How to Share Your Faith
from Christ the King Lutheran Church LCMC - West Hoover
A definition of faith-sharing success is NOT leading someone to Jesus Christ. Instead, it is sharing Christ, inviting to faith in Christ, and living out your Christian life whether people accept Christ or not.
What is the central message of the gospel?
The message we as Christians proclaim is “Christ has Risen!”
In Christ's resurrection, he defeated humanity’s greatest enemy - Death itself.
Death is coming for us all. We exist in a state of Sin and Death.
The GOSPEL is: Christ defeated our Death and made us alive in Him!
Through Jesus’ Death on the cross he takes our sin - our sin was crucified with Christ. Through his resurrection, he defeats Death - he takes victory over Death. At Jesus’ resurrection Death itself was defeated and the devil’s grip on this world was broken.
Why is the news good?
Jesus defeated sin, death, and the devil for YOU.
The 4 P’s Method
- Pray - for divine appointments - send people and show me who I should share the gospel with
- Post - make a note - create a follow-up method
- Pray - again for the names you post. Pray for softened hearts and opportunity to share the Good News
- Plant - the seed when God opens the door. Become spiritually alert.
Two questions that show Christ’s love…
- Can I pray with you? (right now? this shows immediate love for them…)
- How’s your soul? (when people have things going on in their life - remind them of their salvation and offer encouragement)
Questions to initiate the conversation (***Listen, do not argue: love is listening***)
- Do you have any kind of spiritual belief?
- What is your understanding of Jesus Christ?
- Do you think there’s heaven or hell?
Verses you can use to share your faith
(Ask what each verse means to the other person. The person teaches themselves.)
Why do I need salvation?
- Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
- Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is Death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
How did God meet my need - Why is the news good?
- John 3:16-17 - For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son that whosoever should believe in Him should not perish but have eternal life; for God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.
How do I receive salvation?
- John 3:3 - Jesus answered him (Nicodemus), “Truly , truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
- Acts 2:38 - Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Born of our mothers in sin and death, born again through the Spirit)
- Romans 10:9-11 - 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. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame.”
Story / Narrative Evangelism: >>> Share parables
eg. The Prodigal Son (Luke 15) - I like this one if they have walked away from the Church
- “Where are you in the story?”
- “Are you still partying; are you at rock bottom with the pigs; are you ready to come back to your Father?”
What’s next?
- Jesus Prayer - “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
- You’re not finished! Hand them off to your church leadership for catechism and Baptism (if they haven’t already been baptized)
- A word on Baptism - it’s that marked moment in time where I can always remember and know that God saved me. God did not save me because I was very sincere when I prayed the Jesus prayer (for our sincerity can wax or wane). Rather, it was God’s grace that saved me.
