Presentations of the gospel are extremely helpful and relevant when people are ready to experience the new life that Jesus offers, and the best gospel presentations are concise and to the point.
When it comes to just about any task, I think we can all agree that the proper tools make all the difference. And when it comes to sharing the gospel, some wonderful tools are available to us.
Before we discuss these tools, however, we need to understand that there are some necessary prerequisites to their employ. Most important of which is that, generally speaking, some groundwork needs to be established before the tools are pulled out.
First Things First
In most instances, if we hit an unbeliever with a tool such as the Romans Road or the Four Spiritual Laws in the first moments of a conversation, odds are the conversation is over before it even begins.
The atmosphere surrounding our gospel conversations with unbelievers is crucial. Therefore, it is essential that the first step be the creation of a safe space. This can be done by releasing our own personal agenda and opening ourselves to God’s agenda for our conversations (1 Corinthians 6:19). In other words, rather than trying to get our point across, we should step back into a position of noticing, listening, and serving. Safe spaces are created as we enter conversations humbly – as a listener and learner – instead of as a pitchman.
Next Steps
As our safe-space conversations develop and relationship builds, often the result is that the heart of the hearer is opened to more. When you feel your hearer’s heart is open to the introduction of Scripture, make it a practice to always ask permission first. For the spirit in which Scripture is introduced is critical.
Sad as it is, many people have been turned off by gospel presentations delivered by overzealous “salesmen.” Rather than inflicting long-term damage with Scripture, our goal should be to have it become the fulcrum of our conversation.
When the head and the heart are bowed toward God in humility that comes from brokenness, it’s time for the gospel.
Doug Pollock
Gospel Presentations
Presentations of the gospel are extremely helpful and relevant when people are ready to experience the new life that Jesus offers. The best gospel presentations are concise and to the point. Additionally, they include illustrations, questions, and diagrams that enhance comprehension. As such, they can be powerful tools for helping seekers better understand and respond to the gospel message.
5 Scripture-based Evangelism Tools
Below we share five different Scripture-based evangelism tools. It is important to note that this is not an exhaustive list. Instead, it is merely a sampling. You may have one you already use and love to add to the list. On the other hand, none of these may strike a chord with you. In that case, an internet search for Scripture-based evangelism tools or gospel outlines might be quite helpful.
ROMANS ROAD
The Romans Roadcan be a fantastic tool for learning, retaining, practicing, and sharing the gospel. This tool consists of Bible verses from the New Testament epistle to the Romans that explain the plan of salvation through faith in Jesus. The Romans Road enables a believer to easily turn to passages of Scripture when sitting with someone who needs to hear the gospel.
Romans 3:23 – “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”
Romans 5:8 – “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:1 – “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Romans 10:9 – “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Romans 10:10 – “For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”
Romans 10:13 – “For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”
In 1952 Campus Crusade for Christ produced a booklet titled, Have You Heard of the Four Spiritual Laws?By Dr. Bill Bright. The founder of CRU, authored this resource for evangelism to provide believers with a means for introducing Christ to unbelievers.
Law One: God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. (John 3:16, John 10:10)
Law Two: Man is sinful and separated from God. As a result, we cannot know God’s wonderful plan for our lives. (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23)
Law Three: Jesus Christ is God’s only provision for our sin. Through Jesus Christ, we can have our sins forgiven and be restored to a right relationship with God. (Romans 5:8, 1 Corinthians 15:3-6, John 14:6)
Law Four: We must place our faith in Jesus Christ as Savior in order to receive the gift of salvation and know God’s wonderful plan for our lives. (John 1:12, Ephesians 2:8-9, John 3:1-8, Revelation 3:20)
One-Verse Evangelism® is a simple, interactive way to share Christ’s love conversationally and visually. It is easy to learn, uses a single verse, and can be written anywhere. One-Verse Evangelism shares the powerful message of the gospel in a 10-to-15-minute conversation.
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
In his helpful book, What is the Gospel? Greg Gilbert uses four words to summarize the gospel. These words are God, man, Christ, and response. Remembering these four will help us understand, explain, and proclaim the gospel.
God – is holy and without sin. He will not ignore or excuse the sins of others. The Bible teaches that all humans are accountable to Him.
Man – rebelled against God. We have fallen short of God’s demanded perfection. At the end of life, we will stand before a just and holy God and be judged on our righteousness. This is the bad news.
Jesus – is the good news of the Gospel. He lived a perfect life of righteousness and offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice to satisfy the justice of God. We can be saved from the condemnation our sin deserves through redemption in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:24). The Gospel is news; news that something has happened. Therefore, it requires a response.
Response – a response of faith is needed. The Bible is clear that we are not justified by our works, but by faith alone (Romans 3:22). When you believe in Jesus Christ and repent of your sins, you are declared righteous by God, adopted into His family, and forgiven of all your sins.
Keeping it Real
Notice that each of the tools included in our list is based on an outline of the gospel. While each gospel presentation listed has its own perspective and means of delivery, each includes the gospel elements of God, sin, Jesus, and redemption.
Become familiar with a gospel outline. In fact, learn a few different outlines. Having more than one tool in your toolbox will help you become more comfortable in sharing the gospel with others. It will also help you better meet the individual needs of those with whom you share.
And never forget the other tools in your box. Prayer, your own salvation story, and accounts of God’s current activity in your life are also valuable tools in sharing Christ with others.
Before we close, it is important to note that while gospel presentations are helpful and often effective tools, God did not give us a presentation in the Bible. He gave us His Son. And as we read the New Testament accounts of Jesus’ earthly ministry, we note that His approach was as varied as the people He encountered. He ministered to individuals, specifically. He did not employ a one-size fits all style. And neither should we.
