What Every Christian Should Know About Gospel Tracts, Part 2

In the first part of this short series of posts, I discussed what a tract is, what to look for in a tract, and where to find tracts with sound gospel messages. I also explained why you should read every tract you plan to purchase or hand out.

This time, I will briefly cover the cost of tracts (and give a couple pointers on how to reduce your costs), describe how to distribute them, and answer the biggest question: Are they Biblical.

Let's begin with the biggest question: Are tracts Biblical?

Yes, you will be glad to know, they are.

Take a look at John 20:31. It's one of the verses that says that the gospel is written down so that others may believe. Another verse I often reference is Isaiah 55:11 says, “So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” Tracts are based on these truths.

For most people, tracts are the easiest way to begin sharing the gospel with others.

You can begin in complete stealth. How? Simply carry tracts with you and always have them around at home.

Begin using tracts by stuffing them into bills or junk-mail return envelopes. When I receive junk mail, I open it, discard all the advertising, stuff a tract into the envelope, and return it. I will even use stamps for envelopes that are not "postage paid". When I send a bill, a tract goes along for the ride every single time. I recently started an on-line business, and every single package I mail includes a gospel tract.

You you travel for business or please and stay in hotels or other lodging, help future guests by bookmarking the restaurants section inside the Yellow Pages. Then, when you check out, leave the maid a tip and a million dollar bill tract in the Thank-You envelope you often find on the dresser or desk.

Next, start taking them with you everywhere you go. I like to keep a stack in the convenient ‘tract slot’ of the driver’s door that every auto manufacturer builds into cars. I’m sure your car has one too - though the engineers mistakenly call them "map pockets". Then, rather than park right next to the store, park beyond the other cars and as you walk slide tracts between the window and the weatherstripping right above the driver’s door handle.

When you pull into a gas station, look for those little “Please take one!” containers and put a tract inside.

My son and I recently went to the grocery store. I did not mind taking an extra minute or two as he walked down the beer aisle and slipped a tract into the convenient tract-deposit slots on the top of beer cases (some people use these slots as carrying handles too!).

Another favorite way to distribute tracts is to leave one with my tip every time we visit a restaurant.

You can also leave them in magazines as you browse the local bookstore (they already have several inserts anyway). Another favorite is to slip them into books that we browse at the local public library. Everyone needs a bookmark!

Once you start carrying them around, you’ll find that the number of places to leave them is limitless. So, start taking them with you everywhere.

Tracts are not very expensive. A typical pack of 100 will cost between $5 and $8 (plus shipping, and possibly tax). This means that it only costs about 5 to 8 cents to share the gospel. An eternity of meaning for less than a dime!

But, there are ways you can reduce your costs.

Shopping on the Internet usually means you don't have to pay sales tax. This can reduce your overall cost by 5 to 10%. The key is that you purchase your tracts from a company that does not have a brick and mortar store (or distribution center) within your state.

If you order in bulk, your shipping costs are nearly always lower. If your supplier does not automatically reduce shipping, send them an e-mail and ask for it. Most companies would prefer to reduce your shipping than see you walk away (or, click-away when shopping on-line).

If you volunteer to coordinate the evangelism effort, or tract distribution at your church, you might be able to arrange to split the shipping cost if you combine your personal orders with church orders. The larger order will probably have lower cost shipping, and you might be able to order larger quantities for greater discounts. You and the church benefit!

Finally, like everything else, tracts do go on sale. Watch your favorite sites, or subscribe to their e-mail alerts or newsletters. Tracts go on sale for a variety of reasons: introductions of new tracts, selling off of old tracts, and the promotion of seasonal tracts. In addition, some suppliers occasionally send out "Thank You" discount coupons to prior customers.

Now we come to the part where most people become uneasy: How to hand tracts to people.

I find that the vast majority of people (probably 80% or more) take a tract and say "Thank you!". How? I think the key is not in what you say, or how you approach them, it is in your heart.

If you have a true heart of concern and compassion for the lost, you will literally be filled with joy when someone approaches who might need to read the gospel. The smile on your face is enough to disarm nearly everyone who would normally walk coldly past.

So, pray that God would give you strength, boldness, and true joy for reaching the lost. Go to a public place (the more people the better). Get a tract into your right hand, and the next person who walks by (or who you walk by) do the following:

• Smile
• Make eye contact
• Reach the tract out to them
• Joyfully say, "Hi, did you get one of these?"
  

Most people will smile back, take the tract, and thank you.

If the person hesitates, just keep smiling, and holding the tract out.

If they don't take it, you might follow up with something like: "It's free!"

If they continue walking on their way, that's fine. It means that this tract is meant for the next person... praise God that you didn't give it to the wrong person!

It's that simple.

You probably now know more about gospel tracts than you need to, and certainly more than most Christians do. I hope you have enjoyed these posts.

Now go get some gospel tracts with a sound gospel message, carry them everywhere, and share the gospel of Jesus Christ!

What Every Christian Should Know About Gospel Tracts

Today's topic is: Gospel Tracts.

Over the next few posts I will answer questions like: What are tracts? How expensive are they? What should you look for in a tract? Where can you get them? How can a Christian spread the gospel through tracts? Are they effective? Most importantly, are they Biblical?

The term "Tracts" is short for "Gospel Tracts." Most people use the two interchangeably.

I find that the best gospel tracts use an attention-grabbing image on one side, use bright complimentary colors around the text, or both. A glossy finish is preferred to minimize the effects of rain and to help draw they eye. The use of a material that is stiff, similar to most post cards, is better than thin paper. As you read about how to distribute tracts and you begin to use them, the importance of a stiff, glossy material quickly becomes evident.

If an image is used, it has one purpose: attract the eye and generate curiosity. Therefore, you should look for tracts that you find attractive or interesting. Chances are, the same image will be attractive and interesting to others.

Next, read the tract! I really can't stress this enough. You must read every tract you plan to purchase and distribute. A great image may draw the eye, but poor text is more likely to be immediately discarded. Even more importantly, you need to ensure that the gospel message is Biblical. For example, I like a number of tracts from the American Tract Society, but I don't use very many. The text is well researched and written, and the materials are top quality. However, the gospel message is weak, so although I read them for the information I rarely give them to non-believers. Tracts from the web sites listed in the left-hand column (see Recommended Evangelism Supplies) typically have very sound gospel presentations.

You should also read each tract so you can answer questions about it. While most people will take a tract that you offer, some will ask, "What is it?" That's not the time to suddenly realize that you have no idea what it says.

Not only do you educate yourself with the facts and points made in the text of a tract, they also include great examples of how to switch conversations from worldly topics, to spiritual topics (see an example of how Christ did this in John 4:7-26).

For example, the Mind Game tract from the Living Waters gospel tracts page shows a simple card trick, then includes this two sentence transition from the trick to a gospel presentation: "Most of us feel unintelligent when we find out how it's done. Of course, the most unintelligent thing any of us could ever do is ignore where we are going to spend eternity." Think of all the other ways you can change the topic of any conversation to things of eternity using this model!

Most importantly, tracts such as this one include a concise, but clear, gospel message: Repent, and put your complete trust in Jesus Christ as your savior (Mark 1:14-15).

Next time, I will continue the discussion of gospel tracts. Until then, be bold and remember that Christ can only work through you if you put some effort into the work.