Evangelism is not merely verbal proclamation or persuasion.
It is introducing people to the risen Christ-our living Lord. If in whatever way we can, we simply get people in contact with Jesus, they will never be the same.
“Evangelism is essentially, in word and deed, bringing people to Jesus.” Randy Hurst, Commissioner of Evangelism, A/G USA
Some Methods of Evangelism
1. Two Great Questions
Two Great Questions is a simple analysis of the apostolic preaching of Peter, which always answers two questions:
1) Who was Jesus?
2) Why did He give His life?
Being prepared to discuss these two questions will equip a person to clearly and simply share the message of Christ with nonbelievers.
Who was Jesus?
Accounts of Christ’s life by secular media almost always present Jesus as just a fictional character or, even when He is shown as a historical person, he is depicted as a great teacher or even a prophet-but only a man.
Jesus was much more. He was God in human form. He died for our sins and conquered death by rising again to offer us forgiveness of sin and the gift of everlasting life. He ascended to heaven and will return to Earth again for all His followers. This is the essence of the gospel message. Paul wrote, “There is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5, NIV).
Why did Jesus give His life?
Jesus said, “The Father loves Me because I give My life, so I can receive it again. No person takes it away from Me, but I give it because I choose to give it. I have the authority to give it, and I have the authority to take it again” (John 10: 17,18)
Jesus gave his life for two essential reasons: First, because we’re sinners. Second, because there was nothing we could do about it.
Each of us has sinned and is separated from God. The punishment for sin is death (Romans 6:23). The death about which the Bible speaks is not just physical death. It means a person’s spirit will be in everlasting punishment in hell. Jesus explained that hell is like a “lake of fire,” and that everyone who goes there is separated from God forever and burns in fire that never ends (Mark 9:47,48; Revelation 20: 15).
But God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the penalty for our sins. Jesus was born as a man, but He lived His life without sin. Jesus never sinned, but He was punished for sin. So death had no power over Him, and He came back to life after three days. Now He gives everlasting life to anyone who calls upon His name (Romans 10: 13) and receives Him as Savior and Lord.
For more complete information, visit www.evangelism.ag.org
2. The ABCs of Salvation
The ABCs of Salvation have been included in every issue of Today’s Pentecostal Evangel for many years. They are probably the simplest presentation of the plan of salvation the author, Richard Champion, has ever found.
To know God and be ready for heaven, follow these steps:
Admit you are a sinner. “There is no one righteous, not even one…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3: 10,23)
Ask God’s forgiveness. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10: 13)
Believe in Jesus. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3: 16)
Become a child of God by receiving Christ. “To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1: 12)
Confess that Jesus is your Lord. “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans10:9)
For more complete information, visit http://pentecostalevangel.ag.orq/Salvation.cfm
3. The “Romans Road” to Salvation
Of Paul’s epistles, Romans offers the most complete presentation of the saving work of Christ. This is probably because Paul had never been to Rome at the time the epistle was written, and, consequently, because Roman believers had never been exposed to Paul’s teaching, he composed an epistle that was especially complete in its presentation concerning salvation through Jesus Christ.
“The Romans Road,” whose author is unknown, progressively highlights certain key verses in the book of Romans to establish essential truths concerning receiving Christ as Savior.
Romans 3:23 –“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Romans 6:23a –“…The wages of sin is death…”
Romans 6:23b –“…But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 10:9,10 –“…if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”
Romans 10:13 –“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
4. Three Story Evangelism
“Three Story Evangelism” is a witnessing method that Campus Life teaches its student leaders concerning how to witness. The three stories are (The following sequence is recommended):
1) Their Story (the friend you’re trying to bring to Christ)
2) Your Story (Your life before and after Christ)
3) His Story (Jesus’ Story – The Gospel)
First, listen to a nonbeliever, learning as much as you can about them, then share your personal testimony, bringing in how your life was totally changed because of Jesus Christ.
For more complete information, visit http://www.yfccampuslife.com/3story.htm.
5. Evangelism Explosion
For several decades, “Evangelism Explosion,” by Dr. James Kennedy had been used by thousands of churches. The basic approach to explaining salvation begins with a couple of simple questions:
1) Do you know for sure that you are going to be with God in heaven?
2) If God were to ask you, “Why should I let you into my heaven?” what would you say?
The Bible tells how you can know for sure that you have eternal life and will go to be with God in heaven (1 John 5: 13).
a) Heaven (Eternal Life) is a Free Gift. (Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8,9)
b) Man is a Sinner. (Romans 3:23, Matthew 5:48, James 2: 10)
c) God is Merciful, and Therefore Doesn’t Want to Punish Us. (1 John 4:8, Jeremiah 31:3, Exodus 34:7, Ezekiel 18:4)
d) God Solved This Problem For Us in the Person of Jesus Christ. (John 1:1,14, Isaiah 53:6)
e) This Gift is Received by Faith. (Acts 16:31)
For more complete information, visit www.eeinternational.org.
6. The Four Spiritual Laws
Possibly the single most distributed plan of salvation is “The Four Spiritual Laws,” written by Dr. Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ.
Just as there are physical laws that govern the physical universe, so are there spiritual laws which govern your relationship with God.
Law 1: God loves you, and offers a wonderful plan for your life. (John 3:16, John 10:10)
Law 2: Man is sinful and separated from God. (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23)
Law 3: Jesus Christ is God’s only provision for man’s sin. Through Him you can know and experience God’s love and plan for your life. (Romans 5:8, I Corinthians 15:3-6, John 14:6)
Law 4: We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know and experience God’s love and plan for our lives. (John 1: 12, Ephesians 2:8-9, John 3:1-8)
For more complete information, visit www.crusade.org/fourlaws.
7. FAITH
“FAITH” is a Sunday School evangelism strategy of the Southern Baptist Convention churches. It provides adult Sunday School groups with training in evangelism and outreach to each of its members, a presentation model using the FAITH acrostic (shown below), and a a place for nurturing new believers by inviting them to be a part of their Sunday School group.
What do you understand it takes for a person to go to heaven?
| F is for FORGIVENESS | We cannot have eternal life and heaven without God’s forgiveness. In [Jesus] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. (Eph. 1:7a) |
| A is for AVAILABLE | Forgiveness is Available. It is-AVAILABLE FOR ALL. 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. (John 3:16, NKJV) BUT FORGIVENESS IS NOT AUTOMATIC. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matt. 7:21a, NKJV) |
| I is for IMPOSSIBLE | It is impossible for God to allow sin into heaven. GOD IS:
BUT, MAN IS SINFUL For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) Question: But how can a sinful person enter heaven, where God allows no sin? |
| T is for TURN | TURN from something – sin and self. But unless you repent you will all likewise perish. (Luke 13:3b) TURN to Someone – to Christ alone. “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9) |
| H is for HEAVEN | Heaven is eternal life. HERE “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10b) HEREAFTER “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:3) HOW How can a person have God’s forgiveness, heaven and eternal life, and Jesus as personal Savior and Lord? |
To summarize, explain again using another interpretation of the FAITH acrostic:
Forsaking All I Trust Him