Evangelism Skills
for Today’s World
Classic Models
Principles from the Past
Classic Models of
Personal Evangelism
• Value of Historic Plans
– Successful methods of past can always teach us something
• They should be considered for at least two reasons:
1. Valuable part of history of evangelism in the church
• Anyone literate in the subject should be familiar with these
2. Elements can be tailored to contemporary applications
• Each adds a unique “Tool” to our war chest against Enemy of souls
Evangelism Explosion
Dr. James Kennedy
[Evangelism Explosion, 1996]
• The point of reference / wellspring of modern
personal evangelism methods
• Origins of the title: E.E.
– Response to population explosion
– Basic addition could not compete with explosion
• Requires multiplication through lay evangelism
Key Prefatory Principles
To the EE Program
• Evangelism is one component within the larger
discipleship ministry of the Church
– Trainer and trainees
– Prayer Partner Ministry
– Spiritual Parenting
• Personal evangelism does not supplant other modes of
viable evangelism
• Laymen are the strategic key to effective evangelism
– “More important to train a soul-winner than to win a soul”
Training Approach of EE
• Positive approach
• Written presentation
• Basic Training focusing on Essentials
– How to get into the gospel and find out spiritual status of
seeker
– How to present the gospel itself
– How to bring a person to commitment to Christ
– How to relate new convert to the family of God
Training Approach of EE
• Three Gospel Components
– Learn outline of Gospel first (skeleton)
– Learn scriptures (muscle to the skeleton)
– Learn illustrations (flesh out / clarify gospel outline)
• Build on Outline
• Not a canned approach
– Intermediary method between memorization and
spontaneous witness
The Four-Step Outline Approach
to E.E. Personal Evangelism
The
Intro
The
Questions
• Question #1
• Their secular
Have youlife
come to a place in your
spiritual life where you know for
• Their spiritual
background
certain that
if you were to die today
you would go to heaven?
• Your spiritual background
• Question #2
• Your personal
testimony
Suppose that
you were to die tonight
and stand before God and he were to
• Two “Diagnostic
Questions”
say to you, “Why
should I let you into
my heaven?” What would you say?
Seeker
Answers
Saved
Answers
No –Christ
Trust in Christ
No – Trust other than
Diagnose: Lack Assurance
Diagnose: Non-Christian
Yes – Trust in Christ
Yes – Trust other than Christ
Diagnose: Christian
Diagnose: Presumption
The Four-Step Outline Approach
to E.E. Personal Evangelism
The
Intro
Gospel
Message
• Grace
• Their secular life
Rom 6:23
The
Commitment
Follow
Up
• Bible Reading
2 Tim. 2:15
• Man
• Commitment question • Prayer
• Their spiritual background
Rom. 3:23; Eph. 2:8-9
1 Thess. 5:17
• God
• Clarification of commitment
• Worship
• Your spiritual background
1 Jn 4:8; Hab 1:13; Ezek 18:4
Rom 12:1
• Prayer of commitment
• Christ
• Fellowship
• Your personal testimony
Jn 1:1,14; Isa 53:6, 53:10, 4;
• Assurance of salvation
Heb 10:25
Jn 14:2; Rom. 6:23
• Two “Diagnostic
Questions”
• Witness
• Faith
Matt 10:32
Eph. 2:8
• Qualifying question
Flexible Christ-Centered Formats:
Five-Fold Facts of the Gospel
Paul Little
[How to Give Away Your Faith, 1988]
• Importance of the ambassador’s “message”
– Not overcomplicating, nor over-simplifying it
– Message is essentially about a PERSON
Dispelling Common Misconceptions
About the Gospel Message
• Christianity is NOT…
– A heritage
– Going to Church
– Participating in ritual
– Following teachings of Jesus Christ
– Refraining from evils
– Believing facts
Dispelling Common Misconceptions
About the Gospel Message
• Christianity IS…
– The message of Jesus Christ himself
• Who he is
• What he has done
• How he can be known in personal experience
– Entering into living relationship with a living Christ
• No rigid “route” to present the invitation to relationship
The Basic Facts
Springboards for Gospel
Presentation
1. Who is Jesus Christ
–
Fully God (Jn 5:18; 10:10-30; 14:9)
–
Fully Man (Jn 4:6; Jn 11:35)
2. Jesus’ diagnosis of human nature (Mark 7:1-23)
–
The God-man declares we all have a basic disease:
Sin that separates us from God
–
So now, as sinners, we are cut off from God
The Basic Facts
Springboards for Gospel
Presentation
3. Christ’s exclusive solution: the Cross
(Matt 26:28; 20:28; 1 Pet 3:18)
–
Sacrificial death (in our place) paid price of our
willful rebellion against God
–
Now freely offered forgiveness/reconciliation by
believing in His finished work
4. His Resurrection (Lk 24:36-45; I Cor 15)
–
Validation of Christ’s divinity and our new eternal
life in/through his Holy Spirit alive in us
The Basic Facts
Springboards for Gospel
Presentation
5. Becoming a Christian
(beyond mental assent, to willful reception)
–
Facts of Christ demand response involving change
of mind and will
•
•
–
Mind must grasp truth and believe
Will must turn to God (Godly sorrow of 2 Cor 7:10)
