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Sharing The Gospel – In 3 Minutes Or Less

More by paul.

I recently asked a room full of Christian leaders to share the Gospel as they would to a 10 year old child 3 minutes before they fell asleep.

Then I asked them to share the Gospel as they would to a complete stranger on the subway who was getting off at the next stop.

The results were a little disappointing to everyone involved.

Most of us prefer to warm up to such things. Most of us would rather share the Gospel gradually, in snips and bits, over an extended period, within a safe and stable relational context.

In general, I think that is a reasonable way to go, but there are also times when we need to be able to at least introduce the Gospel in a limited amount of time.

The two scenarios mentioned above are both real and representative of several situations I’ve encountered in the past.

I’ve had children ask me Gospel questions after bedtime prayers and I have watched the alertness drain out of them like sands through an hourglass as I attempted to say true things about God, about us and about how God has saved us through the person and work of Jesus Christ. I was sitting on the train once reading my Bible when a Hindu fellow in the seat next to me asked me what Christians believed about God. I had two, maybe three stops before I would say goodbye forever to this man so I wanted to say as much as I could in the time that I had – but I quickly discovered that I was not adequately prepared.

Since those two failures (along with several others!) I’ve found great benefit in memorizing a very short statement that captures the essence of the Christian Gospel:

The Gospel is the Good News of what God has done in Christ to secure our salvation.

That statement has 17 words in it and takes about 6 seconds to say. If I’m asked by a person on the subway or by a patron in line behind me at Tim Hortons what a Christian believes or what Christianity is all about I will start with that line and then build up from there based on the amount of time that I have.

To the person getting off the subway at the next stop (3 minutes) I would add some version of the following:

The word Gospel means “good news”. It’s pretty important to understand that. The Bible is not a book that tells us what we have to do to earn salvation, it is a book that tells us what God did to earn our salvation. What he did was send Jesus. Jesus did for us what we could never do for ourselves and he paid for what we had done in his body on the cross. God created human beings and intended for them to be ruling creatures. We were supposed to be under God but over everything else. We were supposed to rule over creation under the guidance and authority of God’s Word and to function as conduits for all the blessings of heaven. That’s how it was supposed to be, but unfortunately, the Bible tells the story of how our first parents, Adam and Eve, fell into sin by choosing to rebel against God’s Word in order to become autonomous ruling creatures. Basically, they wanted to be gods unto themselves, deciding good and evil. From that point on, humanity has been on a downward spiral moving further and further away from God and our original design and glory. The heart of the Gospel is the Good News that Jesus has come as God in the flesh and has obeyed God perfectly and has therefore won the right to all the blessings God originally intended to give to men and women. Furthermore, through his sacrificial death on the cross, he has paid the debt that we owed to God for disobeying his commands. There is therefore no need anymore for us to hide from God. In Jesus, we can come home and we can be restored. The climax of the Gospel is the great news that he rose from the dead and ascended into heaven where he now intercedes on our behalf. He gives the Holy Spirit to all his people and he slowly but surely, changes our hearts, reforms our desires and teaches us how to be the children of God we were always intended to be. For now, Jesus remains in heaven, changing the world one person at a time, but one day he will return and judge the world in righteousness. He will remove from this world all sin and all causes of sin and he will restore the cosmos to a state of peace, prosperity and flourishing and all those who have received him as their Lord and Savior will participate in his rule and enjoy his goodness forever.

It takes 2.5 minutes to say that at normal talking speed, which leaves 30 seconds to answer a question or to suggest a website or a book that could provide further information.

To be clear, I don’t imagine that too many people will be saved by a 180 second presentation of the Gospel – but it could lead to an exchange of email addresses; it could lead to a friend request on Facebook; it could lead to a website or a book or a Small Group. Your 180 seconds could be the seed that is used by God to begin a Gospel journey.

So memorize your 20 word summary.

Practice your 2 minute drill.

Find an article on-line that you could recommend for further study.

And then pray and ask the Lord to provide you with opportunities.

For the harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few.

