“Then Jesus came to them and said: ‘…go and make disciples…'” (Matthew 28:18-19)
Before ascending to Heaven, Jesus gave his disciples a final command: make disciples. They had watched him do it for years, often by engaging strangers in meaningful spiritual conversations. They knew the harvest was plentiful (Matthew 9:37).
Nothing has changed. We encounter people every day who don’t know Christ’s saving love — people who are “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36).
Sharing our faith can feel intimidating, but starting a conversation and turning it toward the Gospel is often simpler than it seems. Many people today are searching for something real and hopeful.
Making Disciples at the Mall
Here’s one example of a recent conversation.
I was about to walk into a store at a local mall when I noticed a young couple. The man was wearing a hat with three crosses, so I asked whether he was a Christian. He said both he and his girlfriend were Catholic. Their names were Antonio and Sophia.
After a few minutes of small talk, I asked if they knew for certain they would go to Heaven when they died.
She said she hoped so.
He said he was sure.
When I asked why, he explained that he tried to live by God’s rules.
I responded, “Antonio, did you know that to enter God’s presence, you must be as good as God himself?” Both of them were surprised.
They allowed me to share the G.O.S.P.E.L. with them. After confirming it made sense, I invited them to trust in Jesus.
They agreed and prayed, thanking God for the free gift of salvation.
Since they live in California, I connected them with a solid church in their area.
Pray for Antonio and Sophia as they begin their new walk with Christ.
How to Engage Strangers
Anyone can share the Gospel with strangers by following six simple steps: pray, see, engage, explain, invite, and connect.
1. Pray
Ask God daily to open doors for Gospel conversations.
2. See
Look around you. Notice the people God places in your path and stay sensitive to the Spirit’s nudges.
3. Engage
Start conversations with simple questions. Listen well.
4. Explain
Share the Gospel clearly and simply.
5. Invite
Invite — never pressure — people to put their faith in Jesus.
6. Connect
Help new believers plug into a strong, Bible-based church where they can grow.
Pray with me that God will give us daily opportunities to share the good news of Jesus with both friends and strangers.
This article originally appeared here and is used by permission.
