EVANGELISM
A lesson about telling others about how they can have a relationship with God.
INTRODUCTION
EVANGELISM
CONCLUSION
As you read this lesson, be sure to hover over the the Bible verses to read them or look them up in your own copy of the Bible. When the Bible passage is longer, you need to click on “more” in the bottom right corner of the pop-up window.
Introduction
Welcome! The Bible has much to say about this interesting topic. You may find it helpful to invite a mature Christian from your church to study this topic with you. You may have a lot of questions that are not answered here. Maybe there are ideas here that seem hard to understand. Do not get overwhelmed! You can contact us with any questions that you may have. The elders of your local church can help you as well.
Remember that learning the content about this topic is helpful, but knowing the information will not truly change you. For you to benefit fully from this topic, you must…
Become born-again by securing a personal relationship with God the Father and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, through faith by grace. This information cannot change you until the Holy Spirit of God gives you a new heart that is able to apply it to your life. To begin a personal relationship with God, it is imperative to understand and believe the following:
God is separated from you, because He is good, pure, and holy. 1 John 1:5-6
You are sinful, impure, and unholy because you do not measure up to God’s holiness. Romans 3:10-12 You are a descendent of Adam and Eve who rebelled against God. Romans 5:19
Your sinfulness provokes God’s anger and separates you from Him because He is holy. Romans 5:12 As a result, you deserve to be thrown into the Lake of Fire forever. Revelation 20:14-15
God the Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth. Jesus is God in the flesh. He lived a sinless life. He was nailed to the cross, shed His blood, and died in your place for your sins. He was buried, rose again, and went to Heaven to prepare a place for all who believe. He will return one day for those who believe. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Only the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus is enough for you to be accepted forever by God the Father the moment you believe. John 3:16 God does not accept you on the basis that you try to be a good person and do good works. Romans 4:5 He accepts you fully and forever the moment you abandon your sins and call on Jesus to save you. John 3:36
As you understand, meditate on, and believe the information presented here about this topic, you must also do what the Bible says. James 1:21-22 Only by trusting and obeying God’s Word regarding this topic will you experience the full benefits of this information. James 1:23-24 Trusting and obeying God’s Word will change you as you learn this. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 You will be happy as a result of your obedience. James 1:25
Seek and heed the advice of your church leaders regarding this topic. Hebrews 13:17
Depend upon the Holy Spirit to change you. Galatians 3:1-3 You cannot change without Him enabling you. John 15:5 He will change you in His time and way; but not apart from your faith and obedience to God’s Word. Trust Him to do His work in your heart. Philippians 2:12-13
Allow the joy that you experience from obeying God’s Word to transform how you interact with others. James 2:12-20
SHARing THE GOSPEL
We share the Gospel when we explain it clearly to an unbeliever. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
The Holy Spirit combines the Gospel with our delivery to soften or harden the unbeliever’s heart. 2 Corinthians 2:14-17
The Gospel has been fully shared when the unbeliever clearly understands it and their need to respond in faith. Romans 10:14; Romans 10:17
We should help the unbeliever to verbalize their understanding of and response to the Gospel. Romans 10:8
Encourage the unbeliever to voice their faith in or rejection to the Gospel. Acts 8:35-36
We cannot make anyone believe the Gospel. We trust God to do His work in a heart in His time and way. 1 Corinthians 3:4-6 We do not force a response, but trust the work of the Holy Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 2:1-13
We cannot make a person willing to consider the Gospel. Acts 17:32-34 We should assume, however, that an unbeliever is ready to hear the Gospel until we are told otherwise. Acts 17:17
WHY WE share the gospel
Because we want to invite others to experience the same joyful relationship with Christ that we have.
Because we have an overflow of joy from knowing Him, giving us a strong desire for others to know Him as well.
Because it flows from our own genuine and obedient relationship with Christ.
We simply want others to experience the same relationship with Christ that we have.
THE message of the GOSPEL
The Gospel is the “Good News”.
