This passage is commonly known as the Great Commission. Notice it is not a suggestion. It is a command. It is a command for all believers:
You are called:
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,[a] just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
Romans 1:16-17
"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect," 1 Peter 3:15
Always be ready! Never be ashamed. Always be ready to talk about Jesus -- at the gas station, the grocery store; at work, out and about; wherever God brings you an opportunity. It is a privilege to work with Jesus, to be part of His work.
Begin at the beginning:
(First step of the Roman road)
"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23
ALL have sinned. When we speak to people who haven't met Jesus yet, it isn't that they are sinners. It is that we all are sinners -- me and you.
"Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous,
no one who does what is right and never sins." Ecclesiastes 7:20
"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us." 1 John 1:8-10
Remember and share where you were when you encountered Jesus:
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9
Share your personal testimony. Share how Jesus has changed you. Remember where you were. And not just your conversion story -- share what God is doing in your life right now. No one else can tell your story. Tell it. People need to hear it.
It's about Jesus -- not about you or me or anyone -- just Jesus:
"The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." Romans 1:18-20
Original sin -- putting anyone or anyone before God. Putting self before God. Thinking your way is better than God's way.
Rejection & Replacement:
"For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles." Romans 1:21-23
Anything we put before God is an idol for us. Anything -- you might have lots of idols. Self is a big idol in our society. So is the love of money.
"Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen." Romans 1:24-25
Sound Familiar?
"Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." Romans 1:28-32
Is this not our society right now?
Application -- how do we use this?
"You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things." Romans 2:1
We are no called to judge nonbelievers -- we are called to love them and share the gospel with them and remember only because of God's grace are we in a different place than they are.
"Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister[a] or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it." James 4:11
"But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." Luke 6:35-37