Sharing the Gospel Through Your Story Stonecroft Evangelism Tools
Sharing the Gospel Through Your Story Stonecroft Evangelism Tools Stonecroft 10561 Barkley, Suite 500 Overland Park, KS 66212 800.525.8627 Copyright 2014 by Stonecroft Ministries, Inc. Notice of Rights All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author. For information on permissions for reprints and excerpts, contact connections@stonecroft.org. THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Rev. 11 2014 Sharing the Gospel Through Your Story Stonecroft Evangelism Tools 2
Table of Contents Sharing the Gospel Through Your Story 4 Introduction Sharing the Gospel Through Your Story 5 Let s Start by Reviewing the Gospel 6 Journaling Your Faith Story 8 Common Questions 10 Stonecroft Evangelism Tools Sharing the Gospel Through Your Story Stonecroft Evangelism Tools 3
Introduction Sharing the Gospel Through Your Story The following easy-to-use guide will help you create and share the Gospel with a friend. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:5-6 You will have many opportunities to discuss faith with your friends. Below are a few areas to consider before you start your conversation. Pray When God puts someone on your heart, pray for her. Listen Listen to what your friend says. Be an active listener and be present with her. Be ready to respond to God s leading. Connect Appreciate your friend and her beliefs. Paul did this in Acts 17 when he noticed that the people in Athens were very religious in every way. He found common ground with his audience. Let go Remember that only God can draw someone to a life with Him. It s not up to you! We work in His timing. Remain faithful and remember, it s God who will change your friend s heart. Keep it real Be genuine and authentic. Be yourself. You have been entrusted with the message of the Gospel if you are a Christ-follower. God calls us to share this message with people in a natural way. if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. (1 Peter 3:15, NLT) Read more to learn how to share your faith with your friends in a practical way. Sharing the Gospel Through Your Story Stonecroft Evangelism Tools 4
Let s start by reviewing the Gospel Gospel Points Your story is a witness to Jesus Christ and can be an avenue to help others begin a relationship with Him. Remember to keep Christ central. Don t let the details of your story dominate, but let Him be the focus! If you are asked what is involved in a life centered on Jesus Christ, be ready to share what the Bible says: Sin separates us from God. Our sin only leads to one place: eternal separation from God. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 But your iniquities have separated you from your God Isaiah 59:2a God sent His one and only Son Jesus Christ to take the penalty of your sin when He died on the cross. Jesus, who is God, made a way for you to be in right relationship with Him. Don t let the details of your story dominate, but let Him be the focus! God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:21, NLT Place your trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord and believe that His life, death, and resurrection accomplished what was needed for you to have a relationship with Him. Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17, NLT Sharing the Gospel Through Your Story Stonecroft Evangelism Tools 5
Journaling Your Faith Story One of the most powerful ways to share your faith is to share the impact Jesus has had on your life. Avoid following a formula just be real. It helps to get your thoughts down on paper. Take a few minutes and write out your story. Here are some prompts to get you started. How you view Jesus and the impact He has had on your life: Who Jesus Christ is and how you came to believe in Him and make Him a priority in your life: A little about what your life was like without Jesus: Now, revise your notes and tell your story in Christ. When you are engaged in a faith dialogue, remember: 1. Listen to your friend and make a connection with her. Perhaps you have experienced a similar fear or struggle hopelessness, failure, loneliness, disappointment, or unmet expectations. Use this connection point to share how God led you through those difficult times or emotions. Sharing the Gospel Through Your Story Stonecroft Evangelism Tools 6
2. Share Jesus. Who is Jesus Christ? What does the Bible say about Him? What have you learned about Him? 3. Share about how God is transforming you and continues to transform you. What is different about your life today because Jesus is your Lord? Perhaps God has brought you peace, modified your motives, or changed how you view other people. Changes can be current, too. How has Jesus helped you become more like Him? Think like Him? Act like Him? Highlight how God called you and how you responded to His voice. He is the hero of the story! Here are some tips to give a clear presentation: 1. Keep it simple. 2. Avoid Christianese specific words and phrases that Christians regularly use and understand. 3. Use Scripture where appropriate. 4. Focus on the Gospel. Be ready to share in one sentence: He lived the perfect life for me, died for my failures, and rose from the dead. Depending on the conversation, you may ask your friend if she has any questions, concerns, doubts, etc. Listen to her. She may not be ready to take the next step of faith, but she may want to continue learning more from you. If your friend indicates that she wants to know how to begin a relationship with Christ, share with your friend that she can talk to God. She can tell Him what she believes. It may sound something like this: Dear Jesus, I acknowledge that you are God, the Creator of the Universe. Thank you for living and dying for me. I understand that I m a sinner. Forgive me. I turn away from my sin and ask you to help me live a life that pleases you. I believe that you took the punishment I deserved and that you rose from the dead. I place my trust in you. Thank you for this gift of eternal life in relationship with you. Next Steps When your friend indicates she has started a relationship with Jesus, invite her to continue the conversation. Meet for coffee and discuss the next steps to help her grow in her knowledge of God. Invite her to a Stonecroft Bible Study or perhaps a gathering at your church. Be available to listen to her questions, research the answers together, and discuss spiritual things. Sharing the Gospel Through Your Story Stonecroft Evangelism Tools 7
Common Questions What if I don t know the answers to her questions? Sharing your faith with someone doesn t imply that you know all the answers. The great thing is that there are helpful resources to assist with friends questions. You can say, I don t know the answer to that, but I m sure there is an answer. I ll find out and get back to you. Then talk to a more mature Christian or a leader in your church for wisdom on how to respond. What if my friend doesn t understand the Bible verses I share? It may be helpful to paraphrase the verse by putting it in your own words. You may also consider using another translation to help you communicate the concepts in an easier way. Stonecroft suggests the New Living Translation a true translation written for clarity today. What if I forget something that is important? The Gospel is very simple, so simple a child can understand it and share it. Don t worry about forgetting something important. Share your story and let God bring to mind what He wants you to say. What if my friend isn t interested in starting a relationship with God? She may need to hear the Gospel several times before it finally sinks in or she may choose never to become a believer in Jesus. You have the privilege to start a compassionate conversation and to let God work in her heart and mind. God is the one who draws people to Himself. Our responsibility is to be obedient in sharing the Gospel. I have failed so many times. How can God use me? We ve all failed and suffered in our lives. We live in a harsh world and so does the person we talk with. God can use you. Be real, be honest, be authentic! Sharing your faith does not mean you have it all together. It means God s grace reached down and brought you into a relationship with Himself. The Gospel isn t about you; it s about God. You are merely a witness of God s power to heal and restore. God can use you with your broken imperfection. Sharing the Gospel Through Your Story Stonecroft Evangelism Tools 8
How do I develop friendships with people who need Jesus? Start by asking God to give you a heart and compassion for those who don t yet know Jesus. When you do this, God may give you an urgency to share your faith. He gives you opportunities to develop friendships with those who have yet to be in relationship with Him. Interact with people at work, at the gym, or at the grocery store. Join a group that shares an interest in your favorite hobby. Talk to the other women at the park. Be intentional about making friends! Sharing the Gospel Through Your Story Stonecroft Evangelism Tools 9
Stonecroft Evangelism Tools Stonecroft equips you to share your faith by offering you these and other resources: Sharing the Gospel Through Your Story Starting a Faith Conversation Answering Difficult Questions Community Discovery Through Prayer Facilitating a Stonecroft Small Group Contact us at connections@stonecroft.org or call 800.525.8627 to learn more. Sharing the Gospel Through Your Story Stonecroft Evangelism Tools 10