Unashamed of the Gospel

Session Purpose

In this session, we will learn a simple, practical rhythm for making Christ known through prayer, relationships, spiritual conversations, testimony, and a clear explanation of the gospel. We will memorize Romans 1:16 and prepare to help another person understand and respond to the gospel.

Opening Prayer

Father, thank you for the gospel of your Son. Give us love for people, confidence in your saving power, wisdom in conversation, and courage to speak clearly about Christ. Use us to help others repent, believe, and become disciples of Jesus. Amen.

Memory Passage

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” - Romans 1:16 NET2

Memorize the verse in phrases:

• For I am not ashamed of the gospel,
• for it is God’s power for salvation
• to everyone who believes,
• to the Jew first
• and also to the Greek.

Understanding the Passage

Read Romans 1:14–17.

1. To whom did Paul understand himself to be obligated?
2. What was he eager to do in Rome?
3. Why might someone be tempted to feel ashamed of the gospel?
4. Why was Paul not ashamed?
5. Where does the saving power reside—in the messenger’s ability or in God working through the gospel?
6. To whom is the gospel offered, and how is it received?

Interpretive Summary

Paul understood himself to be entrusted with good news for all people. He was not ashamed because the gospel is God’s appointed means of saving everyone who believes. Its effectiveness does not finally depend upon the messenger’s confidence, personality, or persuasiveness, but upon God’s power working through the message about Christ.

This confidence does not make Christians forceful, careless, or argumentative. Because salvation belongs to God, we can speak about Christ with humility, clarity, patience, and hope.

A Simple Rhythm for Witness

Pray

Pray regularly for particular people who do not know Christ. Ask God to open their hearts, give you genuine love, create opportunities, and grant you wisdom and courage.

Connect

Take a sincere interest in the person’s life. Share meals, offer help, remember concerns, and build trust without treating the person as a project.

Ask and Listen

Use natural questions:

• Did faith play any part in your upbringing?
• What has shaped your beliefs about God?
• Who do you understand Jesus to be?
• Where do you look for hope when life becomes difficult?
• Would you be willing to tell me more about that?

Listen carefully. Respond to the person’s actual beliefs and questions rather than those you expected.

Share

Share an appropriate part of your testimony, a truth from Scripture, or a clear explanation of the gospel.

Invite

Choose an appropriate next step:

• Read a Gospel together
• Discuss a particular question
• Attend a church gathering
• Join an evangelistic Bible study
• Consider Christ’s claims
• Repent and believe the gospel

Follow Up

Ask what the person thought, respond to further questions, continue praying, and maintain the relationship.

1. Explain the Gospel Clearly

   The gospel is one unified message involving four interrelated truths.

   • God - The one true God created us for his glory and fellowship. He is holy, loving, wise, just, and the rightful Lord over all creation.

   • Humanity - We are created in God’s image with dignity and accountability. We have rebelled against God, become guilty and corrupted by sin, and cannot reconcile ourselves to him.

   • Jesus Christ - Jesus is the eternal Son who became truly human. He perfectly obeyed the Father, died as the sin-bearing substitute for sinners, was buried, rose bodily from the dead, and reigns as Lord.

   • Response- God commands all people to repent and believe. Those who receive Christ are forgiven, declared righteous, adopted, given the Holy Spirit, joined to Christ’s people, and called to follow Jesus.

   Practice explaining these truths in approximately two minutes. Use understandable language without removing essential truths such as sin, Christ’s death, resurrection, repentance, and faith.

2. Prepare a Brief Testimony (before the meeting)

   Before the session, prepare a three-minute testimony using three movements:

   • Before - What did you believe, value, fear, or pursue before understanding the gospel?

   • How - How did God bring you to understand your need and trust in Christ?

   • Since - How has Christ changed your identity, direction, relationships, or hope?

   Keep Christ and the gospel central. Your testimony supports the gospel; it does not replace it.

3. Further Practice: Responding to Questions

   For further practice outside the session, use this simple approach when someone raises a question or objection:

   • Clarify: Ask what the person means and identify the actual concern.

   • Acknowledge: Recognize any legitimate question, painful experience, or moral concern.

   • Answer: Give a clear biblical response with appropriate historical, moral, or rational support.

   • Connect: Show how the question relates to Christ and the gospel.

   • Invite: Suggest an appropriate next step, such as considering a passage or reading a Gospel.

   You do not need to know every answer. It is honest to say, “That is a good question. May I think about it and come back to you?”

4. Practice a Gospel Conversation

   Allow approximately 20 minutes. Work with another participant, then reverse roles:

   • Ask a spiritual question and listen carefully.

   • Ask one appropriate follow-up question.

   • Share a brief part of your testimony.

   • Explain the gospel through God, humanity, Christ, and response.

   • Invite the person to take one reasonable next step.

   Offer brief feedback:

   • Was the conversation respectful and natural?
   • Was the gospel clear?
   • Were Christ’s death, resurrection, repentance, and faith included?
   • Did the person listen as well as speak?
   • Was the invitation appropriate?

   Then reverse roles.

Fourteen Daily Quiet Time Passages on Witness

These optional passages support ongoing Daily Quiet Times. Choose a manageable passage for each time with God; you do not need to finish this list before the next meeting. Continue the 5Rs, letting the passage guide your prayer and one MAP response.

1. Week 1

   • Genesis 12:1–3 — God’s purpose to bless the nations

   • Psalm 67 — God’s saving ways known among all peoples

   • Isaiah 49:1–6 — God’s salvation reaching the nations

   • Matthew 4:18–22 — Following Christ and fishing for people

   • Matthew 9:35–38 — Compassion and prayer for workers

   • Matthew 28:16–20 — Making disciples of all nations

   • Luke 19:1–10 — Jesus seeking and saving the lost

2. Week 2

   • John 4:27–42 — Spiritual conversation and fruitful witness

   • Acts 1:6–8 — Empowered by the Spirit to bear witness

   • Acts 17:16–34 — Speaking within another worldview

   • Romans 1:14–17 — Unashamed confidence in the gospel

   • 2 Corinthians 5:14–21 — The message of reconciliation

   • Colossians 4:2–6 — Prayer, opportunity, and gracious speech

   • 1 Peter 3:13–16 — Giving a reason for Christian hope

Continuing as a Disciple and Disciple-Maker

The Wheel is not merely a diagram to remember. It is a simple tool for helping Christians live with:

• Christ at the center
• Spirit-empowered obedience
• The Word
• Prayer
• Fellowship
• Witness

Continue reviewing the twelve memory passages, practicing these gospel rhythms, and helping another Christian take one faithful step at a time.

Preparing to Train Another Christian

Learn Romans 1:16 at a manageable pace, including the reference. Review a small selection of earlier passages, rotating them through the week.

Continue your Daily Quiet Times and prayer for others. Review your two-minute gospel explanation and three-minute testimony.

Begin a respectful spiritual conversation when an opportunity arises, and offer an appropriate next step.

Identify one Christian you could help through these practices. Agree on a realistic first meeting and begin with what you have learned.