1. The Example in the book of Acts – “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:46-47 (Acts 1:8)
2. The focus – Reaching the lost was the primary focus of the early church, and an integral part of each believer’s life. People were saved, transformed and became active disciples. It is Biblical that we do the same.
SHARING THE GOSPEL MESSAGE
- “…he who wins souls is wise.” Proverbs 11:30
- “Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. John 4:35-38
Many of us need simple tools to help us share the Gospel with someone who is open and willing to make the life-changing step of following Christ. Below are two ways that help us in presenting the basic Gospel message: “The Four Spiritual Laws” by Campus Crusade For Christ, and a method using your hand to share the elements of the Gospel.
THE FOUR SPIRITUAL LAWS (Campus Crusade For Christ)
1. God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life. (John 3:16; 10:10)
2. Man is sinful and separated from God. He cannot know and experience God’s love and plan for his life (Romans 3:23; 6:23)
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; 1 Corinthians 15:3-6; John 14:6)
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; 3:1-8; Ephesians 2:8-9; Revelation 3:20)
USING THE “GOSPEL HAND”
1. Thumb (Hitch hiking) – Heaven is a free gift of Grace from God to all who believe and receive.
(Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9)
2. Index finger (Pointing, conviction) – Because man has broken the Law of God, we are sinners separated from God. We cannot save ourselves.
(Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:23)
3. Middle finger (Tallest) God is Right and must judge sin but He is also Just and Merciful and does not want to punish anyone.
(Exodus 34:6-7; 1 John 4:10)
4. Ring finger (Wedding) – Therefore God sent Jesus, as God and man, to die for our sins by giving His life upon the cross in our place. He rose again from the dead and purchased a place in Heaven for us. (Isaiah 53:4-6; 1 John 4:9-10)
5. Little finger (Small) – Salvation requires little faith, trusting in Jesus Christ alone. (John 3:15; 6:47; Acts 2:21; 16:30-31)
A PERSONAL PRAYER OF SALVATION
“…that 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. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation… For ‘whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.’” Romans 10:9-14
Use the following prayer when someone is ready to make the life changing decision to follow Christ. It is not the prayer that saves them but the sincerity of their decision. It helps if you lead them by praying it out loud. Then, after they have asked the Lord to come into their life, rejoice with them! (Luke 15:10)
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Heavenly Father, I am a sinner and I’ve broken God’s Law. I confess and turn from my sins and I ask Your forgiveness. Jesus, I believe you died on the cross and took my place in judgment. I believe that You rose from the grave and that You sit at God’s right hand in Heaven. Come into my heart, fill me with Your Holy Spirit’s power and change me into the person that You want me to be. I accept You as my Lord and my Savior. Thank You for giving me eternal life and give me a hunger for the Bible and for prayer. Amen
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IMPORTANT STEPS AFTER SALVATION – Acts 2:42-47
Jesus commanded us to make disciples, not just win converts. If the Holy Spirit uses us to lead someone to Christ we are then responsible to help them grow in this new relationship. If it is not possible to do that ourselves then we must place them in the tender care of Christian Life Center people who will shepherd.
1. Assurance of salvation.
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” 1 John 5:13
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…” John 1:12
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5
2. Lead them into the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8; 2:38-39; Romans 1:16). By faith we can receive the power of the Holy Spirit to live the life He wants us to live and to bring others to Christ.
3. Lead them into water baptism (Acts 2:38; 8:36).
This is a public statement that they have decided to follow Jesus as His disciple.
4. Teach them to talk to Him in prayer (Philippians 4:6-7; 1 John 5:14) and read God’s Word, the Bible (Psalm 119:105; 2 Timothy 2:15; 1 Peter 2:2).
A good beginning might be to read the Gospel of Luke and then the Book of Acts. This is the story of Jesus and the beginning of the church written by the same person, Luke.
5. Invite them to regularly attend church (2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 10:25).
If you brought them to Christ it is important that they go to the same church with you and become involved in the Lord’s work.
6. Teach them the importance of serving Christ and His Church (Ephesians 4:16).
7. Teach them to share their new faith with friends and family (Matthew 28:18-20).
This is a great time to do that since most, if not all, their friends are non-Christians.
I’M PRAYING FOR MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS!
Write the names of three people who you think are close to accepting Jesus Christ. Pray over this list as often as you can and watch the Lord do great things through you!
CHRISTIAN LIFE CENTER & INSTITUTE 