How to Share the Gospel

One of the greatest privileges any believer has is introducing someone to life-changing faith in Jesus Christ. This is what we call “the gospel,” which simply means good news! The good news is that the kingdom of God is here and God is inviting His people into His mission to bless the world and welcome them into His family. Jesus said that His purpose on earth was to “seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10). When we share our faith, we are joining Him in His mission to seek and save the lost people in our world.

The idea of sharing our faith can sometimes feel overwhelming. Just to take some pressure off, remember the definition of successful witnessing is

“Taking the initiative to share Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, leaving the results to God.”

So do not worry about how they will respond, that is God’s business. Your job is simply to take the initiative and trust God. He will take care of the rest.

Why Reach Students?

Just like an athlete trains for their sport in the off-season, we need to hone our skills in sharing our faith. We prepare to share our faith to be ready for the challenge, to gain confidence and skill, and to be able to speak from the heart when the time comes. We also prepare to share our faith in Christ with high school students because of the following:

80% of all Christ-followers begin a relationship with Jesus before the age of 18.
92% of all teenagers are on the public high school campus.
We want to see people experience the same love and forgiveness we have.
There is still room in heaven for one more.
We want to share the message plainly and accurately.
We want to honor God and be obedient to Him.

In His classic article, “Let the Nations Be Glad!,” Pastor John Piper shares this advice for why we should want to share our faith:

“Don’t wait for a feeling of love to share Christ with a stranger. You already love your heavenly Father, and you know that this stranger is created by Him, but separated from Him, so take those first steps in evangelism because you love God. It is not primarily out of compassion for humanity that we share our faith or pray for the lost; it is, first of all, love for God. The Bible says in Ephesians 6:7-8: “Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free.”

Tools Help Share the Gospel

Cru became famous for its wide use of “The Four Spiritual Laws” gospel tract, which lays out the essence of the gospel in four simple points that are easily communicated and backed with scripture. This simple tool has changed millions of lives over the last 70 years. There is no way, and no need, to share everything you know about the totality of the gospel in one conversation, but you can share God’s message of salvation using one of these tools:

The Connecting with God booklet – is made specifically for High School students!
The Knowing God Personally (KGP) booklet
The FOUR – easy to draw or explain quickly. Available on wristbands, stickers, etc.
The God Tools app – a free app with many evangelism tools

They are all very similar. For this training, we will use the KGP Booklet. While an outline is not the only way to communicate the gospel, we like it because it is simple, transferable, and brings the person to a point of decision.

Each of the different tools has four main points, just worded slightly differently. It goes like this:

God loves you and created you to know him personally.
We are separated from God by our sin, so we cannot know Him or experience His love.
Jesus is God’s only solution for our sin. Only through Him can we know God and receive His love and forgiveness.
We must each respond to Jesus by placing our trust in Him as our Savior and Lord. Only then can we know God personally.

The gospel of Jesus is a message of love and acceptance for drowning people who need a life raft, and it can only be accepted by people who want to hear it.

Become an Expert with One Tool

Select the best evangelism tool for your setting. You need to become comfortable with the outline of the gospel presentation and aware of its contents and the Bible verses each one uses to make each point. Pay close attention to the transitional phrases at the bottom of the page, which are good points to pause and make sure the person is tracking with you. While it is possible to present the gospel by just reading through the booklet, most conversations are much more fruitful if you go about it in a more casual, conversational way.

For example, take some time to talk about what sin is during point #2, and ask them to think about how they have sinned in their life. To be more conversational, know the booklet well. At the very least, pause often to ask them to restate a point in their own words, such as asking them to explain what Ephesians 2:8-9 says in their own words during point #4. If they can explain this, they are likely grasping the essence of the gospel. Try alternating who reads each page, so that you are not talking the whole time. You want to make sure that you take time to listen to them and hear them out on whatever questions or comments they have as you go through the presentation.

Lead to a Decision

Just after the fourth point, the presentation has two circles with chairs in them, symbolizing “the throne of your life.” These circles are an excellent way to help the student wrestle with and clearly communicate where they are in their relationship with God. It also gives them a clear next step–to ask you a question, bring up a doubt or fear they have, or turn to Christ in faith. While we always want to share the gospel at the first good opportunity and bring the person to a point of decision about Jesus, we never force the gospel. We simply invite people to respond to God’s radical love for them.

