How You Can Help Plant Seeds of the Gospel Today

John 3:17

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

In the parable of the sower (Matthew 13), Jesus tells about a person who sowed seed and the different types of soil that the seeds landed on.

Three of the four places did not allow the seed to grow well, while the good soil helped the seeds to grow well and remain strong. Since Jesus ascended into Heaven, we are now His hands and feet, sowing these seeds in other people’s hearts (1 Corinthians 12:27). This can seem like an overwhelming responsibility, but we can rest assured that it is not our responsibility to make the seed grow, only to sow and water it (1 Corinthians 3:6).

With the joy and freedom to only have to give the gospel to others and encourage their discipleship, we can look at some useful ideas on how to plant those seeds.

As followers of Jesus, we are called to be servants. Listening to others is a big part of serving. When speaking to someone about Christ, we must listen to that person and not just speak. Attentively listening to someone makes them feel valued and appreciated. This helps them be more open to the Gospel.

When having a conversation about Christ, it is important to understand that everyone is unique. The way you approach the conversation with one person might not be the best way to approach another person. Let the Holy Spirit guide you as to how and when to start the conversation (John 16:13).

People, in general, are very sensitive to being judged by Christians. This comes from many times that Christians and churches have wrongfully taken a judgemental attitude towards nonbelievers. The best way to overcome this perception is to be gentle and considerate towards their feelings and opinions. Things have happened in their lives that have led them to believe what they do. Our role is not to beat down what they believe but to guide them towards the saving truth of the Gospel (1 John 4:18).

To plant a seed for the Gospel, it is important to be careful in the words we choose. A person can throw out a lot of words at once, and many of them might not come from a place of love or respect. Truth is always truth and it is often not what we are saying that is wrong but how we are saying it. Let us be people who speak the truth in love.

When it comes to planting seeds for the Gospel, it is important to be honest and open. If we have a preconceived idea of what the person believes, it can be difficult to have an open conversation. The more honest and open we are, the more our own weaknesses and struggles can help them see that they are not alone in their struggle with what is truth (John 8:32).

The gospel is good news, not bad news (Romans 1:16). It is imperative that we represent the gospel to others in a positive way. We need to show others that we trust in God and have hope in Christ. We should also use words that can help people understand that Jesus loves them and that there is a place for them in God’s kingdom. People are looking for joy and hope; the Gospel is the answer.

While there are many different suggestions for how to share the Gospel, it is even more important that any activity around the Gospel be done with the fruits of the Spirit in mind. It is not so much your actions as it is your attitude that matters. Love and gentleness are what will draw people to you. Nonbelievers often see something in us that they know they need but that they cannot identify. What they are seeing is the hope and joy of Christ in us.

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near to reach least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!