We’ve spent the last two times together looking at how Christ prepared His apostles to evangelize, why they should, and how to lay the foundations to do so within ourselves, by embracing Jesus and His salvation. Then we can follow His imperative[1] to teach others how to do the same (See Jesus is One Serious Son and The New Boss is the Same as the Old Boss.)
I’m going to walk you through a way to do it – both in how to approach a potential convert, how to effectively introduce Jesus, and how to handle the hearer’s objections, should they have any. Then, you can personalize it to suit your own personality for having the greatest efficacy. Let’s go save some lives!
Many of us feel awkward, ill-equipped, or afraid that we might fail in our attempt to bring someone to the kingdom of Heaven. However, God only asks for our best efforts. He takes it from there through the Holy Spirit.
One thing is for sure though. To be persuasive, we must be living out our Christian principles – leading and persuading by example:
“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence, and [recognize and honor and] glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Mt. 5:16 AMP
We must also put our prejudices aside and approach our hearer with compassion for the suffering most endure in a godless human condition.
And we can ask Jesus to point the way for us towards the field He wants us to plow and sow the seeds of salvation.
The most trepidation begins when we approach someone outside of church, yes? The best way to get over that is to first create a bond, by establishing a common thread. Talk about the weather, conditions in your city, or offer compassion for any stressor the listener might divulge – all the while, offering solutions and / or performing acts of kindness.
Once you establish a rhythm, or even the inklings of the beginning of a friendship, you might ask them right out if they are a child of God. A door will open. Tell them that you are a Christian, or a follower of Jesus. Explain how that’s been beneficial to you.
If they are neutral, ask them how they think we got here on planet Earth, and what happens when we die. Ask to sit with them. Let them fully divulge their opinion before you offer yours. That way they will be more willing to listen. Then, explain the blessed life v. the cursed life.
Let the Scriptures demonstrate the urgency of the calling:
“I assure you and most solemnly say to you, the person who hears My word [the one who heeds My message], and believes and trusts in Him who sent Me, has (possesses now) eternal life [that is, eternal life actually begins—the believer is transformed], and does not come into judgment and condemnation, but has passed [over] from death into life.” Jn. 5:24 AMP
If the person is non-committal, saying that it’s not for them, we will need to demonstrate the reason why:
Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who always does good and who never sins. Eccl. 7:20 AMP
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God [that is, His remarkable, overwhelming gift of grace to believers] is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rm. 6:23 AMP
We can be effective for Christ in many ways. If disaster strikes, how can you best serve the victim(s)? Pray for people. Encourage people. Emulate Jesus. Celebrate their victories.
If a communication breakdown occurs, don’t take it personally. Look to see if you can bring better clarification to your words for better understanding. Everyone you speak with, has a different life experience in their head. Rather than react, ask them, “I know you have a reason for saying that. May I ask what that is?”
It opens the door for you to be able to hear their past experiences and how that has molded their world view. And it gives you a chance to build empathy and compassion.
Okay! Let’s start a ‘conversation for conversion’:
Let’s start with an easier one – one where your potential convert actually wants to hear what you have to say. Inwardly, you’re probably yelling ‘Hallelujah!’ But you cannot skip over the harder spiritual necessities that they need to hear, to be able to see why salvation is necessary.
What is it that they need saving from? Simple! It’s death, caused by sin; and we all do it!
Keep your Gospel-telling conversational. Ask questions that give them openings to answer you with their pre-conceived notions. Lead them in such a way that they feel that they came to the Gospel understanding on their own. They lock in the information much better.
Let them know that this encounter is not happenstance, that God drew their attention:
He has also planted eternity [a sense of divine purpose] in the human heart [a mysterious longing which nothing under the sun can satisfy, except God] … Ec. 3:11 AMP
God loves us and wants us to spend eternity with Him. And He has a plan for salvation through Jesus Christ, to make that happen. But let’s back up for a minute. Why do we need this plan to begin with?
The problem began in the Garden of Eden.
…man was originally constituted by God in such a condition that his body was completely subject to his soul. St. Thomas Aquinas
Adam’s soul was a pure image of God, and his body was incorruptible. However, this incorruptibility was (and is for us as well, contingent upon Adam obeying his Creator. When Adam chose to disobey Him by eating the forbidden fruit, (as did his bride, Eve), they were exposed to evil which corrupted their bodies and souls.
They did so at the behest of Satan, the fallen angel, who hates God, and wants to cause Him pain by destroying His most precious creation – humankind. The devil was jealous of the ultimate love, peace, and happiness that Adam and Eve possessed with God, and he strove to be the agent of their downfall.
Adam and Eve committed the ‘Original Sin.’ This sin separated them from God, making them more vulnerable to the devil’s suggestions. And all these separations and corruptions were handed down to every generation, even ours. Part of that corruption is death.
Yet God loves us so much that He created a way (the only way) to redeem us from our sins, by offering a plan for salvation – sending a substitute sacrifice in the holy personage of Jesus Christ, His Son, on the cross.
It is the blood of Christ that saves us, and the power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus calls to lead our hearts upon the right path when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We are connected to God the Father as well, so that we have the Dream Team Triumvirate living within us, caring for us, and pointing us in the right direction.
Jesus stepped up to endure the sufferings that we rightly should have had to endure, even death, though He was faultless. He chose to die so that we might live without the fear of death.
Christ was resurrected immortal, atoning for the sins of those who accept Him as their Savior – freeing them from the first death (body-soul separation) and from the second death (only for those who reject Him).
It is a gift from God; not something that you can earn. This gift wipes out all your sins – past, present, and future. All He asks, through Jesus, is that you acknowledge that you are a sinner and ‘repent’ (exhibit true remorse for your past sins with a genuine intent not to repeat them to the best of your ability), and accept Jesus as your Savior, who He is and what He’s done, and make Him the Lord of your life.
Hopefully, you’ve seen the vital importance of the salvation of your soul and how to get saved. Will you accept Jesus now? Let’s kneel together and I will lead you through the sinner’s prayer and your salvation will be secure:
Dear God in heaven, I am a sinner, unable to save myself. I am truly sorry, and I will do my best not to repeat my sins. But I know that I cannot do it myself. I believe Jesus is Your Son and that He died on the cross for me and was resurrected to pay for all my sins.
Please make your Son the Lord of my life, that I may receive your forgiveness, and by the Holy Spirit, I ask for Jesus to take residence within me. Thank you for opening heaven so that I may live in eternity with You. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
Okay my readers, you may have your own version of the sinner’s prayer. No problem. All I ask is that you don’t let this newbie back out into the world to fend for themselves. Offer to meet with them again, or connect them with a church
Be happy! The angels are rejoicing!
Goodnight and God bless,
[1] Mt. 28:19, 20.