Rounding the Bases: How to Hit a Home Run with the Gospel

Have you ever discovered something valuable that was hidden away and forgotten? When Karl Kissner was cleaning out his grandfather's attic in Defiance, Ohio in 2012, he found a box containing over 700 baseball cards from 1910. That collection, now known as the "Black Swamp Collection," is valued at more than $3 million. Sometimes, like that family, we forget that we have something of great value. We have a treasure in the gospel. God has entrusted our church and us individually with that message, with that treasure of the gospel. And He hasn't just entrusted us to bury it in the ground, but to share it with others.

First Base: Be Personally Committed to the Gospel

The first action we need to take if we're going to hit a home run with the gospel is to be personally committed to it. In 1 Peter 3:15, Peter tells believers to "sanctify the Lord God in your hearts." This means setting Jesus aside as Lord over your life. Your heart is the sanctuary, the place where the Holy Spirit dwells. But many times we struggle with the enthronement part. When we call upon Christ to save us, He becomes our Savior, but often we want to sit on the throne of our lives instead of letting Jesus be King. Are you personally committed to the gospel? Here are five questions to help reveal your level of commitment:

1. Do you have a salvation story?
2. Do you believe the gospel is the only hope for people today?
3. Do you believe the gospel message is for all people?
4. Do you understand the urgency?
5. What are you personally doing with the gospel?

As A.W. Tozer said, "It is therefore a contradiction in terms to say that we acknowledge Christ's rule in our lives if we do not submit to His Word... Saving faith always expresses itself in obedience."

Second Base: Be Ready at Any Time

Peter continues in 1 Peter 3:15, challenging believers to "be ready always." The early Christians faced persecution from both the Roman and Jewish authorities. For many of them, imprisonment wasn't a matter of if but when. Are you ready to share the gospel? Consider where God has placed you in your life. You should be ready to share with:

• Family (spouse, children, parents, grandchildren)
• Friends (classmates, teammates, those with common interests)
• Favored (those God has brought into your life—your doctor, barber, neighbor)

If we don't look for opportunities, we will never find them. Like Fred Merkle, who in 1908 cost his team a championship by not completing his run to second base, we can't assume the game is already won and neglect our responsibility.

Third Base: Be Equipped to Share the Gospel

Peter challenges believers to be "ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you" (1 Peter 3:15). The word "answer" here is the Greek word "apologia," which means to have a reasoned statement or verbal defense—it's where we get the English word "apologetics." To be equipped, I believe every believer ought to have:

1. A Soul Winner's New Testament that fits in your pocket
2. A method to walk someone through the gospel logically (like the Romans Road)
3. Gospel tracts to share with others

We're not going to hit a home run with the gospel if we don't know the gospel. God will bring us opportunities if we're ready, but I don't believe He'll entrust us with those opportunities if we're not equipped.

Home Plate: Be Powered Up by the Holy Spirit

First Peter 3:15 concludes with "with meekness and fear." The power to hit a home run with the gospel doesn't come from you—it comes from God using His Word to change someone's life. Meekness is strength under control, a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). The "fear" Peter mentions isn't fear of people or situations, but a holy reverence for God who has called us to be His ambassadors. How can we be powered up?

• Pray for compassion for the lost
• Ask God to use us as channels of His love
• Pray for courage to share the complete message
• Ask God to do the work of salvation

Putting It Into Practice

I remember when I was staying with my in-laws in Florida, they were hosting a foreign exchange student named Ting Wen from China. After watching the movie "God's Not Dead" at a church event, I felt God working in my heart to share the gospel with him. Because I was committed, ready, equipped, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, I was able to share the gospel with Ting that night—and he accepted Christ! We're not promised extra innings in this game. Jesus said, "I must work while it is day because the night's coming when no man can work" (John 9:4). If you and I are going to hit a home run with the gospel message:

• Are you personally committed?
• Are you ready?
• Are you equipped?
• Are you filled with the power of the Holy Spirit?

When we get the opportunity, will we share the gospel and see great things done?