I was contemplating the spread of the gospel this morning when I saw a dandelion puffball. I thought it made for a great illustration.
We see dandelions everywhere, but they aren’t a native plant. They were brought from Europe as a kitchen garden plant. They grow well even in poor soils, and thanks to those seed heads, they propagate well.
You can eat the leaves, stems and petals. They can be used for making wind and in many natural, herbal remedies.
When the wind catches the puffball seeds, they will be blown near and far to start new dandelions.
That’s a great metaphor for the role of witnessing in the spread of the gospel.
We don’t have to be experts, or great theologians, or have defined roles in the church to tell others about Jesus. We simply have to be witnesses to how we have seen him at work.
The Bible repeatedly calls believers to be witnesses to what God has done. It’s a key component to the spread of the gospel.
But He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the end of the earth. Acts 1:7-8
and you will bear witness also, because you have been with Me from the beginning John 15:27
We share our testimony, and the Holy Spirit uses that to change another life. The process replicates over and over again.
Do you have friends and family who need Jesus? Tell them about what Jesus has done. Let them see your changed life.
While there have been occasions of mass conversion, the spread of the gospel is typically one-on-one, through word of mouth. It’s friend-to-friend, neighbor-to-neighbor work.
Tell others. You don’t need to be an expert or have all the answers. You can always find answers if needed. You start by telling your story, by being a witness.
May you be bold.
Be blessed
Kevin
Summary
The gospel spreads the way dandelion seeds do — not by experts or institutions, but by ordinary people sharing what they’ve witnessed, carried near and far by the Spirit.
Takeaways
- Dandelions thrive and propagate anywhere, just as the gospel spreads through ordinary believers in everyday circumstances.
- Scripture calls all believers to be witnesses, not theologians — your story is enough to start.
- The typical pattern of gospel growth is personal and relational: one life, one conversation at a time.
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