Below are the rough draft notes I used yesterday for the morning sermon on "How to present the gospel" in a personal situation. As we walk through our Christian life the scriptures reveal that we aren't truly disciples unless we are making disciples. Let me encourage you to walk by faith ans share the good news.
The Personal Preparation Stage Pray for the person
Use your relationship to them to share
Do not give a “canned” presentation
Be intentional. That is key your discussion, off of things they say or have said. ie hopes, death, struggles, future
Presentation Stage If they have knowledge of the bible, use the bible like Peter does in Acts.
If they do not have bible knowledge, use the bible and philosophy like Paul does in Acts 17, addressing those in Athens.
You could begin by sharing how Christ met you in life.
You may begin by pointing out how you heard in church how the bible addresses the problems of a fallen world.
Ask: If they have ever considered Christianity’s claims and teachings.
Ask: What have they heard or what is their background.
Share: Christianity’s truths as they have played out in your own life.
ie Hope for future, Sovereignty of God, Comfort of prayer, God’s presence.
Share: how the gospel is relevant in all your life.
Share: The heart of the gospel:
Ask: what are they going to do with what you have shared?
Distractions
Handle problems quickly; don’t let it take long to get back on track.
(ie don’t answer cell phones, say hi to children but focus on parent)
Handle misleading questions by stating “I am glad you asked. If I don’t get to that in a minute please remind me”
Handle difficult questions by stating: “I do not know, but I will find out soon and get back with you on that”.
Don’t
· Make a sales pitch
· Make the Christian life seem “Magical”
· Make repentance an option or slight sign.
· Argue with people who are argumentative
· Create a theological debate, unless that is the proper context.
Do
· Listen to what they are saying.
· Give them opportunity to respond
· Make plans to follow up, set a specific time and means.
· Pray about other concerns that they may have brought up.
· Press, but don’t push, them with the need to deal with the question of “Based on what I have shared, what do you need to do with the gospel”?
· Leave them with a means of looking into the bible for themself.
· Provide a tract if available.
THE GOSPEL
The gospel is good news. It is good because it is news of our being set free from God’s wrath by God’s sacrifice.
If we do not include sin and wrath then folks will never value why they are “saved” and not know what they are “saved” from and to.
Don’t use churchy terms like “saved”. Use a word they would understand.
Do use biblical words like redemption, justification, sanctification, and define them when appropriate.
The Personal Preparation Stage Pray for the person
Use your relationship to them to share
Do not give a “canned” presentation
Be intentional. That is key your discussion, off of things they say or have said. ie hopes, death, struggles, future
Presentation Stage If they have knowledge of the bible, use the bible like Peter does in Acts.
If they do not have bible knowledge, use the bible and philosophy like Paul does in Acts 17, addressing those in Athens.
You could begin by sharing how Christ met you in life.
You may begin by pointing out how you heard in church how the bible addresses the problems of a fallen world.
Ask: If they have ever considered Christianity’s claims and teachings.
Ask: What have they heard or what is their background.
Share: Christianity’s truths as they have played out in your own life.
ie Hope for future, Sovereignty of God, Comfort of prayer, God’s presence.
Share: how the gospel is relevant in all your life.
Share: The heart of the gospel:
Ask: what are they going to do with what you have shared?
Distractions
Handle problems quickly; don’t let it take long to get back on track.
(ie don’t answer cell phones, say hi to children but focus on parent)
Handle misleading questions by stating “I am glad you asked. If I don’t get to that in a minute please remind me”
Handle difficult questions by stating: “I do not know, but I will find out soon and get back with you on that”.
Don’t
· Make a sales pitch
· Make the Christian life seem “Magical”
· Make repentance an option or slight sign.
· Argue with people who are argumentative
· Create a theological debate, unless that is the proper context.
Do
· Listen to what they are saying.
· Give them opportunity to respond
· Make plans to follow up, set a specific time and means.
· Pray about other concerns that they may have brought up.
· Press, but don’t push, them with the need to deal with the question of “Based on what I have shared, what do you need to do with the gospel”?
· Leave them with a means of looking into the bible for themself.
· Provide a tract if available.
THE GOSPEL
The gospel is good news. It is good because it is news of our being set free from God’s wrath by God’s sacrifice.
If we do not include sin and wrath then folks will never value why they are “saved” and not know what they are “saved” from and to.
Don’t use churchy terms like “saved”. Use a word they would understand.
Do use biblical words like redemption, justification, sanctification, and define them when appropriate.
Points to present
Who God is: He is Holy, loving, and just.
Because of sin against Him, to be just he must also have wrath.
Sin is an offense against God’s holiness. It includes violations against His law, in thought or deed, and it is when we try to be god instead of Him.
Who God is: He is Holy, loving, and just.
Because of sin against Him, to be just he must also have wrath.
Sin is an offense against God’s holiness. It includes violations against His law, in thought or deed, and it is when we try to be god instead of Him.
None of us are truely "good".
We all sin. Our sin is often greater than we imagine.
Example: works of sin 3 sins a day for 70 years?
But because He is a loving God he wants to forgive sin, but He just can’t overlook it, for that would make Him unjust.
Example: Faulty items on a production line never make a profit for the company, just more losses.
Example: works of sin 3 sins a day for 70 years?
But because He is a loving God he wants to forgive sin, but He just can’t overlook it, for that would make Him unjust.
Example: Faulty items on a production line never make a profit for the company, just more losses.
Our works can’t save us.
Thus He sent His own Son to pay the penalty for us. (John 3:16) Since God is judge and his son is our payment for all sin God alone can forgive.
But it is conditional.
The condition is our repentance of sin and faith in Him.
Repentance is the confession of sin and the turning away from it.
Believing is living by the truth He has told us in the bible.
Three things make all this up,
· Savior- believing God’s word that you need a savior to pay for your sins, and that Jesus alone is who saves you
· Lord- That our ways need to be different and a loving God has a plan for us to follow, this is being a disciple of Jesus.
· Love- If we truly have repented and have faith in God then we will love Him and not treat Him as a vending machine.
Based on what I have shared, what do you need to do with the gospel?
Thus He sent His own Son to pay the penalty for us. (John 3:16) Since God is judge and his son is our payment for all sin God alone can forgive.
But it is conditional.
The condition is our repentance of sin and faith in Him.
Repentance is the confession of sin and the turning away from it.
Believing is living by the truth He has told us in the bible.
Three things make all this up,
· Savior- believing God’s word that you need a savior to pay for your sins, and that Jesus alone is who saves you
· Lord- That our ways need to be different and a loving God has a plan for us to follow, this is being a disciple of Jesus.
· Love- If we truly have repented and have faith in God then we will love Him and not treat Him as a vending machine.
Based on what I have shared, what do you need to do with the gospel?
