Jesus never intended us to keep the gospel to ourselves. He called us to go into the world, live out the gospel, and share what He’s done for us.
That can seem like an overwhelming command, and we can often feel unequipped to fulfill it. Yet we know God equips those He calls, and He will give us everything we need to do what He has called us to do.
But what exactly does the Bible say about living out the gospel, and how do we do that practically in our daily lives?
What Does God Say About Living Out the Gospel?
Jesus set a perfect example of living out the gospel as He led His disciples. When He ascended back to Heaven, He commissioned believers to continue His work and model His love for others. God also offers five pieces of instruction in His word about how and why we are to live out the gospel.
- God encourages us to live out the gospel right where we are.
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” —Acts 1:8
As Jesus commanded us to live out the gospel, He also offered us the Holy Spirit. We shouldn’t try to reach the world through our own power. Instead, we should rely on the Holy Spirit within us.
Jesus also told His followers at His ascension that they were to start living out the gospel by first reaching those in their city, Jerusalem. Similarly, we can start living out the gospel by displaying Christ’s love to those in our neighborhoods and cities. There are hurt and broken people everywhere, and that includes the people we see daily in the cities where we live.
2. God is with us as we live out the gospel and make disciples.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” —Matthew 28:19-20
God’s vision has always been one of multiplication, through which He makes disciples, who in turn make disciples. As we follow Jesus, we are to replicate our faith in others who also pass on their faith. Through it all, God promises He will be with us.
3. Living out the gospel is the most important mission we have been given.
“How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?” —Romans 10:14-15
Living out the gospel is the most important work we do. Only two things last forever: the word of God and the souls of men. Everything else will fade away. Reaching others with the gospel bears eternal fruit, whereas the other things we invest our time in are temporal.
4. The right time to start living out the gospel is now.
“Then He said to them, ‘The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.’” —Luke 10:2
Time is short, and we don’t know how long we will have to be a light to our world. People desperately need the love of Jesus to transform their lives. There is no better time than the present to reach our neighbors.
5. If your life has been changed by Jesus, He’s sending you to live out the gospel.
“So Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.’” —John 20:21
God calls all believers to further His kingdom. He doesn’t need us to advance His mission, but He wants us to join Him in what He’s doing. The benefits are eternal rewards.
What Does It Mean That Believers Are Called to “Live Sent?”
When our lives have been changed by Jesus, we respond by living differently as we demonstrate radical love for God and others. Living out the gospel doesn’t necessarily mean leaving everything you know and traveling across the world to share the good news with far-away nations. God does call some to do that, but most often, living sent means reaching out to your neighbors in your community. In the process, you might discover that the nations are closer to home than you would initially expect.
Tyler and Jessica King have lived out the gospel by serving with Agape Pamoja, a ministry for African Refugees living in Kansas City. The couple connected with the ministry as they completed the Live Sent class in 2022. At the end of the class, they were given the responsibility of leading a VBS-style afternoon event for children in the refugee community, and the people in the community quickly captured their hearts.
The Kings, along with their four children, continued leading the children’s events and developing relationships with the refugees, and God used their experiences to change their perspective. They have also led various Bible studies and discipleship efforts in the refugee community, and Jessica recently served as a group leader for students at camp.
“We came into it thinking we would bring a lot to the table and help these families, but they completely…changed us in a lot of ways,” Tyler says. “We realized that as Americans, and as suburban Americans, we are very individualistic and task oriented. (The refugees) are extremely relational and community oriented. They, in a good way, wrecked us…We started to in some ways change how we want to raise our children, not only in getting involved in that community but adopting some of their mindset.”
Jessica said God taught her that despite the outward differences between themselves and the refugees, they are ultimately the same in Jesus. She said it has been good for her soul to love those who don’t look like her and who have different life experiences.
In time, ministry to refugees has become a life-on-life endeavor for the Kings as they have attended memorable life moments of community members including soccer games, graduations, and naturalization ceremonies.
“There is beauty in living in community with people that are of other tribes, tongues, cultures, and languages,” Tyler said. “God can transcend all that.”
Ultimately, the Kings discovered living out the gospel practically means showing up and demonstrating love to others in an intentional manner that includes life-on-life discipleship. It also involved allowing God to teach and grow them.
“It became such a blessing for us,” Tyler says. “We thought we were going to be bringing something, but they ended up blessing us.”
How to Live Out the Gospel in Your City
So how can you begin to live out the gospel? There are countless ways to “live sent” in your city. Start by determining what needs people in your neighborhood might have.
- Has someone lost a family member recently? Bring them a meal and talk with them.
- Does someone need help with childcare? Offer to babysit.
- Does an elderly neighbor need help with yard and outdoor work? Take care of their lawn.
Through all your efforts, make sure Christ is known and engage in spiritual conversations that point others to God’s love.
Look at opportunities in your city as well and serve with any homeless shelters, food pantries, or refugee ministries that exist. Think about how to be a blessing to your city and volunteer to meet needs, whether that might be picking up trash in public places or providing meals for children.
Join the Live Sent Class
The Kings began living out the gospel after they completed the Live Sent class, which establishes the biblical basis for missional living and how to share the gospel with people from various cultures and backgrounds.
“If you take the Live Sent class, you will get to see the opportunities in your own backyard,” Tyler says. “If you choose to step into them, you will be living out the great commission probably in ways you haven’t before. You will see such a picture of what that looks like in full color.”
The next Live Sent class will be offered on Sunday afternoons from September 15 to October 20. To find more information and register, click the button below!