As you are out sharing the Gospel, whether it is a planned or unplanned Gospel conversation, you will find some people may not want to talk about the Gospel, and some will not be able to talk about the Gospel at that moment. Let's talk about rejections in two ways: Conversation Rejections and Gospel Rejections.

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Conversation Rejections
 

Whether you are discussing dinner plans, sports, or the Gospel, conversations can easily get distracted. Time restraints and interruptions pose a few ways that conversation can end earlier than intended. When it comes to evangelism, these distractions can often prohibit us from ever sharing the Gospel. One way to prevent this from happening is by beginning the conversation with the Gospel. Paul says that delivering the Gospel is a priority (1 Cor 15:3). We can begin a conversation with the Gospel. This way, if a distraction happens (ex., they are in a hurry, a kid gets sick, or an important phone call comes in), you have at least placed the Gospel in their ears.
 

Sometimes when we share the Gospel, people may not want to talk or may not have time to talk. It may have nothing to do with the topic of the conversation, but the conversation in general. Let’s walk through some of these conversation rejections and how to handle them.
 

1. I’m too busy

   • Be understanding. You have busy days too.

   • Leave a gospel tract. Briefly explain the tract to them.

   • Ask if there is a better time for you to talk with them.

   • Listen to their response. If they answer 'yes,' then set up the time and go back. If 'no,' then thank them for the time that they share with you.
      

2. I go to Church

   • Ask questions.

     • Where do you go?

     • How long have you been going there?

     • What does your church teach about how a person can be saved?

   • Second, listen. You get to hear about their views on Jesus and God’s story.

   • Third, think through the options:

     • If they know the Gospel, ask when they were saved.

     • If they don’t know the Gospel, tell them the Biblical Gospel.
        

3. I’m not interested

   • Be understanding. There was once a time when you, too, were not interested.

   • There are questions to ask. “What makes you feel uninterested in this subject?”

   • Listen. If the conversation allows for deeper discussion of the Gospel, take the opportunity to discuss it. If the conversation does not allow for deeper discussion of the Gospel, thank them for their time.
      

4. I’m part of another religion

   • Be understanding. You were once fooled by the promises of this world (Ephesians 2:1-3)

   • Ask questions.

     • When did you decide to follow this religion?

     • What does your religion say about Jesus?

   • Listen to their answer

   • Here is an oversimplistic summation of the religions of the world:

     • Some worship one god.

     • Some worship many gods.

     • Some do not worship a god.

     • Some acknowledge a person named Jesus.

     • Some don’t acknowledge Jesus at all.

     • Some look very similar to Christianity.
        

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Gospel Rejections

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As your conversations focuses on the Gospel, the unbeliever may have rejections to the content of the Gospel message. It’s usually on this topic of evangelism that believers get the most nervous. Often our flesh wants to worry about what to say, how to say it, and what if you don’t know the answer to some question.
 

• Here is a helpful guide in dealing with Gospel Rejections:

  • Listen

  • Pray

  • Ask Questions

  • Trust in the Lord’s Strength

  • Point to Scripture

  • Get Back to the Gospel
     

Let’s utilize this time to talk about the rejections people may have to the three components of the Gospel message.

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1. Rejecting the “Problem”
    

   • What is sin?

     • Sin is disobedience to God’s commands. We first see this in the book of Genesis 3:17 in the context of Adam and Eve. Paul called Adam’s sin of disobedience. "For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners,..." (Romans 5:19a).
        

   • I’m a good person.

     • You may be sharing the Gospel with someone who considers themselves a good person. However, the Bible speaks differently about us.

       • No one is good (Romans 3:10-12)

       • We are lawbreakers (James 2:10)
          

   • I’m too great a sinner.

     • You may be sharing the Gospel with someone who considers themselves to be too great a sinner. But the truth is that no sin is more powerful than Jesus. Also, we will never be able to get rid of our sin apart from Jesus.

       • Jesus saves murderers (1 Timothy 1:15)

       • Jesus died for us while we were sinners (Romans 5:6-8)
          

2. Rejecting the “Solution”
    

   • Who is Jesus?

     • The Word is God and became flesh (John 1:1-18)

     • Jesus is God (Philippians 2:5-6; John 10:33)

     • Jesus is Man (Matthew 1:23)

   • Why the Cross?

     • The wages of sin is death but God’s gift is eternal life through Jesus (Romans 6:23)

     • Old Testament promise (Genesis 3:15)

     • By His wound we are healed (Isaiah 52:13-15; 53)

     • Christ became a curse for us. (Galatians 3:13)

     • Jesus took our sin to give us His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21)

   • Why the Resurrection?

     • Fulfill Scripture (1 Corinthians 15:4)

     • Our faith is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:17)

     • Victory through Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57)

     • Shows God’s might (Ephesians 1:19-20)

     • Christ is Lord! (Ephesians 1:21-22)
        

3. Rejecting the “Invitation”
    

   • I’m going to wait (live my life)

     • Man does not know his time (Ecclesiastes 9:12)

     • Man dies and then comes judgment (Hebrews 9:27)

   • I don’t know what I need to do

     • Faith, not works (Ephesians 2:8-9)

     • Repent and Believe (Mark 1:15)