Pastor Paul Carter

To listen to Pastor Paul’s Into The Word devotional podcast on the TGC Canada website see here . You can also find it on iTunes.

N.B. A version of this article also appeared in the December edition of Seven Magazine. Used here with permission.

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EvangelismCoach.org

6 Different Gospel Presentations for Personal Evangelism

Pick any blog on personal evangelism , and one will encounter a conversation over different gospel presentations.

What points must one share?
What happens if I forget a point?
Can I mess it up?

On one hand, it’s great to be concerned about messing up .

We always want to be prepared to explain our faith.

We get better at it as we mature in Christ.

On the other hand, God is more sovereign than our mistakes.

He will not deny His grace to another because our explanation was as clear as mud.

God’s sovereignty is not an excuse to avoid evangelism, nor to be sloppy in our presentation.

What must a clear Gospel explanation have?

A good explanation of the gospel must convey information about

The nature of sin and our separation from God.
The love of God and his desire to be reconciled to the lost.
Christ as God’s plan of redemption:
That God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself,
Christ died for our sins and rose again.
The promise of forgiveness of sins
Belief in Jesus is the response to God’s irresistible grace.

Condensed Gospel Presentations

One of the most popular forms (see our series on evangelism scripts ) to explain the gospel is the Law and Gospel script.

I like the theology of the Law and Gospel presentation.

But don’t agree with how some of its users say it is the only valid form of the gospel message.

The implication is that if one didn’t get the right explanation of the gospel, you are a false convert. Or if you miss an element in the explanation, the conversion has misfired.

My conversion was not through a law and gospel presentation. I came to faith and then came to understand the gospel later. Does the law have to be the starting point for the gospel ?

Other gospel presentation scripts include

Four Spiritual Laws ,
Romans Road ,
Good Person Test ,
Evangecube (video ),
The Bridge Illustration ,
Do versus Done

There are plenty of scripts out there one could use.

Just get familiar with one and start.

Each script has its critics, and its endorsers.

It’s not my point here to pick one over the other.

My point however, is to pick a script and get very familiar with it so that you can explain the gospel clearly when given the opportunity.

I use the Bridge Illustration as I think it covers a lot of ground.

The imagery is clear.

Practice it over and over on a napkin until you can explain it clearly at any given moment. Learn how to share it lovingly and in the form of a dialogue (the script is not a tool to cream people).

Let me ask you this?

What script do you like you to use?

Can you share the gospel message clearly when needed?

See our entire series on scripts .

Do you need help in Personal Evangelism?

Simple Growth Steps in Personal Evangelism

Start here with this MP3 Download on Evangelism Training from the store to help you see where you need to grow.

In this 70 minute MP3 AUDIO recording on personal evangelism you will learn:

How church invitations are part of evangelism
How to discover and share your own journey to faith
What you can say about the gospel message.
How to personally lead someone to faith in Christ.

It’s a 70-minute audio file that takes just a few minutes to download, but it may help you answer the question:

What can you do in the next 90 days to grow in your evangelism skills?

Reader Interactions

January 10, 2023 at 1:25 am

When you learnt to ride a bike did you have trainer wheels Learning a gospel tool like the Evangelism Explosion one, is to help the Christian to get started and used to sharing the gospel with gentleness and respect. Often the gospel sharing tools out there are produced with the Non- Christian in mind. I would like to encourage any Christian to be equipped for the most important mission of your life. Just a solider going to war has received basic training, so must the Christian have basic training in .how to share the gospel

June 20, 2019 at 6:55 am

Thanks Bryan. This post already points to 6 different gospel presentations that I recommend.

June 20, 2019 at 12:12 am

Hi My local church has agreed to put a gospel presentation on their website which I hope will be an encouragement for people not engaged in evangelism to download and use on their mobiles. I have seen a few. I am not a fan of those over emphasizing the Law as although it is useful for the self-righteous to see themselves remorse is not believing, and we are saved by believing leading to repentance ie changing the way we think. People have to believe in something before they can alter their perception. Please could you recommend something we could use?

