In the last chapter we saw some examples from the Bible of how the good news of salvation was presented to needy people. In this chapter we want to better learn how to present the gospel to others.

            The best way to learn how to pray is to pray! The best way to learn how to ride a bicycle is to start riding one! The best way to learn how to catch fish is to start fishing! The best way to learn how to present the gospel is to start doing it!

            Whenever we present the gospel, there are four things that should be included:

1. Salvation Needed

“God's gift of eternal life is something I need!”
 

            We must show people that they need to be saved! What kind of a person needs a doctor (Luke 5:31)? _________________________ What kind of a person needs a Saviour (1 Timothy 1:15)? ___________________

            Suppose you went up to a person and said, “Why don't you go into the hospital and let the doctors operate on you and cut you open. They can check things out and take a good look at your inner organs, and then they can sew you back together again.” Only a fool would follow this advice! But if that person knew that there was a deadly cancer in his body that would soon kill him unless removed, he would hurry to the doctor and he would gladly let the surgeon operate! A person must see his need!

            As we present the gospel, we must show people how much they need Christ. We must show them that they are lost sinners, separated from the living God.

2. Salvation Provided

“God's gift of eternal life was provided by Christ!”
 

            God has what I need! We need to show people that Jesus Christ provided for their salvation when He died for their sins and rose again from the dead. After we show people their problem, then we must show them that Christ is the answer to their problem. After we show people their sin, then we must show them the Saviour! After we show them their sickness, then we must show them that Christ is the cure!

“Life Is short,
Death is sure,
Sin the cause,
Christ the cure!”

            Paul knew that the answer to every person's need was found in Jesus Christ and Him  ______________________ (1 Corinthians 2:2).   Jesus Christ is God's only SOLUTION to man's SIN.
 

3. Salvation Offered

“God's gift of eternal life is offered to me!”
 

            God desires how many men to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4)? _______ We need to show people God's wonderful invitation to receive His gift of life! People need to know that God wants them to be saved, invites them to be saved and even commands them to be saved (1 John 3:23). The Great Physician has a cure for the sickness of sin, and He tells all men that they must take this cure or else perish (John 3:16). God has a wonderful salvation which He offers to all (Revelation 22:17; Romans 10:13).

4. Salvation Received

“God's gift of eternal life is something I must receive!”

            A gift is not mine until I take it! Someone may even offer me a free gift, but I must take it and receive it, or else it is not mine. Medicine will do me no good unless I take the medicine!

            We must show people that they must R_______________ Christ (John 1:12) by believing on His name! Faith in Christ is essential! People must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31) because apart from Him there is no salvation (Acts 4:12).

            There are only two choices a person can make. They can either receive Christ as Saviour or reject Him. They can either believe or they can continue in disbelief. They can receive God's gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23) or they can refuse to receive it. We must show people that they must receive God's gift and they must do it NOW (2 Corinthians 6:2).

*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

            With these four things in mind, try the following practical exercises. These can be done in class or they can be done outside of class with Christian friends or family members. You can even pretend that your pillow is a person and practice sharing the gospel with your pillow!  One believer practiced by witnessing to his bedpost.    The following exercises will help you to better learn how to share the good news of Christ:

1. John 3:16 is sometimes called “the gospel in a nutshell.”  Present the gospel to someone just using this one verse. Try to bring out the four important points already discussed: salvation needed, provided, offered and received.

2. Suppose someone would ask you:   “What must I do to be saved?” (compare Acts 16:30). How would you answer this question?

3. Suppose someone asked you this question: “What must a person do to get to heaven?” How would you answer?

4. What if a friend said, “What does it mean to believe?” How would you help this person understand what faith really is?

5. Suppose your friend knew you were a Christian and said, “I want to be a Christian too. What is a Christian and how do I become one?” What would you say?

6. The book of Romans clearly presents the gospel (the good news of salvation--see Romans 1:1 and 1:16). Try presenting the gospel by just using verses from the book of Romans. Some of the verses you might want to use are these:

Romans 3:10 Romans 3:12 Romans 3:23 Romans 5:6,8 Romans 6:23 Romans 10:9 Romans 10:10 Romans 10:13 Romans 10:17

 

7. Suppose you were talking to a Jewish person. The Bible which they accept as their own is the Old Testament. They reject the New Testament. Can you present the gospel to a Jewish person only using verses from the Old Testament? Here are some verses which you might want to use:

Isaiah 53:6 (first part of the verse) Psalm 14:3 1 Samuel 16:7 Ecclesiastes 7:20 Jeremiah 17:9 Isaiah 64:6 Ezekiel 18:4 Isaiah 53:5-6 Ezekiel 33:11 Isaiah 45:22 Isaiah 55:1,6-7 Isaiah 53:1 (the need for faith) Psalm 2:12 (What will you do with God's Son?)

Philip used the Old Testament in sharing the gospel. He started in Isaiah 53 and he preached Christ to the Ethiopian Eunuch (see Chapter 3 of these notes where this was discussed).

8. Suppose someone were to ask, “Can a person really know that he is saved and going to heaven?” How would you answer this question?

9. Suppose a person were to come up to you and say, “Are you afraid to die?” How could you answer this question in a way that would present the gospel?

10. Suppose someone were to say, “I think that if we try to live right and do good to others that God will accept us and allow us to enter heaven.”  How would. you help this person to understand what God says about salvation?

As you give your answer you might want to consider these verses:

Titus 3:5 Ephesians 2:8-9 Isaiah 64:6 Romans 3:27-28

11. Suppose your neighbor were to come over to your house and say, “All I ever read in the newspapers or listen to on the radio is bad news. Isn't there any good news today?” Do you have some good news that you could share with this person?

12. Suppose someone were to say, “You don't believe in heaven and hell, do you?” How could you answer this question in a way that would present the gospel?

“Be ready _____________ to give an ___________________ to every man that asketh you” (1 Peter 3:15).
 

Back to Personal Evangelism
Back to SUNDAY SCHOOL MATERIALS & HELPFUL BIBLE STUDIES
Back to Home