In Galatians 4:12–15, Paul reminds the Galatians of the relationship they once shared. When Paul first preached the gospel to them, he was suffering physically, yet they received him with love and respect. They cared so deeply for him that Paul said, if possible, they would have plucked out their own eyes and given them to him. Their example reminds us that spreading the gospel requires sacrifice—from both those who go and those who support them.

Jesus commanded His followers to go into all the world and preach the gospel (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15). People cannot believe something they have never heard. Romans 10 reminds us that people need someone willing to preach so they can hear, believe, and obey the gospel. That means some of us must be willing to go.

When you are willing to preach the gospel, you must also be willing to endure hardships. Paul certainly did. He was beaten, stoned, persecuted, shipwrecked, and imprisoned, but he continued preaching. He reminded Timothy repeatedly that he, too, needed to endure hardship. Preachers today may face various difficulties—moving from congregation to congregation, giving up employment benefits, traveling to dangerous areas, encountering resistance to the truth, or dealing with misunderstanding and opposition. Yet the gospel is worth the sacrifice.

We also need to understand why we preach. Our purpose is to help people learn what they must do to be saved. You need to hear the gospel, believe in Jesus Christ, repent of your sins by making a genuine change in your life, confess Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and be baptized for the remission of your sins. We must be willing and able to share that message when someone asks us about salvation.

Those who preach are not the only ones called to sacrifice. Those who send and support gospel preachers are also participating in evangelism. The early church understood this. Jerusalem sent Barnabas to Antioch. Antioch sent Paul and Barnabas into the mission field. The church at Philippi financially supported Paul’s work. These Christians understood that if someone is willing to go, others need to be willing to help send them.

Scripture teaches that those who preach the gospel are worthy of support. Jesus said, “A worker is worthy of his food” (Matthew 10:10). Paul explained the same principle in 1 Corinthians 9, concluding that “those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.” Supporting evangelism is therefore not merely about giving money; it is about becoming a participant in the work.

We are all stewards of what God has given us. You have abilities, opportunities, possessions, knowledge, and resources that can be used for God’s glory. One day, we will give an account to God for how we used those blessings. That should prompt each of us to ask a serious question: Are you doing what you can to spread the gospel? Are you supporting those who are willing to go? If someone asked you, “What must I do to be saved?” could you show that person the answer from God’s Word?

We may serve in different roles, but no Christian should think sacrifice belongs only to the preacher. God has given each of us abilities, and we should use what He has provided with the same zeal and the same goal: that God may be glorified in all things (1 Peter 4:11).

Third John gives us a beautiful picture of this partnership. Gaius supported those who went out for the sake of Christ, and John said that by supporting them, Christians become “fellow workers for the truth.” When you help send someone to preach the gospel, you share in that work. The preacher may stand before the people and proclaim the message, but those who sacrifice to make that preaching possible are fellow workers in spreading the truth.

The gospel spread throughout the first century because some were willing to go, others to send, and all to sacrifice. We need that same spirit today.

So ask yourself: What are you willing to sacrifice for the gospel? You may be the person who goes. You may be the person who sends. You may be the person who provides support and encouragement. Whatever your role, we all have a responsibility to help take the saving message of Jesus Christ to others.

We have received the gospel because others sacrificed to proclaim it. Now it is our responsibility to sacrifice so that others can hear it too.