The Good News is the true message of how Jesus Christ, being God in the flesh, lived a sinless life, shed His blood as He died on the cross for our sin, was buried, and rose again.
By God’s undeserved kindness, He saves the one who believes the Gospel.
What Happens WHEN WE BELIEVE THE GOSPEL
We secure a personal relationship with Jesus Christ by God’s grace through our faith.
We abandon anything that separates us from Christ in order to embrace Him as the only One who can truly satisfy.
We refuse to doubt God’s saving power.
Our soul is saved from sin and its penalty of separation from God.
We receive God’s Holy Spirit to empower us to walk through this life and eternity in fellowship with Him rather than experience separation from Him in the Lake of Fire.
how to explaiN the Gospel
By illustrating the Gospel by our behavior.
By telling others the Gospel.
By maintaining a sincere desire to obey God. This is rooted in our heart and evidenced as we pray, read the Bible, confess our sin to God, obey Him, make disciples, and actively serve in a local church.
By striving to be all that Christ wants us to be in secret and in public.
By fully trusting God so that we do all that He wants us to do.
By allowing Christ’s love for us to flow through us to others.
By praying and using the Bible so that the Holy Spirit can open the unbeliever’s mind to the truth of the Gospel. We pray for God to use us and to work in the unbeliever’s heart. We must assume that God is using our prayers to make the unbeliever ready and willing to hear the Gospel from us. We should have the person follow along in our bible as we read the verses that explain the Gospel. We should ask what the Bible verse means and then clarify it for the unbeliever. We might consider memorizing some Bible verses or having a list of verse references written in our phone or on a note card to help us remember what verses to use in our Gospel conversation.
There are FIVE TRUTHS that someone must understand in order to believe the Gospel:
1. The Heart of God (God is Holy).
2. The Heart of Man (Mankind is Sinful).
3. The Heart of Our Relationship (Our Sin Separates Us from God).
4. The Heart of Jesus Christ (Jesus can reconcile us to God).
5. The Heart of Our Response (We must believe the Gospel).
1. The Heart of GOD
Explain the nature and desire of God.
God is Holy
God is infinite in all His attributes and ways. This sets Him apart from all things common, unclean, and evil. None of us is like Him. God wants us to know Him personally.
Clearly explain from scripture what it means that God is holy.
Use Bible verses that directly say that God is holy. 1 Samuel 2:2; I Peter 1:15-16; Revelation 15:4
Use Bible verses that show how people have responded to the holy presence of God. Isaiah 6:1-6
Use Bible verses that emphasize that since God is holy, He will not tolerate any sin in His presence. Psalm 5:4-5; Matthew 5:8; Matthew 5:48; 1 John 1:5-6;
Emphasize that God wants to have a personal relationship with us.
2. The Heart of MAN
Explain the nature and desire of mankind.
We are Sinful
We miss the mark of being holy like God, because we are born with hearts opposed to Him. God created us in His image with dignity and worth. We were created to live in fellowship with Him. The first human, Adam, caused all humans to be corrupted by sin. Now we run away from God.
Explain that we were created in God’s image.
Emphasize our value to God.
Clearly explain sin.
Emphasize that we are sinners by nature; not just because we sin.
Emphasize how God sees our sin.
Emphasize how we view God because of our sin.
Use Bible verses to explain how God created the first humans in His image.
Use Bible verses to show that we are born sinners because of Adam’s sin. Job 15:14-16; Proverbs 20:9; Ecclesiastes 7:20; Isaiah 53:6a; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3:10-12; Romans 3:23; Romans 5:19
Use Bible verses about God’s commands to show that we sin. Matthew 5:21-22; Matthew 5:27-30; James 2:10; 1 John. 3:4; 1 John 3:15
3. The Heart of our RELATIONSHIP
Explain the nature and destiny of our relationship with God.
Our Sin Separates Us from God
Because our sinfulness renders us undeserving of being in God’s presence, we are separated from Him at birth and destined to spend eternity apart from Him in the Lake of Fire. Our sin angers God. Even though God wants to fellowship with us, He cannot, because we are sinful.
