Let’s be honest. Not many of us consider ourselves gifted evangelists.

Maybe you’re not the most eloquent. Maybe you stumble over your words when you talk about your faith. Maybe you’ve grown frustrated because you’re just not the type of person who naturally turns conversations toward the gospel.

If you’ve grown frustrated with evangelism for reasons such as these, don’t be discouraged. We’re not called to save people by our rhetoric. We’re called to faithfully share the gospel, which is itself the power of God (see Romans 1:16). The Lord is sovereign over salvation, and He does not rely upon our eloquence. He gives faith, and He grants repentance. He calls us to be faithful.

It is worth noting that we should aim to be clear and concise in our gospel presentations rather than convoluted and long-winded. People can’t respond to what they can’t understand. If you struggle sharing the gospel, practice! You’ll never regret preaching the gospel to yourself each day.

If you feel you can’t measure up to a standard of evangelism you’ve set in your mind, know this: Scripture contains multiple accounts of people sharing with others, and they don’t all look the same. Let’s learn from four models of evangelism pointed out in Tice’s book, Honest Evangelism.

1. Peter

Peter was direct. During his sermon at Pentecost, Peter was emboldened by the Holy Spirit and spoke courageously to the crowd before him. He didn’t mince his words — he gave it to the people straight.

We can all learn from Peter’s example. Sometimes, we just have to take courage and tell it as it is. If you’re naturally direct, embrace this. People often need to be addressed directly to really hear the call to repent and believe in Christ. 

“But also,” Tice says, “let me encourage you to pray that you will have wisdom and sensitivity in the way that you use that style.”

There’s a time to be confrontational, and there’s a time to be gentle. Pray for wisdom to walk that line well.

2. Paul

Paul knew how to engage people logically. When addressing the Areopagus, Paul stood in the Greek epicenter of philosophy, the birthplace of modern rhetoric. So what did Paul do? He reasoned with his audience.

Paul embedded his presentation within the Greek worship of “the unknown god” (see Acts 17:16-34). What they worshipped as unknown, this Paul said he proclaimed to them. He reasoned that the God who made the earth and everything in it does not dwell in temples made by man. Paul even quoted Greek poets in his effort to reach the Greeks.

Paul’s speech is a great display of contextualization and the logical approach to evangelism. If you think analytically and can explain difficult concepts easily, this approach may be good for you. Study reliable Christian apologetic resources as you prepare yourself for conversations about the gospel.

3. The ex-blind man

If it feels intimidating to use Peter and Paul as examples for evangelism, consider the ex-blind man in John 9. He used the testimonial approach. This man had been blind from birth, and Jesus healed him. When the Pharisees investigated the healing, the man remained firm in his testimony. He didn’t know everything, but he knew that he had been blind, and now he could see.

The testimonial approach might be good for you. Tell of ways you’ve seen God work in your life. Testimonies can be powerful and might lower barriers to future conversations. Just remember that your testimony is not the gospel, so still seek to guide the conversation in that direction.

4. The woman at the well

In John 4, Jesus told a woman at a well all about herself — that she’d had five husbands and that the one she currently had was not her husband. The woman thought Jesus was a prophet, and He told her that He was the Messiah. When the woman went into town, she invited people to come see Him:

“’Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?’” (John 4:29, ESV)

This is the “come and see” approach. Maybe you’re an inviter — great at hosting and meeting new people. Try inviting your unbelieving friends over for dinner and sharing the gospel in a friendly setting. Or, as Tice suggests, host an event with an explicit invitation for people to come and learn about Jesus. You can also invite someone to read the Bible with you. Perhaps the easiest starting point is just inviting someone to church. A recent study shows 82% of people said they would attend church if invited by a friend or relative (Billy Graham Association).

Most likely, you can relate to one or more of the above approaches. However you’re gifted, use your gifts for the advancement of the gospel — and don’t be afraid to try an approach that feels uncomfortable. Some people might just be receptive.

Honest Evangelism by Rico Tice can be purchased here.