You’ve just shared the gospel with a friend. Your voice was shaky, and your heart is still pounding, but you did it! God gave you courage and words to share the beautiful truth that Jesus died to reconcile us to God.  

You sit back, waiting for your friend to say something.  

“Thank you for telling me about your faith. I’m so glad you have found your path to peace.”  

A few minutes later, the conversation shifts. The door feels closed. Where do you go from here?

The world’s need for the gospel is clear. As believers who know the joy and blessing of salvation, our hearts ache for family, friends, and neighbors who don’t. 

We prepare to share the gospel with them, rehearsing in our minds the truths about God’s holiness, humankind’s sinfulness, and Christ’s work of reconciliation. These truths are essential to any gospel presentation.

But what’s the next step? How do we move beyond sharing gospel information to giving a gospel invitation?  

Jesus’s offer of salvation requires a response, and it’s loving to communicate that—even if we feel uncomfortable or pushy. So how can we invite our friends to respond to Jesus’s invitation? Here are three questions that can take your gospel conversation further.   

No matter how they feel, the truth is that every unbeliever stands separated from God. Every person needs to face the reality of their own unrighteousness. Recognizing the vast chasm between God’s holiness and our sinfulness is painful, but we must reach that point before we can grasp our need for the salvation Jesus offers. 

We shouldn’t shrink from helping others confront the reality of sin and its devastating effects. Jesus lovingly did the same for us. He didn’t shy away from our darkness but met us in the midst of it and showed us the way out. We do the same when we share the truth with others, even when it’s hard to hear.  

See also Isaiah 59:1-2; Matthew 5:3; John 1:14; and Romans 3:23.

The gospel is not just informational; it’s invitational. Like an invitation we might receive to a wedding or an event, a response is expected and necessary—will you come? No one can remain neutral once the invitation has been given. Not to respond, or to delay, is a response. But the good news of the gospel is that Jesus welcomes all who come to Him.  

See also Matthew 11:28; 25:1-13; and John 1:12; 6:37. 

No matter how clear your gospel presentation and how compelling your plea to respond in faith, only God can change a heart. Your conversation may end with hesitation, rejection, or dismissal. But don’t be discouraged! God moves in hearts in His own time and way. We can trust Him to continue to work through the truths of the gospel we’ve shared, while we leave the door open for more conversation later.  

See also Ezekiel 36:26; Matthew 19:25-26; and John 3:5-8. 

Sharing the gospel can be intimidating, and asking for a response can feel pushy. But thank God that He pushes into unbelief to call sinners to Himself! Will you lovingly call others to respond to Him too?