Summarized in John 1:12
•
•
Believing and Receiving yields Becoming
Rev. 3:20
Flexible Formats for
Communicating the Five Basic Facts
• Three-Phase Jesus Pattern
1. Jesus’ description of human race – separated from Maker
• (Isa. 53:6; Rom. 3:11-12)
2. Jesus’ diagnosis of condition – disease of sin has separated us
• (Mk 7:15)
3. Jesus’ solution – restored relationship through his death and
resurrection
• (Rom. 5:8; I Pet. 2:24)
Flexible Formats for
Communicating the Five Basic Facts
• Four Steps to God
1. God: He is holy, just, and loving creator
• (1 Jn 1:5; Ps. 100:3)
2. Us: We messed up – rebelled and broken God’s law
• James 2:10; Ps. 14:2-3)
3. Jesus: Reconciles messed up (lost) people to their creator by
his death
• (Rom 5:6-8)
4. Required Response: Repent (incl. confess), believe, receive
• (Acts 17:30; 1 Jn 1:9; Jn 1:12; Rev. 3:20)
Flexible Formats for
Communicating the Five Basic Facts
• Jesus’ Definition of Christianity
– I am the bread of life (Jn 6:35)
– I am the way and the truth and the life (Jn 14:6)
– I am the light of the world (Jn 8:12)
– Come to me (Matt 11:28)
Flexible Formats for
Communicating the Five Basic Facts
• Religion vs. Christianity
– All religions are spelled “DO”
• People believe salvation is something you can do
• Like God grades on a curve, and they get in (Titus 3:5)
– But the Bible teaches salvation is not our works, but grace
(Eph 2:8-9)
– Christianity is spelled “DONE”
• Only Jesus Christ can save through his righteous fulfillment of law
• When died for us he said: “It is finished” and his work forgives us
(Rom 5:8)
• Man is justified apart from law (Rom 3:28), through faith (Rom 5:1)
Flexible Formats for
Communicating the Five Basic Facts
• Romans Road
– Romans 3:23
• All have sinned
– Romans 6:23
• Gift of God is eternal life
– Romans 10:9-10
• Believe in your heart, confess with mouth
Four Spiritual Laws
Bill Bright – Campus Crusade for Christ
[Witnessing Without Fear, 1993]
Preparing to Share the Gospel
1- Pray
2- Be led by the HS
Operate out of love, not legalism –pure heart & forgiven life
3- Keep supply of evangelism resources handy
4- Memorize the scriptures / structure of presentation
Four Spiritual Laws
Bill Bright – Campus Crusade for Christ
[Witnessing Without Fear, 1993]
5- Adhere to the LETUS principle
• Loving outreach to friend
• Establish rapport over time
• Talk about Jesus
• Use stories from own experience (your testimony)
• Sequence appropriate questions to lead to gospel presentation
Four Spiritual Laws
Bill Bright – Campus Crusade for Christ
[Witnessing Without Fear, 1993]
Transition to the gospel presentation appropriately
– Have you heard of the Four Spiritual Principles?
– Could I get your opinion of a special booklet whose contents
have changed my life?
– You know, I came across a little booklet that clearly explains
how we can have a personal relationship with God.
– I’ve recently found a way to express my faith that really
makes sense, and I’d like to share it with you.
God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life
[God loves you and created you to know Him personally]
God’s Love: John 3:16
God’s Plan: John 17:3
What prevents us from knowing God personally?...
Man is sinful and separated from God.
Therefore he cannot know and experience God’s love
and plan for his life.
[Man is sinful and separated from God,
so we cannot know Him personally or experience His love.]
Sinful: Romans 3:23
Separated: Romans 6:23
The 3rd principle explains the only way to bridge this gulf ...
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.
[Jesus Christ is God's only provision for man's sin. Through Him
alone we can know God personally and experience God's love .]
He died in our place: Rom 5:8
He rose from the dead: 1 Cor. 15:3-6
He is the only way to God: Jn 14:6
It is not enough just to know these 3 truths…
We must individually receive Jesus as Savior & Lord; then
we can know & experience God’s love & plan for our lives.
[We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we
can know God personally and experience His love.]
We must receive Christ (Jn 1:12)
We must receive Christ through faith (Eph 2:8-9)
When we receive Christ, we experience a new birth (Jn 3:1-8)
We receive Christ by personal invitation (Rev. 3:20)
You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer…
Follow-up Affirmation
• How to Know That Christ Is in Your Life?
– According to His promise in Revelation 3:20, where is Christ
right now in relation to you?
– The Bible Promises Eternal Life to All Who Receive Christ
(1 John 5:11-13)
– Thank God often that Christ is in your life and He will never
leave you (Heb 13:5)
Follow-up Affirmation
• How to Know That Christ Is in Your Life?
– Do not depend on feelings
• This train diagram illustrates the relationship among
– fact (God and His Word),
– faith (our trust in God and His Word), and
– feeling (the result of our faith and obedience) [Jn 14:21]
Follow-up Affirmation
• How to Know That Christ Is in Your Life?