Explain what it means that we owe death for our sin.
Emphasize that because we are sinful and God is holy, it follows that we would be separated from Him forever.
Emphasize that although God is angered by our sin, He does not want us to be separated from Him, because He loves us.
Emphasize that God’s holy nature prevents Him from overlooking our sin.
Use Bible verses that say that we owe death for our sin. Ezekiel 18:4; Romans 5:12; Romans 6:23a
Use Bible verses that show that we are destined for the Lake of Fire. Daniel 12:2; John 12:48; Romans 14:12; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 20:14-15
Use Bible verses to show that works such as praying, being baptized, doing good works, going to church, or trying to stop sinning will never take away our sin. Isaiah 59:1-2; Isaiah 64:6; Jeremiah 13:23
4. The Heart of JESUS CHRIST
Explain the nature of Jesus and His sacrifice.
Jesus Can Reconcile Us to God
He is the Son of God who came to earth, being fully God and fully man. Although He never sinned, He died, shedding His blood on the cross in our place. He was buried and rose again. God loved us so He sent Jesus to die as our substitute so that we can have a personal relationship with Him.
Explain that Jesus is both 100% God and 100% Man.
Explain that Jesus lived a perfect life in our place.
Explain that Jesus took our sins upon Himself.
Explain that on the cross, Jesus was separated from God the Father for us.
Explain why Jesus had to shed His blood.
Emphasize that Jesus rose bodily from the grave.
Emphasize that God the Father accepted Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf as proven by Jesus rising from the grave.
Emphasize that Jesus is the only way for anyone to be accepted by God the Father.
Emphasize that Jesus gave Himself because He loves us.
Use Bible verses to show that Jesus is God. Psalm 110; Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6-7; John 5:23; Philippians 2:5-10; Hebrews 1
Use Bible verses that say that Jesus never sinned. 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 3:5
Use Bible verses to explain how God told Israel to make sacrifices, but only Jesus’ sacrifice can take away sin. Leviticus 17:11; Isaiah 53:4-6; Daniel 9:26a; Daniel 12:2
Use Bible verses to explain Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Matthew 27:46; John 10:15; Romans 5:6-10; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8
Use Bible verses to show that Jesus is the only way for God to accept us. Matthew 19:26; John 14:6; John 17:3-4; Acts 4:12; Acts 26:18
5. The Heart of our Response
Explain the need and result of our response to the Gospel.
We Must Repent and Believe the Gospel
We must turn from whatever is keeping us from trusting in Jesus as Savior and believe that His payment was sufficient to establish our acceptance by God the Father forever. If we believe, then we will have God’s love now and forever in heaven. If we do not believe, then we will experience God’s anger forever in the Lake of Fire.
Explain what it means to repent.
Explain what it means to believe.
Explain what happens when we believe.
Explain what happens when we reject Jesus.
Emphasize how God wants to save everyone.
Emphasize it is a choice for us between claiming God’s love or His anger.
Use Bible verses that show our need to repent and believe. Genesis 15:6; Psalm 51:13; Psalm 2:12; Mark 1:15; John 1:12; John 3:16-18; Acts 16:31; Acts 17:30-31; 2 Timothy 2:25
Use Bible verses to show that we are saved by grace through faith alone; our works not contributing to our salvation. Romans 4:1-5; Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:1-8
Use Bible verses to show how we can know for sure that God accepts us. Romans 10:8-13; 1 John 5:10-13
Use Bible verses to show that when we believe the Gospel, we are accepted by God forever. John 5:24; John 10:27-30; Romans 6:23b; Romans 8:35-39
Use Bible verses to show that if we reject the Gospel, then we are headed for the Lake of Fire. John 3:36; John 8:24
hOW TO sHARE THE gOSPEL
Focus on representing Christ.
Put all of the emphasis on Christ, not yourself.
Focus on understanding.
Assess what the unbeliever understands.