Once you are done with the gospel presentation, ask them if they would like to pray and accept the sacrifice of Jesus on their behalf and follow Him as Lord of their life. We simply bring them to a crossroads and invite them to respond. Whether they want to right then or not, make sure you get their phone number or social media and set up a follow-up appointment to help them take the next best step in their spiritual journey. Check out Thrive Studies for awesome follow-up material!

No Matter What, Show Them Love and Care

The gospel of Jesus is a message of love and acceptance for drowning people who need a life raft, and it can only be accepted by people who want to hear it. We are not in the business of pressuring people to pray a prayer or treating them in an unloving way if they are not interested. If someone is far from God and wants to stay there, the best thing you can do is pray for them and treat them lovingly. In the words of Jesus, “do to others as you would like them to do to you” (Luke 6:31 NLT).

Next Step

Take your next step in sharing your faith. If you're new at this, practice a gospel presentation with a friend. If you're ready for the real thing, text someone right now to see if you can meet with them. For help in turning the conversation to the gospel, Bridges to Gospel Conversations will help.

Bridges to Gospel Conversations

Evangelism

This article is part of the Evangelism Collection. Read the rest of these articles to get an even better understanding of how to share your faith with students.

From Grief to Purpose: Finding God in the Storm

Growing up in a Christian home, she always knew about Jesus, but her relationship with Him didn’t feel personal until tragedy struck in eighth grade. Transitioning from homeschooling to public school had already pushed her out of her comfort zone, and anxiety loomed as she struggled to find her place. Then, during the fall of 2020, both her parents contracted COVID. While her mom recovered, her dad’s condition worsened, leading to months of uncertainty. She vividly remembers the day he left for the hospital and the long, heartbreaking journey that followed. Despite moments of hope, her dad passed away on February 20th, 2021. At just 13 years old, she faced the devastating reality of losing her father—a loss that shook her world and her faith.

In the midst of that grief, she began to see God’s hand at work. During sleepless nights and moments of overwhelming sorrow, God surrounded her with people who cared—friends, family, and a community that embodied His love. Though the pain of loss didn’t disappear, she found comfort in the truth that this life is not the end. Inspired by Paul’s words about eternity, she started to see her father’s passing as a reminder of the hope we have in Christ. That hope spurred her to action. On a family mission trip to Thailand, she met students leading Cru groups at their schools, and the seed was planted to start something similar back home. Despite initial uncertainty, God provided resources, opened doors, and brought others alongside her to launch Cru at her school—a ministry that has been thriving for nearly a year now.

"Anxiety loomed as she struggled to find her place."

Her story is one of resilience, faith, and transformation. Through unimaginable grief, she discovered the depth of God’s love and the strength found in trusting Him. The loss of her dad deepened her desire to share Jesus with others, knowing firsthand how essential His presence is in life’s hardest moments. Cru has given her a platform to do just that—to tell others about the God who redeems brokenness and uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Her journey reminds us that while pain is inevitable, God is sovereign, faithful, and able to bring beauty from ashes.

Next Step

Check out Christina's Story and consider how God might use an international mission in your or another student's life.

christina's story

The Six Milestones Every Student Needs to Grow in Faith

Why These Milestones Matter

If we are not careful, students can float through our ministry without ever taking real steps forward. They might show up every week, but never really grow or take ownership of their faith. Milestones give us a simple, clear map for helping them keep moving. They help us answer the question, “What’s next for this student?” and give students the courage to take that step.

When we guide students from milestone to milestone, we are not just helping them stay involved. We are helping them grow into strong, confident followers of Jesus who are ready to lead and influence others.

Share Christ with a Student Who Doesn’t Know Jesus

Before anything else, a student needs the chance to hear the good news of Jesus in a clear and personal way. This is where it all begins. Many teenagers have never heard the gospel explained in full, even if they have been around church. Take the time to share about God’s love, our need for forgiveness, and the hope we have in Christ. The first step in their journey is not about them sharing their faith — it is about them hearing it for the first time.

