As summer winds down and the days begin to shorten, there’s a shift in the air—the anticipation that marks the return to school. There’s something invigorating about the promise of a new academic year. It’s a blank slate loaded with potential—for students, parents, teachers and staff alike.
Sure, it’s time to shop for new school supplies, settle into new schedules, and update wardrobes—but you should also get ready to gospelize!
What does that mean? It means you know what’s at stake if your classmates, co-workers or fellow parents die without Christ or live just one more day without him.
It means you’ll start praying for, caring for and sharing the good news of Jesus with those around you.
How to Do It
What does it look like to gospelize at school?
Pray for the non-Christians you know—friends, classmates, co-workers, other parents—by name. Pray for their souls to be saved and for Jesus to transform their lives. Pray that God will give you an opportunity to share Jesus with them.
Care for them by listening to them and loving them. Do strategic acts of kindness.
Ask them questions and listen intently to their answers.
When the time is right, turn the conversation toward spiritual subjects.
Share the gospel message with them, and explain how it has transformed your life.
Invite them to come to youth group or church with you, to help them grow in their faith.
Consider getting a group of Christian friends together to pray every week.
Do all of this until every teen, teacher, staff member and parent on your campus has heard the gospel from a friend.
A King, a Cause and a Crew
Matthew 28:18–20 makes it clear that Jesus is your king, making disciples is your cause, and your on-fire-for-Jesus friends—like the early disciples—are your crew.
That’s everything a disciple-making disciple needs: a king, a cause and a crew.
Embrace all three—they will help you boldly share the message that brings people from death to life.
For help in sharing your faith, check out my five-minute crash course in evangelism here. Then go gospelize your campus!
This article originally appeared on gregstier.org and is reposted here by permission.