PRESENTING THE GOSPEL, part 1

LESSON TWO

Presenting the Gospel

Introduction:  

Anyone who has been saved can tell someone else what they experienced—even if they don’t know the most polished way to present it. And almost anyone will do better than the newly-saved barber I heard about who wanted to share his faith and witness to the lost—who better than to his customers?

The next morning, his first customer came in and asked for a shave. As the barber lathered the shaving cream, he searched for the right words and tried to muster up the courage to speak. Finally, as he stood with his razor poised over the man’s throat, he asked, “Are you prepared to meet God?”

You may not always use a polished presentation, you may stumble and strutter through presenting your testimony. But we are still called to be ambassodors for the gospel message.

When we present the gospel, we are literally representing Jesus Christ to another human being.

2 Corinthians 5:20 KJV 1900

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God

I. Sharing the Gospel

God has given us a message that is a matter of life and death to share with the world. This message is worth every effort on our part. And it is essential that we both understand it thoroughly and communicate it clearly.

In this sermon, we’ll look at this mesage and one of the most basic presentations for sharing it with others.

A. Understanding the Gospel

1 Corinthians 15:1–4 KJV 1900

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Understanding the gospel means knowing what it is and what it is not.

It is not feeding the homeless, helping the elderly, praying for people, or even praying with people. These things are good things to do and they may even lead to being able to present the gospel, but they are NOT the gospel and they are not soul winning!

We have to remember that we have a singularly focused message-the gospel of Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 “3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”

The gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

This is the message we have been commissioned to share with others. It is our job to make our message crystal clear so that there will be no misunderstanding.

How do we do that?

1. Avoid the Extremes

Some add too much theology language that the lost person is literally “lost” in their understanding.

Some go the other way and just tell people to “pray this prayer”

But those of us who have shared the gospel with lost people and have seen many come to Christ know that no one understands all the theology behind salvation the day they are saved, nor do they need to. They simply need to understand that Jesus died and rose for their sins and turn in faith to Christ.

Repentance and faith are two sides of the same coin. Repentance means to turn around and go in the opposite direction.

A person repents when they realize they are a sinner deserving God’s righteous judgment and that their own works can’t save them.

This change of mind about their hope of salvation leads them to faith in Christ.

Faith is believing that Jesus Christ is the only means by which to be forgiven and to receive eternal life. This brings us again to a summary of the gospel—Jesus died for our sins and offers us salvation.

I don’t usually use the word repentance when I’m witnessing to someone, because most unsaved people don’t know what it means. I do, however, make sure I thoroughly explain the truth of turning from self effort and turning to Christ alone for salvation.

2. Have a Plan

I will often ask the person to whom I’m speaking a question to move from small talk to spiritual dialog.

Depending on the context of the situation, I may ask, “Has anyone shown you from the Bible how you can know without a doubt you are on your way to Heaven?” or “If you were to die today, do you know if you would go to Heaven or Hell, or do you know?”

If they are not sure, I ask if they will allow me a few moments to share what the Bible says.

Along the way, I try to remain sensitive to whether or not they are responding to each truth I’m sharing and to allow the Holy Spirit to direct me to other passages or even to continue the conversation at another time.

B. Giving a Clear Presentation

1. Understand that God Loves You

The first thing that you need to understand is that God loves you. He loves you so much that He gave Himself for you.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

But that’s not all. God not only loves you; He wants you to know that you can have a home in Heaven with Him. Some people think we can only hope we will be in Heaven. But God wants us to know.

1 John 5:13

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

So, if God loves us and wants us to know we have eternal life, why doesn’t everyone automatically go to Heaven?

That’s what we have to understand next.

2. Realize Your Condition

The Bible tells us that we are all lost in sin. Sin is any act contrary to God’s laws and commandments, and all of us sin.

Romans 5:12

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

But the Bible teaches that our sin separates us from God.

Romans 3:10

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Romans 3:23

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

3. Notice God’s Price For Sin

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

A wage is what you earn for what you do. For instance, a man earns a paycheck for the work he has done. Even so, we deserve eternal death in Hell for the sins we have committed.

Some people believe they can pay the price for sin by doing good works or being involved in religion. This may seem logical, but it’s not what the Bible says. In fact, the Bible specifically tells us that we can’t earn our way to Heaven through good works.

Ephesians 2:8-9

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

4. Believe Christ Died For You

Though we deserve eternal death for our sin, Jesus paid our payment when He died for us. We were lost and separated from God, but He loved us. Because He is love, He sent His own Son—Jesus Christ—to die on the cross for our sin. After His death, He rose from the dead three days later, proving He is God.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

This is a gift Christ paid for when He died for our sins. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus became the payment for our sin.

