Faith Sharing
Objective: Effective evangelism strategies teach believers how to share their faith effectively and how to ask for a response.
The Way Home to God
Only fish that are landed count. When I directed Camp Ontario in the early 1990s, the campers competed to catch the biggest walleye during the week.
During the last day, on the previous trolling pass, when I was within fifteen seconds of calling it a day, a walleye struck my lure. A hooked walleye shakes its head from side to side. When its head is above water, this shaking often results in an eleventh-hour escape.
That’s precisely what happened, except my fishing partner was the fastest netter in Ontario that day. Quickly, the fish came partway out of the water, the lure flew, and my partner netted the walleye. Bang, bang, bang, and the biggest walleye of the week was in the boat. It’s always too early to give up on a co-worker’s coming to Christ.
Essentially, the gospel includes two things to know and two to do.
You Are a Sinner with a Penalty to Pay
The first thing to know is that you are a sinner. Romans 3:23 says that we are all sinners and have fallen short of God's glory, which is His infinite perfection in all He does and is.
Another way to say that is that we can't stand back-to-back with Jesus and ultimately measure up to his moral and spiritual height. That's a huge deal. Romans 6:23 says death is the penalty for not meeting that standard. We have a problem.
Jesus Died on the Cross to Pay Your Penalty
The second thing to know is that Jesus died on the cross in your place and for your benefit (Romans 5:8). God showered His unmerited favor upon you, doing more than you could reasonably expect. God, in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ, took your place and paid your death penalty (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
He was buried and rose from the dead to prove that God is satisfied with His payment on your behalf. Justice has been served. The penalty is paid in full. The guiltless took the place of the guilty.
Turn from Self-Focused to God-Focused Living
The first thing to do is turn from living according to your values, priorities, and agenda. The U-turn to go God's way is what the Bible calls repentance. To repent is to acknowledge that you have been going in the wrong direction and now want to go in the right direction. In Mark 1:15, Jesus commands us to repent and believe the good news (that He died in our place on the cross, was buried, and rose from the dead).
Give Jesus the Driver's Seat
The second thing to do is to open the door of your life to Jesus and invite Him to come in and take the driver's seat of your life. He promises that if you open the door, He will come in (Revelation 3:20). He always keeps His promises.
Those who receive Him into their lives become children of God (John 1:12). You can open the door to Him by the following prayer, which has no magic words but merely expresses the attitude of a heart that is willing to go God's way:
Lord Jesus, Thank You for dying on the cross in my place and taking my sin, death, and judgment upon Yourself. I open the door of my life to You, and I want You to come into my life and take control.
Thank You for forgiving my sins and making me Your child. I want to become like You. Amen.
What is the next step? The next step is to follow Jesus and grow in your faith by sharing the gospel and making better disciples.
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Spiritual Health Assessment gives Christians spiritual goals.
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Church Assimilation Strategy helps visitors become church members.
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Discipleship Books Free Download enables church members and church leaders.
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ABC of Evangelism is sharing your faith and asking for a response.
Photo: Nico Smit/Unsplash