How to Write a Gospel Tract that People Will Read
We are convinced that handing out tracts is one of the most spiritually significant endeavors any believer can do to help win the lost to Jesus. Have you ever considered writing your own tract? If you’re part of a gospel-preaching church, you likely have all the resources you need to produce one—or many—gospel tracts. There are probably gifted folks in your church or others you know who would be delighted to help write or design a tract for Jesus.
Follow along as we consider one method of developing a dynamic gospel tract message. The inside contents of every gospel tract should include three basic things:
A. An intriguing hook that taps into something people relate to or have wondered about
B. A clear eternal connection drawn from that hook
C. A simple and unmistakable presentation of the gospel
Coming up with a compelling angle or talking point that becomes your hook is not hard. Simply brainstorm answers to this statement: “God is the God of….” Whatever you pick, that’s your hook and segue to the gospel.
When the Apostle Paul preached to the Jews, he presented God as the God of their forefathers (Acts 13:17-39) before launching into the gospel. For Gentile audiences with little knowledge of the scriptures, he presented God as the God of creation (Acts 14:15-17, 17:22-31).
Let’s brainstorm six additional ideas. Perhaps one of them will resonate with you.
God is the God of …
1) Truth (or Reality)—For those confused by competing religions and opinions, God alone defines what is true and real. (Deut. 32:4; John 14:6; Rom 3:4).
2) The Impossible—What man can’t repair or accomplish, God can and did (Luke 18:27).
3) Second Chances—Failure doesn’t have to be the final chapter. God can restore the downtrodden and bring them victory through Jesus Christ (John 21:15-17).
4) Judgment—At the end of life, every person will meet God and must be prepared (Isa. 30:18; Heb. 9:27).
5) Forgiveness—To the person overwhelmed with guilt, God offers complete forgiveness through Jesus Christ. One must repent, believe and trust Him (Acts 13:38-39; Col. 1:14).
6) The Future—God knows the end from the beginning, and Jesus alone can give a person a secure standing in that eternal future (Isa. 46:9-10; John 14:1-3).
Visual Examples
We’ve written and produced a few tracts you can look at as examples (or even download them and print).
One of them presents God as the God of “fate.” It’s our bathroom tract that we leave in public restrooms. The title is “You Didn’t Find This by Accident.” On the inside it addresses the common phrase, “Everything happens for a reason,” and presents God as the one who directs with purpose and that finding the little pamphlet didn’t happen by accident. God has a message He wants them to know. The gospel.
Another of our tracts, “Without a Doubt,” presents God as the God of creation and conscience. It assures readers that they already know these two things, because God has made them evident. But there are other things they may not know… that they are sinners (leading into the gospel).
The third tract, “How Do I Get There from Here?” presents God as the God of proper righteousness. The graphics on the inside clearly illustrate the difference between trusting one’s own goodness or righteousness and trusting Christ and His righteousness. A key idea in this tract is the need to repent, which is to change one’s mind and attitude about Christ and His work on the cross.
Depending on the amount of graphics you use in your tract, the total written word count is short—ranging from about 500 to 800 words. Our tract measurement (unfolded) is 7 inches wide by 5 ½ inches tall. So, find a good graphic designer to develop the cover, and collaborate on possible titles and other graphics. Then find a professional printer for a printing quote.
Writing a tract is a true project, but it’s one of the most eternally significant and rewarding endeavors you could do! Don’t rely on the publishing houses to make all the tracts. You can make and personalize your own!
R&J Shee