From Sales Pitch to Seed Planting: A Better Way to Share the Gospel

When most Christians hear the word evangelism, their hearts tighten a bit. Images of street preachers with megaphones, tense conversations that feel like arguments, or a looming pressure to “close the deal” may come to mind. We know Jesus calls us to share the good news, yet often we feel inadequate, unprepared, or afraid of rejection.
 
But what if we reframe our perspective on evangelism? What if, instead of approaching it as a debate or a burden, we saw it first and foremost as worship? Sharing the gospel is not about winning arguments or proving our worth. It’s about honoring God, planting seeds, and trusting the Holy Spirit to do what only He can do.
 
In this post, we’ll explore how gospel conversations can become acts of worship that are marked by humility, curiosity, and faith rather than battles of persuasion. We’ll also look at the role of asking good questions, giving answers that fit the moment, and leaving room for God to provide future opportunities.
 
Evangelism as Worship
Evangelism is often framed as a task or obligation. Jesus did command His followers to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19–20), and Paul reminds us that faith comes by hearing the Word of Christ (Romans 10:17). Yet before it is a responsibility, evangelism is an act of worship.

Think about what worship is: responding to God’s worth with adoration, obedience, and trust. When we tell someone about Jesus, we are not primarily trying to rack up conversions or prove how persuasive we can be. We are declaring the worth of Christ. We are saying with our words and actions, “Jesus is so good, so glorious, so true, that I can’t keep Him to myself.”

This perspective relieves the pressure many of us feel. The weight of someone else’s salvation does not rest on us. Only God saves. Our role is to bear witness. We get to faithfully and joyfully speak about what Christ has done in our lives and in the world. Evangelism, then, is not a performance. It’s worship.
 
Asking Good Questions
One of the most Christlike ways to engage in gospel conversations is by asking good questions. Jesus Himself was a master question-asker. He asked those who were attempting to trick him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” (Luke 10:26). He asked His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). He often led people to deeper reflection not by lecturing but by drawing them out.

Good questions show respect. They communicate that you are not treating the other person as a project or debate opponent but as someone made in God’s image. Questions also reveal what the person actually believes, rather than what we assume they believe.

Here are a few examples of thoughtful questions that can open doors for gospel conversations:

• “What do you think gives life meaning?” 
• “How do you find peace when life feels overwhelming?” 
• “Have you ever had an experience where you felt God might be real?” 
• “What do you think happens after death?” 

Questions like these aren’t traps; they are invitations. They create space for real conversation rather than a rehearsed presentation. And they often open natural opportunities to share how the gospel speaks into those very longings and questions.
 
Answers for the Moment
Of course, at some point, questions lead to answers. Scripture tells us to “always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15). We must be prepared to give an answer, but the way we speak matters.

Our goal is not to unload every theological point we know. Instead, we want to give answers that fit the moment, the person, and the question being asked. Paul modeled this beautifully in Acts. When speaking to Jews, he quoted the Hebrew Scriptures (Acts 13). When speaking to Greeks in Athens, he started with their altar to an unknown god and quoted their poets (Acts 17).

Sometimes a short, heartfelt answer is best: “I’ve found peace in Christ even in the hardest times.” Sometimes a story illustrates the gospel more powerfully than an argument: “Let me tell you about how Jesus changed my life.” Other times, a thoughtful explanation of Christian hope or forgiveness is appropriate.

The key is to be prayerfully attentive. Listen carefully to the other person. Ask yourself: What are they really seeking? What part of the gospel connects with their deepest questions right now?
 
Trusting God with the Outcome
One of the most freeing truths about evangelism is this: we are not in control of the outcome. Paul planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth (1 Corinthians 3:6). Sometimes, after asking good questions and giving honest answers, the conversation won’t go any further. The person may change the subject. They may politely disagree. Or they may show no interest at all. That’s okay.

Other times, a seed may be planted that grows later through another conversation, another Christian, or a personal experience. God often works through a series of gospel conversations, not just one. Our role is to be faithful in the moment, trusting that the Spirit may use our words in ways we’ll never see.

Sharing the gospel in this way requires humility and patience. Evangelism is not a sprint but a lifelong witness. The neighbor who brushes off your first attempt may, years later, come back with questions when life crumbles. The coworker who laughs at your faith may, in God’s providence, encounter another believer who says the same thing you once did.
When we remember that evangelism is worship, not salesmanship, we can rest in God’s timing. Every conversation becomes an offering to Him, whether it leads to immediate fruit or simply sows seeds for the future.

Conclusion
Gospel conversations don’t have to be burdensome. They don’t have to feel like debates or high-pressure sales pitches. When we reframe evangelism as worship, everything changes.
We are not the saviors, Jesus is. We are not the convincers, the Holy Spirit is. Our role is simply to bear witness: to ask good questions, to give honest answers that fit the moment, and to trust God with the rest.

Every gospel conversation, big or small, fruitful or not, is a chance to showcase Christ’s worth. When we see evangelism this way, the pressure lifts. We speak with joy, walk in humility, and rest in God’s sovereignty. With every word, we join God’s glorious work of making Himself known in all the world.