What You Need to Know to Evangelize

By Jason Trapp

I have often heard people say, “I can’t evangelize because I don’t know how”. I have often felt the same way. Many of us are afraid to open our mouths to tell someone about Jesus because they might ask us a question or pose an objection that we are not prepared to answer. How can we possibly know the answer to every potential question?
You only need to know one thing to be able to evangelize. It does not take a degree in apologetics or a seminary education. Paul told the Corinthians, “And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:1-2). When Paul first did evangelism in Corinth, he did not debate apologetics, he did not thoughtfully craft convincing arguments, he did not even answer their objections. No, he proclaimed Jesus! None of his training in theology or rhetoric mattered at all. The only thing that mattered was that he knew Jesus.
If you know Jesus, then you already know everything necessary to evangelize. If you have believed in Him, then you know the gospel, the power of God for salvation (Rom. 1:16). If someone raises an objection, you can say, “I don’t know the answer to that, but here’s what I do know: Jesus died on the cross for your sins. If you believe in Him, you will have eternal life.” So the next time you think you don’t know enough to evangelize, ask yourself if you know Jesus, and then talk about Him…only Him.