February 14, 2017 at 11:46 am

I do not send or sell these items. You’ll need to order them directly from e3resources as linked in the article

February 14, 2017 at 11:32 am

I’m engaged in rural evangelism. I’ve observed that the EvangeCube is one of the most effective tools for soul winning. Please how can I get copies to buy.

July 17, 2013 at 11:21 am

I forgot about EE when I originally wrote the series and this article. Small oversight on my part.

I think it can be a good one if the person I’m talking to is actually asking the question this script addresses.

The opening Question: do you know for sure that you are going to heaven? may be asking a question that the person I’m witnessing to may not even be asking. It may not be on the radar.

If it is a concern on their mind, then I think the EE approach can be a good tool to answer that question.

The opening question can also initiate a possible concern, as in “I’ve never thought about that. . . “

July 16, 2013 at 9:16 am

I have used all the ways you mentioned and found all to be effective if people will only use them. You didn’t mention EE, what think ye of it?

[…] out”so that your explanation is crystal clear. (That point developed in this article on knowing a script and at this article on Scripts on […]

[…] having our sin forgiven, having his presence in our life, and all sorts of stuff. I use the bridge illustration as my script (even if there are some shortcomings in […]

[…] think that every believer should know at least one gospel script as a default setting. Some scripts are Four Spiritual Laws, Romans Road, Good Person Test, […]

[…] month, I wrote an article about gospel scripts. The main point is that you should know at least one script so that you can explain the […]

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The Three Circles Gospel Presentation: Step-by-Step

Are you looking for an easy way to share the gospel with others?

Look no further than the Three Circles Gospel Presentation. This simple method or tool has been used by tens of thousands of people and is both engaging and effective. In this article, we’ll walk you through how to use the Three Circles to introduce the gospel to others.

How to Introduce the Three Circles

Introducing the Three Circles is easy.

Simply ask, “Have you heard of the Three Circles?” If the person says no, say something like, “I’d really like to show it to you. It only takes a minute or two. Would that be OK?”

You can also try bridging the conversation with something from your own life to set the tone before asking the introducing question.

This simple method or tool has been used by tens of thousands of people and is both engaging and effective.

1st circle: the brokenness.

To start, draw a circle on the right-hand side of a piece of paper.

You can make a jagged line through it and say something like, “You may have noticed when you turn on the news, a lot of bad stuff is happening.” Mention briefly a few relevant examples depending on what you think might interest the person.

These things might include anxiety, stress, family breakdown, pain, economic problems, bad government or any number of things that people would agree are a bad thing. For school children, it might be bullying.

Different things for different people.

Then say something like, “This circle represents the fact that we live in a BROKEN world. In fact, we were born into brokenness. Nothing is really fully the way it ought to be.”

2nd Circle: God’s Original Design

Next, draw a second circle to the left of the first one.

Say something like, “But it wasn’t always this way. When God first made the world, He made it beautiful and perfect.” In this circle, write things like love, peace, joy, health, and rightness. Maybe draw a love heart.

Our first ancestors lived this way for a short time.

“But something happened which moved us to this broken circle.”

Draw a line and an arrow from the Love Circle to the Broken Circle. Label it “SIN” . Basically, what sin is, is the choice to leave God out, to do things our own way, and not respect God’s Word.

You might like to elaborate on this very briefly, depending on the amount of time you feel is right to use. But don’t go on and on because if a person is interested, there will be opportunities to explain it more later.

“People don’t like living in brokenness, so they try various things to get out of it,” you explain next.

Draw various arrows moving out from the brokenness circle, and give them different labels. For example, “Money, or success, or achievement, or relationships, or philosophy, or good works, or religious activity.” “The problem is, none of these things actually get people out of brokenness. They might seem to help for a short time, but then people find themselves back in brokenness.”

Ask: “Does this make sense so far?”

3rd Circle: The Good News of Jesus

Finally, draw a third circle below the two circles already drawn. In the circle, draw a cross. You will also be drawing a down arrow before it and an up arrow after it.

