Bible Lesson: Six Ways to Share the Gospel
Bible version: King James Version (KJV)
Suggested lesson length: 30–40 minutes
Main idea: Christians can share the good news about Jesus in different ways—with words, actions, and care for others.
Teacher’s note: The Bible does not give one official list called “the six types of evangelism.” These six approaches are a practical way to study different examples of sharing the gospel in Scripture. A person may use more than one approach.
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Learning goals
By the end of the lesson, learners should be able to:
Name six ways to share the gospel.
Give a Bible example of each way.
Choose one simple way to share their faith this week.
Opening
Ask: “What does it mean to share the gospel?”
Explain: The gospel is the good news about Jesus Christ. Evangelism means telling others this good news and helping them learn about Jesus.
Read Matthew 28:19–20 together. Ask: “Who is told to make disciples? What are they told to teach?”
Six ways to share the gospel
Type Meaning KJV example
1. Direct sharing-Clearly tell people about Jesus and the gospel. Pter spoke to the crowd at Pentecost (Acts 2:14–40).
Acts 2:14-40 KJV-
14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
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2. Answering questions Give a thoughtful answer when someone asks about faith. Be respectful, not argumentative. Paul spoke with people in Athens and explained the Christian message (Acts 17:22–31)-
Acts Chapter 17
22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.
30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
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Sharing your testimony.
Tell what you have experienced and how Jesus has affected your life.
The man Jesus healed said, “One thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25).
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4. Building relationships.
Show that you care, and talk about faith as trust grows. Jesus spoke with the Samaritan woman.
John 4:7–26-
7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.
8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)
9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?
12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?
13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.
16 Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.
17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:
18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.
19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
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5. Inviting someone-ivite a person to church, a Bible study, or a conversation about Jesus. Philip told Nathanael, “Come and see” (John 1:46).
6. Serving and living as a Christian-Help others and live in a way that reflects Christ. Let your actions point people to God. Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
These approaches are illustrated in New Testament examples of public preaching, conversation, personal testimony, invitation, relationships, and service.
Simple English vocabulary
Gospel: good news about Jesus
Testimony: a personal story about what you believe or have experienced
Invite: ask someone to come or take part
Witness: someone who tells what they know or believe
Apologetic: giving reasons for what you believe; it does not mean saying “sorry”
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Discussion
Which of the six ways feels easiest for you? Why?
Which way might feel difficult?
How can we show respect when someone disagrees with us?
What is one kind thing you could do for someone this week?
Who could you invite to read a Bible passage or attend a church activity?
Practice activity
In pairs, practise one of these:
Testimony: “Before I learned about Jesus… I learned… Now I…”
Invitation: “Would you like to come with me to…?”
Answering a question: Listen carefully, give a simple answer, and offer to read a Bible passage together.
Remind learners: Speak truthfully, show kindness, listen well, and do not pressure people.
Closing thought
You do not need to use every approach. Ask God to help you share the good news in a way that fits the person and the situation. Choose one of the six ways to practise this week.