Evangelism is the great exercise of our trust in God – a truth we easily ignore, because we constantly fall prey to the lie that evangelism is what we do for God. We slide back into performance-driven obedience. We are not the catalyst for evangelism; the Spirit is. I feel there are probably more like me who struggle to trust God in our gospeling.

Recently, I joined a team of college student leaders in midtown Atlanta with our church planting partners at m28 Church. The goal? Starting conversations with the people of Atlanta. Our daily prayer as a team was simple and went something like this: “Father, turn our man-made conversations into gospel conversations. We can start conversations, but only your Spirit makes them gospel conversations. Help us to see you at work.”

There is freedom in that prayer. The Church has always been entrusted with the responsibility to speak Jesus. Yet, every time we speak the gospel, we need the power of God to invade the conversation. We, the church, have been called to a task that we cannot accomplish by ourselves.

Here’s the point: that paradox should free us.

Evangelism is the great exercise of our trust in God – a truth we easily ignore, because we constantly fall prey to the lie that evangelism is what we do for God. We slide back into performance-driven obedience.

We are not the catalyst for evangelism; the Spirit is. I feel there are probably more like me who struggle to trust God in our gospeling.

Often, I speak the gospel from a heart that trusts in myself. We trust our words, our “turn of phrase,” our “system.” Too many times, I begin with the end in mind and forget to listen. On the way, I miss the other person’s point of need, that open door to speak in a way that aligns with God’s work that has been going on for years in that person’s life.

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