“God knew nothing we could do by ourselves would get us out of this brokenness. But God loves us and didn’t want things to stay this way, so He sent his Son Jesus to the earth. He was born of a virgin, lived a perfect life, died on the cross, and rose from the dead three days later.

When Jesus died on the cross, He took the punishment we deserved for our sin. When He rose from the dead, He defeated sin and made a way for us to experience salvation.”

Next Steps in 3 Questions

What happens next?

That will depend on their response.

You can ask them 3 main questions:

1. What circle do you live in now in your life?

2. What circle do you want to live in?

3. (If they said they want to live in God’s design): what is keeping you from following Jesus?

From there, it’s all about asking the right questions and trusting the Holy Spirit to guide the conversation. Some may not be ready to turn and believe, but that’s okay. We can invite them to pray and be open to talking again in the future.

For those who do want to go forward, it’s important to seek wisdom and lead them to immediate obediene to the gospel through baptism, regular discipleship, and participation in a church.

Let’s trust in God’s guidance and keep sharing His love with others.

Why the Three Circles Works

The Three Circles is an effective tool for sharing the gospel because it is simple, engaging, and easy to remember.

It doesn’t require any special training or equipment, and anyone can use it. By using the Three Circles, you can help others understand the basic concepts of sin, brokenness, and salvation in a way that is easy to understand.

If you’re looking for a simple and effective way to share the gospel, the Three Circles tool is an excellent option. See a step-by-step Google Slide deck on 3 Circles here .

With just a piece of paper and a pen, you can help others understand the fundamental concepts of sin, brokenness, and salvation. By sharing your own personal testimony and using the Three Circles, you can help others find the salvation Jesus alone offers us.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. what is the 3 circles gospel sharing method.

The 3 Circles gospel sharing method is a simple and effective way to communicate the message of the Christian gospel using a visual representation. This method uses three interconnected circles to explain key concepts: God’s Design, Brokenness, and the Gospel. The purpose of the 3 Circles method is to engage in meaningful conversations about faith and lead individuals toward a better understanding of God’s plan for salvation.

2. How does the 3 Circles diagram work?

The 3 Circles diagram consists of three circles, each representing a different aspect of the gospel message:

a. God’s Design: This circle depicts God’s original plan for a perfect world, highlighting concepts like love, peace, and harmony. It emphasizes that humanity was created to have a meaningful relationship with God.

b. Brokenness: The second circle portrays the brokenness that entered the world due to sin. It encompasses struggles, pain, and separation from God. This circle helps people recognize the imperfections in the world and in their own lives.

c. The Gospel: The third circle represents the solution to brokenness—Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. It signifies the redemption and restoration offered through faith in Christ. This circle explains the path to reconciliation with God and eternal life.

The diagram serves as a visual aid to guide conversations about these concepts, making the gospel message easier to understand and remember.

3. Where can someone start in the 3 Circles diagram?

Individuals can start at any point within the 3 Circles diagram, depending on their current understanding and beliefs. Someone might begin at “God’s Design,” acknowledging the original purpose of a perfect world. Others might identify with the “Brokenness” circle, recognizing the challenges and broken aspects of their lives. Some may even begin at the “Gospel” circle, having heard about Christ’s redemptive work before.

Identifying one’s starting point helps in tailoring the conversation to address their specific concerns, questions, and needs, leading them toward a deeper comprehension of the gospel.

4. Where does someone want to be in the 3 Circles diagram?

The ultimate goal of the 3 Circles method is for individuals to move from their starting point toward the center of the diagram—the cross in the “Gospel” circle. This represents a journey of understanding and accepting God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. The desired outcome is for individuals to embrace faith in Christ, experience forgiveness, and establish a renewed relationship with God, ultimately receiving the gift of eternal life.