Now we do not have to pay for our sin ourselves. By His grace, salvation is provided.

Romans 5:8

But God commendeth [showed] his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

5. Confess Your Faith in Christ

This is when a person moves from a mere head knowledge, to a personal heart knowledge of Who Jesus is and what He has done for them.

To have a relationship with God and an eternal home in Heaven, we must stop trusting ourselves, our works, or our religion and place our full trust in the Lord Jesus Christ alone for forgiveness of our sin and for eternal life.

Romans 10:9-11

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

To “be saved” speaks of being saved from the penalty of our sins—eternal separation from God in Hell.

Although we are sinners separated from God, Jesus Christ—the perfect, sinless, Son of God—provided the way of salvation.

John 3:7

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

To be “born again” is to be born into God’s family—to have a spiritual birth date when we turn from trusting in ourselves or our religion and place our trust in Jesus and His sacrifice for our sins. It is when we in faith call on the Lord to save us.

God Himself promises that if you realize your sinful condition and confess Christ as your Saviour, trusting the payment He made for your sin and turning to Him alone to be your Saviour, He will save you.

Romans 10:13

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

C. Leading to a Decision

When leading someone to a decision it is a good idea to go back over the truths that have been presented in a question and answer conversation.

• Do you believe that you are a sinner, separated from God, and without the ability to save yourself?

• Do you believe that Jesus, God’s Son, shed His blood to pay for your sin?

Do you believe that Jesus, God’s Son, rose from the dead proving that He is God?

• Would there be anything that would keep you from turning to and trusting in Jesus Christ as your Saviour today?

Are you willing put your trust in Jesus to save you right now?

Be quiet and let them give an answer...this is the most important decision that a person can ever make, and not everyone is quick to make it.

Give them time to go through all that is required in order to put their faith in Jesus.

• As we saw a moment ago, God promises:

Romans 10:9-10, 13

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

• Even as you “confess with your mouth” that you are putting your trust in Christ, it is important that you also “believe in your heart.” It is the faith of your heart that saves you.

Prayer

Dear Lord, I know that I am separated from you because of sin. I confess that in my sin I cannot save myself. Right now, I turn to you alone to be my Saviour. I ask you to save me from the penalty of my sin, and I trust you to provide eternal life for me. Amen.

D. Preparing to Share the Gospel

Take time an reread this portion several times. Begin to memorize the verses.

Practice it out loud, just like you were having a conversation with someone.

Practice with someone.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Romans 3:10

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Romans 3:23

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Ephesians 2:8-9

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Romans 5:8

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 10:9-11

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Romans 10:13

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

II. Dealing with Common Questions

It is probably every soul winner’s fear that someone is going to ask you a question that you cannot answer.

IT WILL HAPPEN!! And it doesn’t matter how long you have been doing this, you will be stumped on occassion.

If it happens it usually will drive you to find an answer and it will make you a better soul winner.

For me if the question is one that must be answered in order for the person to come to Christ then I need to understand some common questions.

For the most part people ask questions that can be put aside while we deal with the gospel.

A. Common Objections

1. “I have always been a Christian.”

Psalm 51:5

Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

John 1:12

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

John 3:3

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

2. “I have asked God to forgive me many times.”

Another variant of this is, “I pray every day.” The soulwinner should explain that praying to receive Christ as Saviour is different than just repeated prayer. It is a prayer of faith, believing in Christ’s ability and willingness to save, and is a one-time decision.

John 1:12

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Romans 10:13

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Revelation 3:20

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

3. “This is too simple. I need to do something to earn it.”

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Ephesians 2:8-9

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Titus 3:5

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

4.“I’m good enough. I’m not a very bad sinner.”

Isaiah 53:6

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 64:6

But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Romans 3:12

They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

5. “Doesn’t death end everything? How do we know there is a real Heaven and Hell?”

Hebrews 9:27

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Matthew 6:9

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Luke 16:22-24

And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

6. “I don’t want to give up my lifestyle or my friends.”

Mark 8:36-37

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

John 15:13

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Philippians 2:13

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

7. “I think as long as I’m sincere in what I believe, that’s all that matters.”

Proverbs 14:12

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

John 3:36

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

John 14:6

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Acts 4:12

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

1 John 5:12

He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

B. The Deity of Christ

This objection shows up when we get to Romans 10:9 “9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

One of the most important truths for a soulwinner—for every Christian—is to have a firm grasp on the deity of Christ.

False teachers and cults all attack the truth that Jesus is, in fact, God.

Why is this so important?

Because if Jesus is not God, that would mean He did not live a sinless life, and He could not pay for our sins. Also, if Jesus is not God, His sacrifice could not cover the sins of the entire world. But Scripture specifically states both are true.