– Moment you received Christ by faith, many things
happened, including the following:
• Christ came into your life (Rev 3:20 and Col 1:27).
• Your sins were forgiven (Col 1:14).
• You became a child of God (John 1:12).
• You received eternal life (John 5:24).
• You began adventure for which you were created
(Jn 10:10; 2 Cor 5:17 , 1 Thess 5:18)
Follow-up Affirmation
• Follow-up Instructions for Nourishment/Growth
– Spiritual growth results from trusting Jesus Christ. (Gal 3:11)
• A life of faith will enable you to trust God increasingly with every detail
of your life, and to practice the following:
G Go to God in prayer daily (John 15:7).
R Read God's Word daily (Acts 17:11) - begin with the Gospel of John.
O Obey God moment by moment (John 14:21).(Including baptism / church fellowship)
W Witness for Christ by your life and words (Matthew 4:19; John 15:8).
T Trust God for every detail of your life (1 Peter 5:7).
H Holy Spirit - Allow Him to control and empower your daily life and witness
(Gal 5:16,17; Acts 1:8).
The ABC’s of Evangelism
Dr. Stan Toler
[ABC’s of Evangelism, 2002]
• Step 1:
– Pray for presence of God on your gospel
presentation (Acts 4:31)
• Step 2:
– Present the plan to friends and family members
– Receiving Christ is a simple as ABC:
A) Admit that you have sinned (Rom 3:23)
B) Believe that Jesus Christ died for you (Jn 1:12)
C) Confess that Jesus Christ is Lord of your life (Rom 10:9-10)
Using the ABC’s
“How to Go to Heaven” Pen
• Drawing the Net
– Remind friend: Salvation is a free gift.
• Would you believe me if I told you that I would give you
this pen?
• What do you need to do to get the pen?
• It’s yours to receive, just as it is with Christ’s forgiveness
– You reach out and receive it by faith
• Trust him to give salvation. (Rev. 3:20)
• Step 3:
– Lead friend in a sinner’s (seekers) prayer
• Step 4:
– Give the new convert assurance of their salvation
(1 John 5:11-12)
• Step 5:
– Follow up the new convert
• - Pray daily for the new convert
• - Call them on the phone
• - Encourage them to attend church with you regularly
• - Lead them in a introductory discipleship program
Evangelism Without Argument
The Interrogative Approach
Bill Fay
[Sharing Jesus Without Fear, 1999]
The Five Share Jesus Questions
Using the “hmmmm principle”
1.
Do you have any kind of spiritual belief ?
2.
To you, who is Jesus?
3.
Do you think there is a heaven or hell?
4.
If you died tonight, where would you go? If heaven, why?
5.
By the way, if what you were believing is not true, would you
want to know?
Vital Use of Scripture in Evangelism
• Key principles at work through use of Word
– Faith comes through hearing (Rom 10:17)
– It gives opportunity for God to talk rather than you to argue
(Lk 10:26)
• Ask: May I share some Scriptures with you?
– After each reference (read by seeker) ask:
“What does this say to you?”
The Share Jesus Scriptures
(Highlight in Bible and key to subsequent verse)
• Rom. 3:23 – All have sinned
– What does this say to you?
• Rom. 6:23 – Wages of sin is death
– What does this say to you?
– Continue with: All/any sin separates from God
Separation = death = hell…but life is in Christ
• John 3:3 – Must be born again
– Ask: Why did Jesus come to die? (for our sin)
The Share Jesus Scriptures
(Highlight in Bible and key to subsequent verse)
• John 14:6 – I’m the way
– What does this say to you? (very clear verse!)
• Rom. 10:9-11 – If you confess
– What does this say to you? (if get hung up on some sin…
have them re-read it!)
• 2 Cor. 5:15 – No longer live for themselves
– What does this say to you?
• Rev. 3:20 – Here I am standing at your door
– What does this say to you?
The Five Commitment Questions
1. Are you a sinner?
– Remind of Rom 3:23
2. Do you want forgiveness?
– Remind of Rom 6:23 – wages is death…must choose forgiveness
3. Do you believe Jesus died on the cross for you and rose again?
– Remind of Rom 10:9-11
4. Are you willing to surrender your life to Jesus Christ?
– May refer to Lk 14:27-28 (counting cost before build – taking up cross)
5. Are you ready to invite Jesus into your life and into your heart?
– Refer to John 1:12
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the
right to become children of God…
Sinner’s Prayer & Affirmation
10 More Questions
1.
How many sins has Christ paid for? (1 Jn 2:2)
2.
How many of your sins does Christ remember? (Heb 10:17 / 2 Cor 5:17)
3.
Where does Christ live? (Gal 2:20)
4.
Who has been praying for you?
5.
Let’s pray – allow time for new believer to talk to God – thank him!
6.
Do you know where your praying friend goes to church?
7.
Do you know your friend’s number…let’s call him now! (Matt 10:32-33)
8.
May I take you to church?
9.
Read the Gospel of John tonight – see what it says to you.
10.
I will call you tomorrow to see if the Word became different to you