5. What might hinder someone from turning and trusting in the gospel?

In the context of the 3 Circles gospel sharing method, hindrances to turning and trusting in the gospel can be likened to the four types of soil mentioned in Mark 4:

a. Hard Soil: Just as hard soil prevents seeds from taking root, individuals with hardened hearts may resist the gospel due to skepticism or a closed mindset. Doubts, intellectual barriers, and preconceived notions can create a barrier to understanding and accepting the message.

b. Rocky Soil: Just as shallow soil lacks depth for roots to grow, some individuals might initially respond enthusiastically to the gospel but lack a strong foundation. They may be swayed by emotions or external factors, making their commitment to the gospel fleeting and easily undermined when challenges arise.

c. Thorny Soil: Similar to soil choked by thorns, distractions and worldly concerns can hinder someone from fully embracing the gospel. Materialism, worries, and competing priorities can suffocate the desire to trust in Christ and prioritize spiritual matters.

d. Good Soil: The goal is for individuals to be like the good soil, receptive and open to the gospel message. Good soil represents hearts that are willing to listen, understand, and cultivate a lasting relationship with God through Jesus Christ. These individuals are willing to turn and trust in the gospel, allowing it to take deep root in their lives.

Recognizing these different types of “soil” can help us understand how to highlight and exhort the listener to turn from the barriers in their life.

With just a piece of paper and a pen, you can help others understand the fundamental concepts of sin, brokenness, and salvation.

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The Navigators

One-Verse Evangelism: How to Share Christ’s Love Conversationally & Visually

One-Verse Evangelism ® is a simple, interactive way to share Christ’s love conversationally and visually. Using just one verse, it’s easy to learn, and you can write it anywhere. One-Verse Evangelism shares the powerful message of the gospel in a 10 to 15 minute conversation.

Many times we feel that to be effective in evangelism we have to create complex illustrations and memorize a seminary-worthy number of verses. But the gospel is most powerful when shared with love, clarity, and (sometimes most importantly) simplicity.

One-Verse Evangelism is a simple, interactive way to share Christ’s love conversationally and visually. It is based on asking questions and sharing truth simply. It’s easy to learn because it uses just one verse. One-Verse Evangelism can be shared in just 10 or 15 minutes, but can have impact for a lifetime.

Here’s a brief look at how it works. Let’s say God is leading you to share the gospel with your neighbor, Jeff. Write out Romans 6:23 on a piece of paper or a napkin: “ For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord ” (NIV). All you need is contained in this single passage. Ask Jeff if he would like to see a simple diagram based on this verse that will explain God’s relationship with mankind (us).

Circle the word “wages” and ask, “How would you feel if your boss refused to pay you the wages that were due to you?” The answer, of course, is that he would want justice—in this case, the wages he had worked for. Deep down, we all know that it is only right that we get what we deserve. Similarly, we earn “wages” from God for how we have lived our lives.

Draw a circle around “sin,” asking your neighbor Jeff what he thinks when he hears this word. You might explain that sin is more an attitude than an action. It can be either actively fighting God or as simple as excluding Him from our lives. You can ask, “Has God ever seemed far away?” If he says “Yes,” you can explain that that’s one of the things sin does—it makes God seem far away. Now draw two opposing cliffs with a gap in between.

Circle this word and ask what thoughts come to mind. Explain that death in the Bible always means some kind of separation—in its most basic sense, separation from life. Because God is the author of life, a spiritual death simply means separation from Him.

While circling this word, mention that it is important because it means that a sharp contrast in ideas is coming. What we have just looked at is the bad news; what comes next is the good news.

Draw a circle around this word. Ask, “If wages are what a person earns, then what is a gift?” Remind Jeff that though every gift is free for the person receiving it, someone still has to purchase it.

Circle this and explain that the gift you are talking about is free. It is from God Himself. It’s so special that no one else can give it. Ask, “How do you feel when someone gives you a special gift?”

Eternal Life

Circle these two words next, and then ask, “How would you define these words?” Contrast one side of the cliff, death, with the other side, eternal life. Ask, “What is the opposite of separation from God?”

Christ Jesus

Write these words so they create a bridge between the two cliffs. Help your friend to consider that just as every gift has a unique giver, only Jesus Christ can give the gift of eternal life.