1 John 3:5

And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

1 John 2:2

And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

1 John 4:3

And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

1 Timothy 3:16

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

1. His deity is shown through His names.

Isaiah 9:6

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

John 20:28

And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

2. His deity is shown through His works.

He Created the world.

John 1:3

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

He upholds the world.

Hebrews 1:3

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:

He forgives sin.

Mark 2:7-11

Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

John 17:2

As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

3. His deity is shown through worship.

Matthew 2:2

Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

Matthew 14:33

Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

John 9:38

And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

Hebrews 1:6

And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

4. His deity is shown through His attributes.

Matthew 28:18

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

John 16:30

Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.

Matthew 16:21

From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

Matthew 28:20

…and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

John 1:1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

5. His deity is shown through His resurrection.

The most spectacular evidence of Jesus’ deity was His bodily resurrection from the dead. Indeed, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is, as one man put it, “the crowning proof of Christianity.”2

Romans 1:4 KJV 1900

4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

Luke 24:1-7

Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

If you read through the New Testament specifically looking for each time the gospel is presented to a lost person, one of the things you’ll notice is that no two presentations are exactly the same. When Peter preached at Pentecost in Acts 2, he used a different approach than Philip did when he talked to the Ethiopian man traveling through the desert in Acts 8. When Jesus talked to Nicodemus in John 3, He used a different approach than when He talked with the woman at the well in John 4.

III.  Making a Soulwinning Visit

John 4:7-10

There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

A. Example Conversations

Once again, I’d like to reiterate that God has given us a message, not a script. In other words, our job is to effectively communicate the gospel, not to repeat specific words.

1. For a doorknocking or canvassing visit:

Introduce yourself.

State your name and if you have someone with you, state their name as well. Hi, I’m Jeff, and this is my wife Tina.

(If the person you’re meeting mentions their name, do your best to remember it. If you’re able to use their name throughout the rest of your conversation, it shows that you are listening and that you care.)

Clearly give the name of your church.

This helps alleviate fear in my listener that I’m a Jehovah’s Witness, from another cult, representing a political candidate, or am a salesman. We’re from Fellowship Baptist Church.

Explain the purpose of your visit.

Invite the person to attend services at your church and offer them a tract, outreach card, or flyer. We’re here in your neighborhood today to invite you to visit our church.

Invite them to your church.

This is a good time to ask them specifically, Would you be my guest at church this Sunday? If they say they have another church, don’t criticize that church or ask them again to come to yours on a Sunday morning. There is something more important that you want to share with them—the gospel—so this is no place for a “church argument.”

Determine if this is the right time to continue the visit.

If you caught the person at an inconvenient time, it’s probably best to not make it a long conversation. If you do, you’ll leave them feeling frustrated with you and your church. Also, if they are obviously uninterested, as in they never opened the screen door or they are shutting the door as you talk, it’s also best to leave them with a simple invitation to your church. 

Look for an opportunity to turn the conversation.

You may need a moment of small talk first. Usually, as I’m walking up to a house, I look for something I can compliment or comment on (a manicured yard, support for a sports team, etc.) if the opportunity presents itself.

Ultimately, however, I’m looking for an opportunity to say something to turn the conversation so I can share the gospel. Depending on what they have already said to me, I may say something like this:

“Joe, going to church is so important, and I’m glad you do. Ultimately, though, the most important matter for all of us is where we will spend eternity. Could I ask you, do you know for sure that you will be in Heaven?”

Often, the person will say that they don’t know for sure, but they hope they will go to Heaven. That gives me the opportunity to respond, Would you like to know?

Exchange contact information.

If a conversation has gone this far—whether or not you share the gospel—this is probably someone you want to ask to take down their contact information to be able to visit again. You may offer your cell number as a sign of good faith as well.

2. For a specific visit:

You introduce yourself, quickly give the name of your church, and early on explain the purpose for your visit. One difference, however, is that in this type of visit, you usually have more opportunity for casual conversation. This is helpful, because the more someone feels that you are their friend, the more likely they are to open up to you in spiritual conversation. Casual conversation helps to establish something of a friendship before you lead into sharing the gospel.

House

Employment

Loved ones

Possessions

B. Practical Tips

1. Carry a New Testament with you.

2. Go with a partner.

Luke 10:1

After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

3. Always be polite, courteous, and thoughtful of others.

4. Never criticize another person’s beliefs.

John 4:23

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

Proverbs 15:1

A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

5. Never talk alone with a person of the opposite sex in the house.

Romans 14:16

Let not then your good be evil spoken of:

6. Never talk to a young child without a parent present.

7. Always seek to be led by the Holy Spirit, to be a good ambassador for Christ, and to be a good representative of your church.

Philippians 1:27

Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ…

Conclusion:

Will you commit to being willing to share the gospel?