An objection is a reason that you are against something or don’t want to do something.
I may want my kids to go outside because they’re causing chaos inside. They may object by saying, “It’s too hot outside.”
My kids may want to go outside to ride their bikes. I may object by saying, “It’s too dark outside.”
An employee might be asked by their boss to do something. That employee may object by saying, “I don’t get paid enough to do that.”
A husband may ask his wife if she’s ok with him going fishing. She may object by saying, “Not as long as that garage is still a mess.”
You see, we come up with all kinds of objections to situations. Sometimes these objections are legitimate, and sometimes they are not.
Today, we’re going to learn about “Objections to Sharing the Gospel.”
Before we do, let’s go to the Lord in prayer and ask Him to speak to us.
(prayer)
Today, we are concluding our series called “Gospel Tools for Gospel People.”
Thus far, we’ve learned how to share our story, and we’ve learned how to share The Three Circles.
The reality is, we can have all the tools in the world, but if we’re not willing to put those tools to work, then they are no good.
We have to be willing to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with a lost and dying world.
However, not everyone is willing. In fact, some people come up with excuses or objections about why they don’t share the gospel with others.
Let’s take a look at four of those objections now and then respond to those objections.
First, . . .
Objection #1 – Sharing the gospel is scary.
Some things can be scary, right?
Asking someone to marry you can be scary.
Having children can be scary.
Starting a new job can be scary.
Moving out on your own can be scary.
Moving to a new location can be scary.
Letting your teenager drive can be scary.
Buying a new home can be scary.
Eating a burrito can be scary.
Things can be scary, but that doesn’t mean that they’re not worth doing, right? Sometimes, we have to be brave in order to do something that is worth doing.
Bravery is something that most of us value in others.
We want our kids to be brave. We want others to be brave. Perhaps we even want to be brave ourselves.
Do you know that bravery is not the absence of fear? Bravery is doing what should be done in the midst of fear.
Listen to what the Apostle Paul said to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.”
You see, Church: In Jesus, God gives us a spirit of power, love, and sound judgment. He has not given us a spirit of fear. He does not want us to be afraid.
What’s more, when we are afraid, the people of God are to press forward. We are to be brave for the glory of God.
Additionally, as we live our lives on God’s mission, Jesus is with us along the way.
Listen to what Jesus said in Matthew 28:19–20: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Friends, we are not on our own. We have Jesus with us. He is with us always, to the end of the age.
The knowledge that Jesus is with us should bring us courage.
As a parent comforts a child in the dark. As a guide comforts someone in the wilderness. As an expert comforts a young apprentice. So also, Jesus comforts us because He is with us along the way.
Sharing the gospel may be scary, but we are not to let fear stop us. We should have a spirit of power, and we should remember that Jesus is with us.
Another objection is . . .
Objection #2 – Sharing the gospel is hard.
Well, that’s true in one sense and not true in another.
Sharing the gospel is not hard in terms of knowing what to say, right?
We just learned last week how to share The Three Circles.
There are even simpler gospel outlines, such as the ABCs (Admit, Believe, Confess).
Listen: You don’t need to have every answer from the Bible memorized to explain to someone that they are a sinner in need of being saved and that Jesus is the way for them to be saved.
So, in that sense, sharing the gospel is not hard.
We can and should know the basics of the gospel and be prepared to share.
After all, we should remember the words of 1 Peter 3:15 to be “ . . . ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.”
It’s not hard in the sense that it would be too complex for us to do. We should simply be prepared (in terms of knowing what to say) and be ready (in terms of being willing to share).
What can seem hard is taking that step of opening the door to actually share the gospel, right?
First of all, some of us are more outgoing than others.
Many of us would be fine not talking to anyone all day. In fact, some days that may seem like a dream come true for you.
So, just approaching someone with the topic of anything may be hard for some of us.
Also, for others of us, even if we are comfortable talking to people, we’re not always comfortable talking about Jesus.
That issue goes back to the objection of being scared.
Also, it has some overlap with the fourth objection, which we’ll look at soon.
Here’s what I want to say about this subject for now: It may seem hard to share the gospel, but we must remember that God has given us a Helper.
God has given us His Holy Spirit to help us and guide us along the way.
Listen to what Jesus said about the Holy Spirit in John 14:16–17: “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive him because it doesn’t see him or know him. But you do know him, because he remains with you and will be in you.”
So, it is hard at times, but we have a Helper; we have a Counselor; the Holy Spirit of God is with us.
Next, we see . . .
Objection #3 – Sharing the gospel is not my job.
Let me just state this plainly: If you are a follower of Jesus, it is your job to be on mission for the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus commissioned us to be His witnesses. Jesus commanded us to go and make disciples.
Jesus said in Mark 16:15, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”
That command is pretty clear, isn’t it?
All the world to all of creation.
Brothers and sisters, we have a monumental task in front of us. We have a job to do.
We must be about the task of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Sharing the gospel is the job of every follower of Jesus.
It’s not just for pastors. It’s not just for missionaries. It’s not just for evangelists. It’s not just for “super Christians.”
Sharing the gospel is the responsibility of all of us who have called upon the name of Jesus for salvation.
The final objection for today is . . .
Objection #4 – Sharing the gospel may be offensive.
Indeed, the gospel may be offensive.
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 1:23, “ . . . we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.”
The gospel, by nature, is difficult for some people to accept. After all, the message is that you are messed up and you can’t fix yourself.
It is foolishness to some people, and it is offensive to others.
We must accept the fact that the message of Jesus will not be well-received by everyone.
At the same time, some things are more important than worrying about whether someone will be offended, right?
Paul said in Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.”
Even though the gospel is offensive to some, it is the power of God for salvation to others.
Some will be offended, but others will be saved!
Here’s the other thing about this objection: Our entire culture has gotten sidetracked by the idea of offense.
First, many in our culture are far too easily offended, including some who call themselves Christians. So, we need to get over that.
Second, some of us are far too loose when it comes to saying offensive things to people. In other words, we’re jerks sometimes.
These two issues are the far two extremes when it comes to offense.
As followers of Jesus, we should be quick to forgive others, we should be kind and loving to others, and we should be those who are not easily offended by others.
Let us be people of peace in a confused and mixed-up culture.
So, yes, the gospel may be offensive to some, but we should not let that stop us from being obedient to the mission to which God has called us.
Further, we should not add any additional unnecessary offense with our words or actions.
We should live gently and peacefully while still being people who are not ashamed of the gospel.
Yes, the gospel may be offensive. No, that is not a good reason not to share it.
That takes us to our bottom line:
Bottom Line: There is no good reason not to share the gospel.
The message of Jesus is a message of eternal life and death.
The message of Jesus is the heart of who we are as God’s children.
We must be ready and willing to share the gospel message.
Challenge yourself this week in this one way:
Weekly Challenge #1 – Ask yourself what keeps you from sharing the gospel.
What is it that keeps you from sharing the gospel message? Is it one of these objections that were listed today? Is it something else?
Take some time this week and identify any hindrances to you sharing the gospel. After that, ask yourself how you can overcome those hindrances.
Church, let’s make 2025 the year of evangelism for our church. Let’s make it the year of sharing the gospel.
You are commissioned! You are equipped! You’ve got this!
(Gospel presentation)
(closing prayer)
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