Write this word over the bridge you just drew. Explain that a true friend is a friend you can trust, and tell Jeff that Jesus is offering to be a true friend to him. All Jeff has to do is admit that he is responsible for his sin—either of fighting against God or excluding Him from his life. Trusting Jesus means believing that He has power to forgive us for rejecting God and that He will wash us clean from all that we have done wrong in life. At this point, you can ask him if he wants to start a relationship with God that will last forever. If he says “Yes,” invite him to pray a short prayer in his own words, asking Jesus to forgive him and make him new.

Close by reminding him that this simple illustration shows what God is like: Someone who really cares about people—especially him. Invite him to read all about it in the Bible–the Gospel of John is a great place to start.

Get this Navigator Discipleship Tool

Navigator Discipleship Tools are designed for sharing with your Bible study, church group, and those you are discipling. Order a copy of the One-Verse Evangelism booklet today for more detailed step-by-step instructions for drawing out and sharing this helpful illustration.

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The Gospel in 6 Minutes

John Piper Twitter @JohnPiper

Seven encouragements for parents of prodigals, christlike kindness, the christian’s new speech, toward need, not comfort, evangelical obedience, paul’s authenticating scars, the christian’s new desires, an apostle by command.

Founder & Teacher, desiringGod.org

What Is the Gospel?

What is the gospel? I’ll put it in a sentence.

The gospel is the news that Jesus Christ, the Righteous One, died for our sins and rose again, eternally triumphant over all his enemies, so that there is now no condemnation for those who believe, but only everlasting joy.

That’s the gospel.

You Can’t Outgrow the Gospel

You never, never, never outgrow your need for the gospel. Don’t ever think of the gospel as, “That’s the way you get saved, and then you get strong by leaving it and doing something else.”

No! We are strengthened by God through the gospel every day, till the day we drop.

You never outgrow the need to preach to yourself the gospel.

How the Gospel Strengthens

Here’s an illustration, and I use it not because it’s any big deal to speak from my life, but because it’s what I walked through and where I most pointedly in the last year experienced the power of the gospel to make me strong. (Many of you are walking through things much heavier than prostate cancer — much heavier.)

Do you remember the verses that I shared with you back in February that were almighty for me? It was that moment right after the doctor said, “I think we need to do a biopsy” — when this stab of fear comes. It didn’t last long, mercifully.

And then came — what? First Thessalonians 5:9–10. It’s just as pure gospel as you can get.

God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.

Settled. Peace like a river.

The Gospel Is Perfect for Your Needs

That’s just gospel — perfectly timed, perfectly applied, perfectly suited to my need. That’s why the Bible is so thick: because there are so many different needs that you have. And there are suitable places where the gospel is unfolded for you, so that if you immerse yourself in the whole book, always with an eye for what Christ has wrought for you and purchased for you in this thick, glorious history of God’s interaction with people, he will give you what you need.

Therefore, everything in me says — and I hope to say it until the day I die — “Now, to him who is able to strengthen me, according to Paul’s gospel, to him — to that God — be glory forever and ever” (see Romans 16:25–27).

God came into history in Jesus Christ. He died in order to destroy the power of hell and death and Satan and sin, and he did it through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

A Plea to Believe

I know that there are people reading this who are not trusting Jesus Christ, and therefore can only expect condemnation. So I’m just going to plead with you here at the end: Lay down that rebellion. Lay it down. And simply embrace the gospel that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Righteous One, died for your sins. He was raised on the third day, triumphant over all his enemies. He reigns until he puts all of his enemies under his feet. Forgiveness of sins and a right standing with God come freely through him alone, by faith alone.

I plead with you: Don’t try to be strong in your own strength. It will not be there when you need it. Only one strength will be there: the strength that God gives according to the gospel.

Don’t put it off.

