Evangelism Starts with Love: Insights from Luke 15

Evangelism is often seen as the bold proclamation of the Gospel—a call to repentance and faith. While this is undoubtedly true, at its core, evangelism must be rooted in love. Without love, our efforts can become hollow and ineffective.

Evangelism starts with love. Allow God to continually fill you with His heart for lost people. If we are doing evangelism out of a sense of duty, obligation, or an “I should,” we will not be effective. Nor will our efforts bring pleasure to God. He wants us to have His heart.

Is this still your primary motivation for sharing His story—God’s aching heart for the lost? Too often, instead of sharing the good news from a heart of love, we begin to share it merely because we feel we should.

We need to return again and again to our loving Father. Let Him fill us once more with His heart, with His love—for us and for others.

A Luke 15 Heart

In Luke 15, Jesus presents a powerful trio of parables—the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Prodigal Son. These stories reveal the heart of God’s love for the lost and set a profound example for how we should approach evangelism.

Take a few minutes sometime this week to read and meditate on this chapter.

Ask God for a Luke 15 Heart (Luke 15:1–7)

In the parable of the Lost Sheep, Jesus speaks of a shepherd who leaves his ninety-nine sheep to search for the one that is lost. This shepherd’s actions are driven by deep love and concern for every single sheep in his care.

When he finds the lost sheep, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and returns home, calling his friends and neighbors together to celebrate.

Key Lessons

Every person matters to God. Like the shepherd, we should see each individual as valuable and worth pursuing— the young, the old, the rich, the poor, and unreached people groups.
Persistent love is essential. The shepherd’s determination to find the lost sheep exemplifies the kind of love we should have in reaching the world for Christ.
There is joy in salvation. The celebration upon finding the lost sheep highlights the joy that comes when someone returns to God.

Love as the Foundation of Evangelism

The common thread in these parables is love—God’s love for the lost and the joy that accompanies their return. This love must be the foundation of all evangelistic efforts.

Here are some practical ways to integrate love into evangelism:

Engage with people not as projects, but as individuals deeply loved by God. Listen to their stories, understand their struggles, and show compassion.
Just as the shepherd and the woman were relentless in their search, be patient and persistent, knowing that every person’s journey to faith is unique.
Rejoice and celebrate every step someone takes toward God, fostering a community that shares in the joy of salvation.

Some Ways of Loving the Lost

Sincerely and specifically pray for lost people.
Prioritize and intentionally spend time with them.
See them as people, not as objects of ministry goals.
Open your mouth and lovingly share the good news with them.

Conclusion

Evangelism starts with love—a love that mirrors the heart of God as depicted in Luke 15:1–7. These parables remind us that evangelism is not merely about spreading a message, but about embodying the love of Christ.

When we love as He loves, our evangelistic efforts become a true reflection of the Gospel, drawing people not just to a message, but to a transformative relationship with Jesus.

Ask God to fill you with His love in a fresh way. Why not take a moment—even right now—and ask Him to renew that heart in you? He wants love to be your motivation. Not pleasing people, not fulfilling a ministry duty, not satisfying leaders or supporters— His love must compel us.

Let us ask Him to overwhelm us with His love today.

— Godfred Kyere