Preaching the gospel is telling people the good news about Jesus Christ. The word “gospel” means good news, and the good news is this: God sent His Son, Jesus, who died for our sins and rose from the dead, and everyone who turns from sin and trusts Him is forgiven and given eternal life. Preaching is not only a sermon from a pulpit. It is any clear announcing of that message, whether to a crowd, a friend, or a neighbor. The apostle Peter described believers as people who had the gospel preached to them by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, and he said even angels long to look into these things (1 Peter 1:12). So preaching the gospel is both a message and an act of telling it.
What exactly is the message being preached?
The message has a center, and the center is Jesus. The apostle Paul summarized it like this:
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. — 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (BSB)
That is the good news in a nutshell. It includes four truths:
- God is holy and we have all sinned against Him.
- Jesus, God’s eternal Son, became man and died on the cross in the place of sinners.
- He rose bodily from the grave, defeating death.
- Everyone who repents and believes in Him receives forgiveness and eternal life.
Preaching the gospel means announcing that news, not merely giving advice on how to live a better life. Good advice can help people, but only the gospel announces what God has done in Christ.
Does preaching the gospel mean only a sermon from a pulpit?
No. Preaching in the New Testament often happened in public places, but the same message was also shared person to person. Philip, called an evangelist, went from city to city preaching the word (Acts 8:4). Paul preached in synagogues and marketplaces, and he also spoke with individuals.
The Bible uses several words for this work. Preaching is the public proclamation of the message. Teaching explains what it means and how to live it out. Evangelism is the broader work of sharing the good news with those who have not heard. Witness is telling what you know to be true about Jesus.
So a pastor preaching on Sunday is preaching the gospel. A believer explaining the way of salvation to a coworker is also preaching the gospel in the biblical sense. The setting changes; the message does not.
Who is supposed to preach the gospel?
Some are set apart for this work in a special way. Paul wrote that Christ gave some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers (Ephesians 4:11). Those roles carry responsibility to proclaim and explain the message faithfully.
But the task is not limited to them. Before He returned to heaven, Jesus told His followers:
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age. — Matthew 28:19-20 (BSB)
That command was given to His disciples, and through them to the church in every age. Every Christian is called to be ready to give an answer for the hope within them. Not everyone is gifted as a preacher, and not everyone is called to stand before a crowd. But every believer can tell the truth about Jesus in ordinary conversation, with gentleness and respect.
How should the gospel be preached?
Faithfully, plainly, and with love.
Faithfully means keeping the message intact. Paul warned against changing the gospel into something else. The message is not that God wants you to be happy, healthy, or successful. It is that Christ died for sins and rose again. When we soften the parts about sin and judgment, we remove the very thing that makes the good news good.
Plainly means using words people can understand. Paul said he did not come with lofty speech, but with a simple proclamation of Christ crucified. The gospel is deep enough for a scholar and simple enough for a child.
With love means the manner matters. Peter tells believers to be holy in all their conduct (1 Peter 1:15-16), and that includes how we speak to those who do not yet believe. We are not trying to win arguments. We are trying to introduce people to the Savior. A harsh, mocking, or pushy tone does not fit the message of grace.
Paul also asked for prayer that he would speak boldly, as he ought to speak. Boldness and kindness are not opposites. Both belong to faithful preaching.
What happens when the gospel is preached?
The gospel is powerful. Paul wrote:
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek. — Romans 1:16 (BSB)
That means the results do not depend on how clever or eloquent the speaker is. God uses His word to open blind eyes and soften hard hearts. Some people hear and believe. Some hear and walk away. Some hear and get angry. That was true when Jesus preached, and it is true today.
Our job is not to produce the results. Our job is to tell the truth clearly and leave the outcome to God. The Holy Spirit is the one who convicts, draws, and gives new life. That is why prayer must go before and alongside our words.
What about the person who has never heard?
The Bible says people cannot call on someone they have not believed in, and they cannot believe in someone they have not heard about. Paul asks:
How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? — Romans 10:14 (BSB)
This is why the gospel must go out to every nation and every people. It is also why preaching is urgent. The day of salvation is now, not someday. Paul wrote that now is the acceptable time, now is the day of salvation.
How do I begin?
Start with prayer. Ask God to give you a clear understanding of the gospel and a genuine love for the people around you. Then read the message again in the Gospels and in Paul’s letters until you can explain it simply: God is holy, we are sinners, Christ died and rose, and whoever repents and believes is saved.
Then look for open doors. A conversation with a friend. A question someone asks. A moment of pain in someone’s life when they are willing to listen. You do not need a pulpit. You need honesty, kindness, and the message itself.
Finally, do not try to do this alone. A local church is where the gospel is preached regularly, where believers are taught, and where you can learn from others who have shared their faith for years. Speak with your pastor or a mature believer about how to grow in this. If you are not yet part of a church, ask God to lead you to one where the Bible is taught faithfully and Jesus is honored.
The gospel is good news. It is worth telling, and it is worth telling well.
Common questions
Is preaching the gospel the same as giving a testimony?
Not exactly. A testimony is the story of how God worked in your life. Preaching the gospel is the announcement of what Jesus did for sinners through His death and resurrection. Your testimony can support the gospel message, but the message itself is about Christ, not about you.
Do I need to be a pastor or evangelist to preach the gospel?
No. Pastors and evangelists are set apart for this work in a special way, but every Christian is called to share the good news. You can do this in ordinary conversation, with a neighbor, a friend, or a family member. The setting does not have to be a church service.
What if someone rejects the message when I share it?
That will happen, and it happened to Jesus and the apostles too. Your responsibility is to speak the truth in love, not to force a response. The Holy Spirit is the one who changes hearts. Keep praying for the person and keep treating them with kindness.
How can I learn to explain the gospel clearly?
Read the Gospels and the letters of Paul, especially Romans. Write out the message in your own words: God is holy, we have sinned, Christ died and rose, and whoever repents and believes is saved. Then practice saying it simply. Your local church can also help you grow in this.