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‘Abraham, Take Your Son’

Where Heaven Touches Earth

And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. (John 17:3 NKJV)

The Message
The Good News - Introduction
So Great a Salvation
Isaiah's Gospel
How Many Times Have You Been Born?
The Woman at the Well
Three Words of Assurance
One Mediator, The Man Christ Jesus
The Basics - Introduction
Lesson 1 - The Word of God
Lesson 2 - The Son of God
Lesson 3 - The Salvation of God
Lesson 4 - The Spirit of God
Lesson 5 - The Laws of God
Lesson 6 - The Work of God
Lesson 7 - The Day of God
The Gospel of John: The Great News - A Look at the Book
Lesson 1 - The Public Ministry of Jesus Christ
Lesson 2 - The Private Ministry of Jesus Christ
Lesson 3 - The Passion Ministry of Jesus Christ
The Gospel of John: The Great News - REVIEW QUESTIONS
Galatians - The Constitution of Christian Liberty - PREFACE
Lesson 1 - An Introduction to Christian Liberty - Galatians 1
Lesson 2 - The Apostle of Christian Liberty - Galatians 2
Lesson 3 - The Doctrine of Christian Liberty / Arguments - Galatians 3
Lesson 4 - The Doctrine of Christian Liberty / An Appeal - Galatians 4
Lesson 5 - The Life of Christian Liberty / The Call - Galatians 5
Lesson 6 - The Life of Christian Liberty / The Challenge - Galatians 6
Galatians: The Constitution of Christian Liberty - REVIEW QUESTIONS
Philippians: A Prison Letter of Joy - Introduction
Lesson 1: The Ministry of the Gospel
Lesson 2 - The Mind of Christ
Lesson 3 - The Pursuit of a Lifetime
Lesson 4 - The Joy of the Lord
Philippians: A Prison Letter of Joy - REVIEW QUESTIONS
Lesson 1: A Prayer of Thanksgiving
Lesson 2 - The Supremacy of Christ
Lesson 3 - The Knowledge of God
Lesson 4 - The Crucifixion of Christ
1 John: Walking with God - Introduction
Lesson 1 - Witnessing to the Word of Life
Lesson 2 - Walking in the Light
Lesson 3 - Keeping Christ's Commandments
Lesson 4 - Knowing the Truth
Lesson 5 - Doing Righteousness
Lesson 6 - Loving the Brethren
Lesson 7 - Trying the Spirits
Lesson 8 - Loving One Another
Lesson 9 - Believing God's Record
Lesson 10 - Having Assurance
1 John: Walking with God - REVIEW QUESTIONS
3 John: Three Church Leaders
3 John: The Three Church Leaders - REVIEW QUESTIONS
Jude: Contending Earnestly for the Faith
Habakkuk: Introduction
The Prophecy of Habakkuk - Habakkuk 1 and 2
The Prayer of Habakkuk - Habakkuk 3
Habakkuk: REVIEW QUESTIONS
First Steps for New Believers
What Everybody Should Know About God
Lesson 1: The Bible Manuscripts
Lesson 2: Two Important Scripture Passages
Lesson 3: Testimonials
Lesson 4: Fulfilled Prophecy
Lesson 5: The Effectual Working Of the Scriptures
The Inspiration of the Scriptures - REVIEW QUESTIONS
Principles of Prayer - PREFACE
Lesson One: Old Testament Prayers
Lesson Two: The Disciples' Prayer
Lesson Three: The Gethsemane Prayer
Lesson Four: Answered Prayer
Principles of Prayer - REVIEW QUESTIONS
Soul Winning - PREFACE
Lesson 1: Basic Requisites To Soul Winning
Lesson 2: The Message Of The Soul Winner
Lesson 3: Soul Winning Scriptures

Lesson Four: Simple Presentation of the Gospel

We have learned that the messenger of the gospel must first be saved, and filled with the Holy Spirit. This is essential in winning others to the Savior. How do we effectively present the good news to those who are unsaved? Be simple.

A missionary was upset because the people to whom he ministered didn't understand the deep things of God despite all his efforts to teach them. A missionary friend suggested, "Before you teach them the XYZs of the Bible, why don't you start out by teaching them the ABCs?" Good advice.

The ABCs of Salvation

You can use this approach with children, who are acquainted with the ABCs that they have learned at school. You may be surprised to know that the same order of presentation can be used effectively when witnessing to adults as well.

