Share Jesus Without Fear Method

Before this session, make up some “Unbeliever Profiles” to pass out for people to use during the training session for both students and adults.

Possible Adult Profiles: The New Age Spiritualist, the Cultural Christian Cowboy, the Self-Righteous Altar Boy, the Rich Playboy, The Intellectual Atheist

Possible Student Profiles: The New Age Spiritualist, the Cultural Christian Cowboy, the Self-Righteous Altar Boy, the Rich Playboy, The Intellectual Atheist

Include a sample picture, name, demographic info

Overview of his/her spiritual beliefs

Sample objections to Christianity

Secret fears

Session overview:

Overview of the SJWOF method (10 mins)

Instructions for Practice Session (5 mins)

Practice (15-20 mins)

Critique of strengths and weaknesses (5 mins)

When/How might you use this? (5 mins)

Overview of the “Share Jesus Without Fear” Method

10 mins

William Fay and Linda Evans Shepherd, Share Jesus without Fear (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999).

The Five “Share Jesus Questions”

These questions act as a funnel. You can start anywhere on the list, as you feel led, or skip straight to the “Share Jesus Scriptures.”

Do you have any kind of spiritual belief?

To you, who is Jesus?

Do you think there is a heaven or a hell?

If you died today, where would you go? Why?

By the way, if what you were believing is not true, would you want to know?

Ask: “May I share some Scriptures with you?”

If the answer is yes, open your Bible to the next phase.

If the answer is no, do nothing. But remember you have not failed. You have been obedient to share the gospel, and the results belong to God.

The “Share Jesus Scriptures”

Ask your friend to read the verse aloud.

Next, ask him, “What does this say to you?” If your friend gives an incorrect answer, say, “Read it again.”

Continue this process, until your friend understands the Scripture.

1. Romans 3:23—“All have sinned”

Romans 3:23 ESV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Ask: “What does this say to you?”

2. Romans 6:23—“Wages of sin is death”

Romans 6:23 ESV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ask: “What does this say to you?”

3. John 3:3—“Must be born again”

John 3:3 ESV

3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Ask: “What does this say to you?”

4. John 14:6—“I’m the way”

John 14:6 ESV

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Ask: “What does this say to you?”

5. Romans 10:9–11—“If you confess”

Romans 10:9–11 ESV

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. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”

Ask: “What does this say to you?”

6. 2 Corinthians 5:15—“No longer live for themselves”

2 Corinthians 5:15 ESV

15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

Ask: “What does this say to you?”

Replace #7 with a verse that actually works for inviting an unbeliever.

7. Romans 10:13— “Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Romans 10:13 ESV

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Ask: “What does this say to you?”

The Five Commitment Questions

1. Are you a sinner?

2. Do you want forgiveness of sins?

3. Do you believe Jesus Christ died on the cross for you and rose again?

4. Are you willing to surrender your life to Jesus Christ?

5. Are you ready to invite Jesus Christ into your life and into your heart?

6. Be silent and pray!

Sinner’s Prayer

Heavenly Father, I have sinned against you. I want forgiveness for all my sins. I believe that Jesus died on the cross for me and rose again. Father, I give you my life to do with as you wish. I want Jesus Christ to come into my life and into my heart. This I ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

The “Why” Principle

If someone says “no” to one of the five commitment questions, ask them “Why?” to draw them out.

You: Are you ready to invite Jesus Christ into your life?

Friend: No.

You: Why?

Friend: I’m not ready.

You: Why?

Do your best to answer their objections, but avoid getting bogged down in distracting debates. Get to the heart of the issue and point them back to Jesus.

Questions and Directions for a New Believer

1. How many sins has Christ paid for?

1 John 1:9 ESV

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

2. How many of your sins does Christ remember?

Hebrews 10:17 ESV

then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

3. Where does Christ live?

Galatians 2:20 ESV

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

4. Let’s pray

I love to teach a new believer how to talk with God. I tell him, “Just say, ‘Heavenly Father,’ then tell him what’s on your heart. When you’re done say, ‘I ask all this in Jesus’ name.’ ” I have heard prayers last ten seconds to ten minutes. The length doesn’t matter. What matters is that the process of prayer has begun.

5. Who has been praying for you?

6. Do you know where your friend goes to church?

7. Do you know your friend’s phone number? Let’s call him now!

Romans 10:9 ESV

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.

8. May I take you to church?

9. Read the Gospel of John

10. Follow up

Instructions for Practice Session

(5 mins)

Pass out role playing profiles and explain them

Each person should keep the “Secret Fears and Doubts” section to themselves until they get to the commitment questions.

Practice

(10-15 mins)

Debrief

(10-15 mins)

What went well?

What questions/objections did you struggle to handle?

Spend a few minutes helping people think through tough objections and get to the heart issues behind them.

Context and Critique

(5 mins)

What are some strengths of this method?

Questions are great conversation starters. Could easily combine the questions from this method with a different method of presenting the gospel.

Questions work great to assess a person’s spiritual condition

Having the person read Scripture can be a really impactful strategy for people who haven’t really ever read or wrestled with Scripture.

The commitment questions can help those who are nervous in sharing their faith.

What are some weaknesses of this method?

For those who struggle reading or are self-conscious about reading, asking them to read Scripture aloud can backfire.

The gospel presentation method (Romans Road) works best for those with a moderately good background in Christianity, but falls short for those without as much context.

The fifth commitment question somewhat minimizes Jesus’ lordship.

Needs to be emphasized that there is no one specific prayer that gets us saved.

When might you use the questions in this method?

With anyone, really.

Especially helpful as conversation starters for people with whom you’ve never had a spiritual conversation before.

When might you use the gospel presentation portion of this method?

With people that grew up in church and have decent biblical literacy (understand and believe: monotheism, God as Creator, some understanding of sin and the need for salvation)

With people you’ve already had some conversations with and laid a foundation

When you have a very short amount of time to share

When might you need to use a different gospel presentation than the one in this method?

With people that didn’t grow up in church

People from other religions

People who grew up in churches that didn’t really teach the gospel or weren’t biblical

With anyone whose biblical background you’re uncertain of