Are gospel tracts an effective tool for evangelism?

Gospel tracts can be a helpful tool for sharing the message of Jesus when used wisely and with prayer. However, gospel tracts are most effective when paired with genuine relationships and personal conversations that reflect Christ’s love.

what does the bible say?

Gospel tracts contain the Gospel message (Mark 16:15) in short, easy-to-underst and formats, many times in the form of a story. They can serve as small but powerful tools in God’s hands, carrying His truth wherever they go (Isaiah 55:11). Though a piece of paper cannot replace a living witness, using gospel tracts can open doors for conversation and plant seeds of faith that the Holy Spirit can water (Romans 10:14; 1 Corinthians 3:6). The Word of God has power to convict and transform, whether read in a booklet or spoken aloud (Romans 1:16; Hebrews 4:12). Still, believers’ mission goes beyond distribution—we are called to preach the gospel through our words and action (Matthew 28:19-20, 5:16; James 1:22). When used prayerfully and paired with genuine love, gospel tracts can be used as part of a larger story of God reaching hearts through His people (1 Corinthians 13, 3:9).

from the old testament

The Word of God is clearly a formidable force, powerful enough to create an entire universe out of nothing (Genesis 1).
God’s Word will never return to Him without accomplishing what it set out to do. This means every seed planted with Scripture will bear fruit eventually in some way (Isaiah 55:11).

from the new testament

We have been sent out to reach our local areas, the surrounding regions, and the rest of the world with the Gospel. Handing out tracts is one of the ways we can do that (Matthew 28:19-20).
The Word of God is powerful to convict and to expose sin. If a tract is true to the Word, the Spirit can use it to convict (Hebrews 4:12).
God doesn’t want anyone to perish apart from Him. Therefore, He will use anything - including tracts - to reach the lost (1 Peter 3:15).
God gives us the honor of bringing the Gospel to others, but whether we use tracts or powerful words, it is God, not we, who grows His church. In addressing allegiances Corinthian believers had toward him and Apollos, Paul wrote, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:6).

implications for today

Gospel tracts come from myriad organizations and usually are based on some sort of theme, such as Christmas or Easter, a current movie, a personal story, book series, or a series of intriguing questions. Pages lead to an explanation of God’s goodness through His Son Jesus Christ and the salvation He offers. Gospel tracts have no specific biblical mandate but have been around since the 1200s. They were popular during the Protestant Reformation as the invention of the printing press in the fifteenth century made the production cheaper, easier, and faster. Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ (now Cru) is the author of the most well-known tract The Four Spiritual Laws. These sort of booklets do have a general biblical mandate: That is, as Christians we are called to spread the Gospel, proclaiming the salvation Jesus provided. Some Christians find that sharing a tract with a friend or coworker, an acquaintance or someone they run across regularly (such as a bank teller or grocery store cashier) may be easier than trying to engage a person in conversation about Jesus. Whether we use a gospel tract or not, what matters is sharing the Gospel. If the Gospel tract is biblically sound and proclaims His Word, we can trust that it is a tool God can use. However, relying solely on a tract to share the gospel can be a mistake. Some relationships would be damaged by simply handing a tract to a friend. Other times, a tract will most likely be discarded without being read at all. Remember, Christians are called to a readiness to share the gospel (Matthew 28:19–20: Acts 1:8; 1 Peter 3:15). We should not rely solely on tracts but should be willing to personally share the Gospel. Also, tracts can have negative associations because cults and some pseudo-Christian organizations and false religions use them. Be sure the organization you order or use tracts from is a Bible-believing, orthodox Christian ministry. Read any information about such an organization carefully, be sure the gospel is clearly and simply presented, and check out any websites listed. If you use tracts, you want to be sure they contain the real Gospel.

Recap

understand

Gospel tracts share the message of salvation in a simple, accessible way that God can use to reach hearts.
The power lies not in the gospel tract but in God’s Word communicated in it.
Tracts are most effective when accompanied by personal witness, compassion, and discernment.

reflect

When was the last time you shared the message of Jesus with someone personally or through a tract?
How can you ensure that the tracts you use reflect biblical truth and compassion?
What steps can you take to make sure your evangelism is personal and Spirit-led?

engage

How have gospel tracts impacted your faith or the faith of someone you know?
How can we balance the use of printed materials with building authentic relationships in evangelism?
What are practical ways we can encourage one another to share the gospel both boldly and compassionately?