Evangelism Training for Teenagers: A 4-Week Curriculum Outline

By Brent Lacy

This is a complete 4-week evangelism training series for small church youth groups. Each session builds on the previous one. By the end of week 4, students will have their own faith story, a framework for the gospel, and practice having real conversations about faith.

Week 1: Why Does It Matter?

Big Idea: The people in your life are people God loves and Jesus died for. Sharing your faith is not a religious obligation. It is the most loving thing you can do for someone you care about.

Key Passage: Matthew 28:18-20 (The Great Commission)

Discussion Questions:

• Why do you think most Christians do not share their faith?
• What would it mean for your friends if they never heard the gospel?
• What is the difference between sharing your faith out of obligation and sharing it out of genuine love?
• Who is one person in your life who does not know Jesus? What do you know about them?

Homework: Write down the name of one person you want to share your faith with this month. Pray for them by name every day this week.

Week 2: Your Story

Big Idea: Your faith story is your most powerful evangelism tool. It cannot be argued with. It is not awkward because it is real.

Key Passage: Acts 26:1-23 (Paul’s testimony before Agrippa)

Activity: Story practice session (see the guide: How to Train Your Youth Group to Share Their Faith)

Discussion Questions:

• What makes a faith story compelling? What makes it feel rehearsed?
• What is the hardest part of your story to tell honestly?
• How do you tell your story to someone who has had a very different experience?

Homework: Practice your story with one person outside of youth group this week. It can be a family member or a Christian friend. Just practice saying it out loud.

Week 3: The Gospel

Big Idea: The gospel is not just information. It is the announcement of something that happened. Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead. That changes everything.

Key Passages: Romans 3:23, 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 10:9

Activity: Walk through the Rescue Gospel framework (see: The Rescue Gospel for Teenagers). Have students practice explaining each of the five questions in their own words.

Discussion Questions:

• What is the difference between knowing about Jesus and trusting Jesus?
• Why does the resurrection matter? What would be different if Jesus had stayed dead?
• How do you explain the gospel to someone who has never heard it before?

Homework: Explain the gospel to one person this week. It can be a Christian friend who already knows it. Just practice saying it out loud in your own words.

Week 4: The Conversation

Big Idea: Evangelism is not a presentation. It is a conversation. And conversations happen in the context of genuine relationships.

Key Passage: Colossians 4:5-6 (“Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”)

Activity: Role-play conversations. Use the scenarios from the guide: How to Train Your Youth Group to Share Their Faith.

Discussion Questions:

• What is the hardest part of starting a conversation about faith?
• What do you do when someone says no?
• What does it mean to play the long game in evangelism?
• Who is the one person you wrote down in week 1? What is your next step with them?

Closing Challenge: This week, have one real conversation about faith with the person you wrote down in week 1. It does not need to be the full gospel. It can be one question. “Have you ever thought about what happens after you die?” Start the conversation.

Continue practicing together

Start with the free Rescue Gospel conversation resources for a simple framework. When your team is ready for a downloadable 14-page conversation and follow-up resource, see the Rescue Gospel Field Kit.