Helpful Resources:

Lead a Student Through Their First Follow-Up

When a student says yes to Jesus, it is just the start of something new and exciting. The first follow-up meeting is where you can help them understand what it means to walk with God daily. It is also a chance to build trust and start a discipleship relationship. This step anchors their new faith and helps them grow instead of drifting away.

Helpful Resources:

Help a Student Understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit

Helping students understand the Holy Spirit is a game-changer. Too often, new believers try to live the Christian life in their own strength, and it leaves them frustrated. Teaching them about the Spirit-filled life shows them how to depend on God’s power for both living and sharing their faith. This is when students start to realize that God is not just calling them to do hard things — He is empowering them to actually do them.

Helpful Resources:

GodTools App (go through the Satisfied tool with them)
Holy Spirit Booklet

Holy Spirit Study in Thrive Studies

First Evangelism Experience

Many students have never had the chance to talk about their faith with someone who doesn’t know Jesus. Taking them out to share, whether on campus, at an event, or in the community, changes that. At first, they might feel nervous, but once they see God working through them, it can be life-changing. That moment when a student realizes, “God just used me to help someone understand the gospel” — that is the spark that often leads to a lifetime of ministry.

Helpful Resources:

Challenge to a Cru Training Event

There is something powerful about getting students away from their normal routine and into an environment filled with worship, biblical teaching, and friends who are chasing after Jesus. Conferences give them the space to grow, hear from God, and take big steps of faith. The bus ride there might be full of nerves, but the ride home is usually buzzing with stories of what God did. Over and over again, we have seen students return from these events ready to lead and make a difference.

Helpful Resources:

Conferences Page

Challenge to Spiritual Leadership on Campus

Teenagers are capable of more than they realize. The world constantly challenges them to step up in sports, academics, and clubs, but sometimes the church forgets to ask them to lead in ministry. Giving students real leadership opportunities — leading a Bible study, speaking at a meeting, planning an outreach — unlocks their potential and sets an example for younger students. Over time, this creates a culture where leadership is expected and contagious.

Helpful Resources:

Student Leader Section – GoToTheCampus.com

Wrapping It Up

These milestones are not a checklist to rush through. They are a pathway to help students grow, one step at a time. Every student you know is somewhere on this journey. Your role is to encourage them, challenge them, and walk alongside them as they take the next step. The goal is not just to build a ministry — it is to build students who live on mission for Jesus for the rest of their lives.

Want to dig deeper? Check out our full conversations about the Six Milestones in these YouTube videos.

Next Step

Write down the names of every student in your ministry. Identify their current milestone and decide how you can help them reach the next one.

The Priceless Project: Impacting Girls in Public Schools

The Priceless Project: Impacting Girls in Public Schools

The Priceless Project is a powerful small-group resource designed especially for girls, offering a safe, encouraging space to talk about identity, value, and purpose. It’s already making a difference in public schools, giving students a chance to connect, grow, and be reminded of their worth.

One of its greatest strengths is flexibility. The Priceless Project comes in two versions:

A Bible study version for church, youth group, or Christian school settings
A public school version with the same strong themes but without Scripture references — making it ideal for campuses that might not allow explicitly faith-based content

The public school version can be a great way to get in the door on a campus that’s difficult to access. It allows you to mentor a group of girls who need it, build relationships with them, and meet real emotional and social needs in a way that schools welcome.

Priceless Project

from Emily French

Why use The Priceless Project?

Creates a safe, respectful space for girls to share and be heard
Meets real emotional and social needs in public schools
Builds leadership and peer-to-peer mentoring skills
Easy to use, with free resources and an app for facilitators
Proven track record in schools through partnerships with teachers and administrators

All digital resources are free for Cru. Use the discount code PricelessCru at checkout. All physical books are available for purchase at iampriceless.me.

A free Priceless Project App is also available for Apple and Android — with digital curriculum, playlists, blog posts, and a safe space for facilitators to connect with the girls they lead.

You can learn more, explore the curriculum, and order resources at iampriceless.me.