithfully delivers it on behalf of the King. Our plea is simple: be ye reconciled to God.
How shall they hear?
5. Romans 10:14-15
"How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!"
Paul's chain of questions explains why sharing matters: people cannot call on One they have not believed, or believe in One they have not heard of. Someone has to tell them, and the feet that carry good news are called beautiful.
6. Isaiah 52:7
"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!"
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings.
7. Romans 1:16
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation. Fear of embarrassment shrinks when we remember that the message itself, not our eloquence, carries God's power.
8. Acts 4:20
"For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."
Threatened by the authorities, Peter and John replied that they could not stop speaking what they had seen and heard. Evangelism often starts as simple testimony: telling what Jesus has done for you.
Sharing with grace and boldness
9. 1 Peter 3:15
"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:"
Be ready always to give an answer, with meekness and fear. Preparation and gentleness belong together. Know why you hope in Christ, and share it respectfully, as a conversation rather than an argument.
10. Colossians 4:6
"Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man."
Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt. Paul wants believers ready to answer each person in a fitting way.
11. 2 Timothy 4:2
"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine."
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season. Be ready when it is convenient and when it is not, with patience and sound teaching.
12. 1 Corinthians 3:6
"I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase."
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. This verse lifts the pressure: our job is to plant and water faithfully. Only God can make faith grow in another heart.
A short prayer
Lord Jesus, You have sent me as Your ambassador. Fill me with Your Spirit and take away my fear. Give me opportunities to share my hope with words seasoned with grace, and help me trust You for the increase. Amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
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Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about sharing the gospel?
Jesus commands His followers to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20) and preach the gospel to everyone (Mark 16:15). Romans 10:14-15 explains why: people cannot believe in a Savior they have never heard about.
What is the Great Commission?
The Great Commission is Jesus' final command in Matthew 28:18-20: go, make disciples of all nations, baptize them, and teach them to obey, with the promise, "lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."
What is evangelism in the Bible?
Evangelism comes from the Greek word for good news. It means telling others the gospel: that Jesus died for sins and rose again, and that whoever believes in Him is saved. See our salvation page for the message itself.
How do I share my faith if I am shy?
Start with your own story, as Peter and John did (Acts 4:20). Pray for opportunities, be ready with gentleness (1 Peter 3:15), speak graciously (Colossians 4:6), and remember that God gives the increase, not you (1 Corinthians 3:6).
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: Bible verses about salvation · Bible verses about light · Bible verses about courage · Bible verses about truth · Bible verses about leadership · Bible verses about baptism
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