Look at the conversation from God’s perspective.
The Gospel is not about us, but about the unbeliever’s relationship to God.
We must trust God’s love for us and others to overcome our fear of what might happen in the conversation.
Deal with our own perspective.
Recognize that God has given us everything we need already to share the Gospel.
Place our confidence in God, not ourselves.
Know that it is okay that we don’t know everything. Besides, one’s response is dependent ultimately upon God’s work in their heart.
While we supply the information of the Gospel to unbelievers, we need to remember that proving God’s existence is the work of the Spirit, not ours.
Recognize that the worst thing that could happen to us already happened to Jesus on the cross for us.
Recognize God’s complete forgiveness of all of our failures.
Recognize that as we confess and repent of all our sin, there is nothing keeping God from using us.
Don’t take what the opposition says as a personal attack, because we are representing Christ more than we are representing ourselves.
Remember that when we share the Gospel, we love the person while not expecting anything in return.
Be content with who we are and let God use us as we are. We must not be fake.
Remember that as we trust and obey God by sharing the Gospel, Jesus makes us into the fishers of souls that He wants us to be. Matthew 4:19; Luke 5:10
Remember that people respond to the Gospel in different ways and times. Matthew 13:3-23; Mark 4:1-20
We should keep sowing the Gospel in times of adversity, knowing that only God can determine others’ response. Matthew 13:24-30; Mark 4:26-29
Look at the conversation from the unbeliever’s perspective.
Consider the unbeliever’s educational background. Use terms to which the person can relate, understand, and appreciate.
Be aware that we will encounter different kinds of people while sharing the Gospel “in the streets”. Many of the people we encounter are rejected by society. Many people do not value themselves as they should. In such cases, we must not be surprised or react impulsively.
Instead, we should:
Remind them of their value to God through our demeanor, body language, and attitude.
Pay attention to what they say, how they say it, and why they say it.
Try and understand their perspective about God and the Gospel by asking good questions. Don’t use questions that require them to answer with “yes” or “no”. Instead, use questions that give them a chance to explain their understanding more clearly.
Listen carefully as the speaker talks to show respect.
Assume the listener is hearing what you are sharing for the first time. Speak clearly and use simple words. Avoid using religious language unless you define clearly what you mean.
We should explain the Gospel and then encourage the person to respond in faith. Give the person an opportunity to verbalize their response of faith or disbelief.
After Sharing the Gospel
Remember that the Great Commission is not only about seeing people simply believe the Gospel. It also includes teaching them how to obey Christ.
If a stranger makes a profession of faith as a result of you sharing the Gospel, it is imperative that you exchange contact information so that you can follow up with them.
Provide them with information about a nearby bible-believing church for them to attend. Ask permission to share their information with the church.
Consider following the protocol of How to Disciple Someone and A Strategy for Making Disciples. You may find the Tips, Truths, and Topics on this website to be helpful.
An example of a Gospel Conversation
What kind of relationship with God would you say you have? They respond...
Why do you think that is? They respond...
How did your relationship with God become that way? They respond...
How does someone secure a relationship with God? They respond...
What kind of Person do you think God is- good, evil, or in between? They respond...
How did you come to that conclusion? They respond...
The Bible (God’s Word) says that God is holy. Check out this verse. [Read and explain 1 Samuel 2:2]
What do you think it means that God is holy? They respond...
[Explain it to them]
How do you compare to the holiness of God? They respond...
What keeps you from being holy like God? They respond...
Check out this verse. [Read Ecclesiastes 7:20] What do you think that means? They respond...
[Define and explain sin] From where do you think sin came? They respond...
[Read and explain Genesis 2:15-17 and Genesis 3:1-6] How do you feel about what happened with Adam and Eve? They respond...
What do you think that has to do with us? They respond...
[Read and explain Romans 5:19a] How do you think God’s holiness affects our relationship with Him? They respond...
[Read Romans 5:12] What do you think this verse means? They respond...
[Explain Romans 5:12] Since we are separated already from God in this life, where do you think we will spend eternity when we die? They respond...