A - ADMIT that he is a sinner in need of salvation. Show him that he is guilty of sin. Romans 3:23. He deserves to die. Romans 6:23. One day he will be judged by the Lord. Hebrews 9:27. He cannot save himself by good works. Titus 3:5. (Here you put your memory verses to work.)

B - BELIEVE the facts of the gospel. The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died for our sins on the cross, and He rose again from the dead. He is the Savior of those who believe in Him. Romans 5:8; John 3:16, 36.

C - CALL upon the Lord. Ask Jesus to come into his heart. Psalm 145:18; Romans 10:13.

Once you have learned the ABCs use them in sharing the gospel of Christ.

The Three Rs of Salvation

Students are familiar with the 3 Rs of education: reading, writing, and 'rithmetic. You might use the 3 Rs in your witness for the Lord.

R - RECOGNITION of sin and its consequences. Use the same Scriptures as A in the ABCs.

R - REPENTANCE of sin. This means that we acknowledge our sin, and turn to the Lord. Acts 17:30 is a good verse to use here.

R - RECEIVE the Lord Jesus as Savior by faith. John 1:11, 12. Believing is receiving.

An Equation of Salvation

People consider mathematics an exact science, so the following equation may be helpful in presenting the gospel in no uncertain terms. The equation of salvation is based upon the truth of Ephesians 2:8-10.

Ask the other person to solve the following math problem.

3 + 2 - 1 = ?

Obviously the correct answer is 4. You might ask the person if they are sure that 4 is the right answer. Then say, "There's no doubt about it."

Next read Ephesians 2:8, 9. "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." Proceed to make an equation out of this passage. It will look like this:

Grace + faith - works = salvation

If works were necessary for salvation, the equation would be written:

Works + faith - grace = salvation

But that would never work, because we cannot be saved apart from the grace of God. It is the test of the gospel. Do you remember Romans 11:6? Grace and works don't mix. This was discussed in Lesson Two under The Gospel of the Grace of God.

Next rewrite the equation.

3 + 2 = 1 + ?

Again, the correct answer is 4. Very clever. Are you sure? Of course!

Now look at Ephesians 2:10. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." What does this mean? How do we write this verse in equation form?

Grace + faith = salvation + works

The grace of God and faith in Christ results in a salvation that produces good works. When we are saved we are "created in Christ Jesus for good works." Good works are important, but they aren't the basis of our salvation. They are the result of our salvation, demonstrating the reality of our faith in Jesus. Faith is the root; works are the fruit.

The gospel of Christ is not good news of a "hope so" salvation. The salvation that Jesus has made available to us is a sure salvation. It is as sure as the promises of God.

The Simple Truth of John 3:16

Sometimes we are so clever we fool ourselves. There are times when John 3:16 is all that's necessary in our presentation. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

God loved the world. The problem is that the world doesn't love God. But God solved the problem of our sins in giving His Son, the Lord Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins. Whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life. It's all there in one verse.

Be on Target

Whenever you witness to others, regardless which presentation you use, always aim for the heart. Witnessing for Christ is more than sharing information. Some Christians think that it's enough to state the basic facts of the gospel and leave it at that. The apostle Paul went beyond the impartation of truth. He did more than announce the message. To the Corinthian church he wrote, "We persuade men." 2 Corinthians 5:11. The target is the heart. "For with the heart man believes to righteousness." R omans 10:10.

Don't get sidetracked. Stick to the truth of the gospel. It is so easy to get caught up in speaking about something else.

After you have clearly presented the message, ask for a response, saying, "Would you like to receive the Lord Jesus as your Savior?" If the unbeliever is hesitant, you might encouragingly add, "I'll pray together with you. You can pray after me." Then lead him to Jesus.

The Holy Spirit is the driving force behind your gospel arrow as you aim for the heart. Depend upon the Spirit of God in your endeavor to win souls for the Lord. May it be said of your gospel witness that it was done "not in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance." 1 Thessalonians 1:5.

Home - "The Message"
"The Message" in Other Languages
The Apostles' Creed in Multiple Languages
Statement of Faith

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