Evangelism Summary

 1. Very Short Personal Testimony … (What I was, How God saved me, What I am now) … I came to know for certain that I had eternal life. 2. Diagnostic Question 1: Have you come to the place in your life where you know for certain that you have eternal life (or would you say that is something you’re still working on)? a. I write these things (to you who believe in the name of the Son of God) so that you may know for certain that you have eternal life. – 1 John 5:13 3. Diagnostic Question 2: If you were to stand before God right now, and He asked you, “Why should I let you into my Heaven”, what do you think you would say? a. Answer usually starts with “I” … I try my best, I do more good than bad, I go to church, I’ve been baptized, I love people, I try to obey his laws, etc. b. This leads right into the Gospel-presentation, using the hand … 4. Thumb: free ride, pointing up – Heaven is a free gift, it cannot be earned or deserved. a. Scriptures: i. …, but the free gift of God is eternal life (in Christ Jesus our Lord) – Romans 6:23 ii. … for it is by grace you are saved, through faith, and this is not of yourselves it is the gift of God, not a result of works so that no one can boast. – Ephesians 2:8-9 b. Illustrations: i. Incomparable Gift: A friend/family member buys you a house and you try to offer him $100 to pay him back… A.) Doesn’t come close to paying it back. B.) Insults the gift/giver. C.) Only to make yourself feel better (like you don’t owe anything). 5. Pointer: point out others sin – Man is a sinner and cannot save himself. a. Scripture: i. There is no one righteous, not even one – Romans 3:10 1. “There is no one righteous, not even one. No one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” – Romans 3:10-12 ii. You were dead in your trespasses and sins – Ephesians 2:1 (explain trespasses/sins) iii. You must be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect. – Matthew 5:48 iv. Anything that is not of faith is sin. – Romans 14:23 v. But show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. – James 2:18 b. Illustrations: i. Sin = Missing the mark (Love the Lord with your entire being. Love your neighbor as yourself.) ii. Record of Sin: Good person – Sin 3 times/day (thought, word, deed). 3*365*20 years over 20,000 sins. iii. Good person test: How many lies have you told? Ever stolen anything? Ever looked at another person with lust? Ever hated your brother? Ever taken the name of God in vain? Ever coveted something that’s not yours? (ever had pride, gluttony, laziness, gossip, etc). By your own admission, you’re a lying, thieving, murderous, blaspheming, covetous, adulterer at heart. So am I! iv. Unthankful Son: A mother gave her son everything she had so that he could make something of himself. He did make something of his life and even tried to be a good person, and was some of the time, but never called her, never acknowledged her, never gave her any personal devotion, took the credit for his life for himself. Was he a good person? 6. Middle: greatest finger/being – God is loving and merciful and doesn’t want to punish us, but God is also holy and just and therefore MUST punish our sin. a. Scripture: i. “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, … forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty… – Exodus 34:6-7 (Explain about Moses not being able to see God’s face, having to be sheltered behind a rock as God passed by describing himself this way.) b. Illustrations: i. Good judge: if your mother had been raped and murdered and the villain stood before the judge and said “I’m sorry judge, I didn’t know it was such a big deal, I won’t do it again, I’ll say I’m sorry, I’ll give them some money, I’ve done a lot of good things in my life, etc.” What should the judge do? If the judge says, It’s OK, don’t worry about it, you can go free, what would you think about that judge? 7. Ring: bride-groom, Jesus – Jesus Christ is both God and man. He died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin and rose from the grave to purchase our place in heaven. a. Scriptures: i. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God … And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. – John 1:1, 14 ii. For God loved the world in this way: He gave His one and only, unique Son, so that those who believe in Him would have eternal life. – John 3:16 iii. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. – 1 Corinthians 5:21 iv. Just read Isaiah 53 (or memorize these parts): 1. He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our sins. The punishment that brought us peace was upon him. By his wounds we are healed … Isa 53:5 2. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isa 53:4-6 b. Illustrations: i. Fine Paid: If you stand guilty before a judge and owe a debt but then someone comes and pays your fine, the judge can legally declare you to be free and clear and let you go. 8. Pinky: little bit of faith – Saving faith is not just head-knowledge nor just temporary faith. True saving faith is trusting in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. a. Scriptures: i. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! – James 2:19 ii. “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” – Acts 16:31 iii. Whoever calls on the name of the Lord (Jesus) shall be saved – Acts 2:31, Romans 10:13 iv. For God loved the world in this way: He gave His one and only, unique Son, so that those who believe in Him would have eternal life. – John 3:16 v. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, so that no one can boast. – Ephesians 2:8-9 b. Illustrations: i. George Washington ii. Chair/Airplane: true faith is when you sit down, resting your full self in the strength of the chair. iii. Niagara Falls Tightrope: Man walking tightrope over Niagara falls: Who believes I can do that with someone else in a wheelbarrow? Who will volunteer? iv. Wallet: If I try to hand you my wallet, but you never reach out and take it, who’s wallet is it? When does it become your wallet? 9. Ask: Does all of this make sense? What part of this doesn’t make sense, I’d like to try to explain it better. 10. Ask: I think the question God wants me to ask you is this: Would you like to receive God’s free gift of eternal life in Heaven by trusting in Christ right now? Pray the hand with them. (God, thank you that heaven is a free gift because I know that I don’t deserve it and can’t earn it … etc.) 11. Repeat the diagnostic questions to determine understanding. Gently correct if needed. (Jn 6:47) … We are in sales, not management. 😊 12. Explain that Jesus is both Savior and Lord and the need for continual repentance and committed obedience – transferring trust/control from themselves to Jesus. 13. Give follow-up steps: God gives us means of grace by which we can know Him better and grow in righteousness and joy: A.) The Word. (Ps 119:105, 1 Pet 2:2) B.) Prayer. (Phil 4:6) C.) Sacraments of Baptism & Lord’s Supper. (Acts 2:38, Luke 22:19-20) D.) Fellowship with other believers – Church. (1 Jn 1:3, Heb 10:25-26) E.) Sharing the Gospel with others. (Matt 28:28, Acts 1:8) 14. You’ve just heard a part of the Greatest Story ever told about the Greatest Offer that’s ever been made by the Greatest Person who ever lived! 15. Welcome to the Kingdom and Family of God! (Jn 1:12, Eph 2:19) Today is your spiritual birthday! (Jn 1:13) … OR … Would you like to get together to talk about these things again after you’ve had some time to think and pray? More resources: Download the app. Search for Evangelism Explosion in the app/play store. The app is called EE. https://evangelismexplosion.org/ www.covenantdublin.com