[Read and explain Revelation 21:8] Does that verse include you? Why or why not? They respond...
How does that make you feel? They respond...
Since we owe death for our sin, what can we do to change that? They respond...
[Read and explain Isaiah 59:1-2] How does our sin affect our prayers according to those verses? They respond...
Since we are not on speaking terms with God, then how can we be accepted by Him? They respond...
[Read and explain Isaiah 64:6] According to that verse, how does God look at our righteous works? They respond...
Since our righteous deeds are tainted with sin and God is holy, then how could our good ever be good enough? They respond...
[Read and explain Jeremiah 13:23] According to that verse, can we change the fact that we owe death for our sin? They respond...
Since we cannot pray enough, be good enough, or even change our sinful hearts, then how could God accept us? They respond...
How does that make you feel? They respond...
How would you feel if I told you that you could be placed forever into a right standing with God, right here and now? They respond...
[Read and explain Romans 6:23] What do you think eternal life is? They respond...
[Read John 17:3] What does Jesus say eternal life is? They respond...
Who is Jesus, that He could give us eternal life? They respond...
[Read and explain John 1:1-3, 14] Explain that Jesus is 100% God and 100% man.
[Read and explain John 1:17-18 and John 5:17-18] What do you think about the fact that Jesus as the Son of God is 100% God and 100% man?
What did Jesus do for us so that we could be accepted by God the Father? They respond...
[Read and explain Matthew 27:33-46] Why do you think God the Father turned His back on His Son? They respond...
[Read and explain 1 John 3:5 and 2 Corinthians 5:21] What do you think it means that Jesus died for your sins in your place on the cross? They respond...
[Read and explain 1 Corinthians 15:3-7] What happened after Jesus died on the cross? They respond...
How do you think we receive what He did for us? They respond...
[Read John 3:16-18] What do you think these verses mean? They respond...
[Explain John 3:16-18 more fully if needed] They respond...
[Read and explain John 3:36] Which person are you right now…the one who believes and has God’s love and eternal life -or- the one who rejects Jesus’ love and is under God’s anger? They respond...
[Read and explain Romans 10:8-13] You can tell God that you fully trust that what Jesus did was enough for you and tell Him “thank you” for His sacrifice. What is holding you back from talking to God right now? They respond...
[Have them pray]
[After they pray] What did you just pray? They respond...
How do you feel about God right now? They respond...
What makes you confident that God has accepted you and that you will be with Him forever after you die? [Read and explain 1 John 5:10-13].
[Read and explain 2 Corinthians 5:17] What happened to you as you believed in Jesus? They respond...
[Read and explain 2 Corinthians 5:15] Why did Christ die for you according to those verses? They respond...
How does sin affect your relationship with God, and what should you do about it? They respond…
[Read and explain 1 John 1:5-2:2 and especially emphasize our need to confess sin to God with a heart to forsake it in order to maintain fellowship with Him.]
What would it take for God to abandon you? They respond...
[Read and explain John 10:27-30] Who can take you out of God’s hand since you believe the Gospel? They respond...
[Read and explain Romans 8:38-39] What can separate you from God’s love since you believe the Gospel? They respond...
[Use the remaining time to talk about baptism, prayer, God’s Word, and church. Also, get their contact information to follow up with them. Then pray for them.]
God wants you to be baptized, attend church, make disciples, and learn to obey Christ for the rest of your life!
Conclusion
Now that you have studied this topic, we encourage you to...
Ask us or any of your church leaders about any questions or concerns you still have about this topic.
Pray for yourself to grow in maturity regarding this topic.
Do your best to practice what you have learned.
Tell someone else about what you have studied.
Ask one of your church leaders to help you overcome your weaknesses regarding this topic.
Teach this subject to others.
Consider reviewing this topic once each year.
Commit to growing in this area together with other members of a local church.
Trust the Holy Spirit to change you as He uses His Word, others, and circumstances to make you more like Christ.