The following is not a comprehensive conversation guide for sharing the gospel with others, but it can help give you some mental anchors as you seek to share the good new of Jesus Christ.*
GOD –
Think for a moment. What are some common misconceptions people may have about God in our culture and day?
You don’t have to know or answer EVERY THING about God when sharing the gospel, but there are two things that we must be clear on.
God is Creator.
Genesis 1.1; Psalm 19.1; Rom. 1; Psalm 139.14
Gospel Implications:
- Because God is creator, It means everything created has a purpose.
- Because God is my creator, it brings meaning to my life.
- Because God is my creator, it brings responsibility to my life.
- Because God is my creator, it means He has the right to tell me how to live.
- Sin is a rejection of God’s creator-rights over me.
God is holy and righteous.
Exodus 34.6-7
2 Intentional Mistakes of Man
- Redefining God
- Redefining Wickedness
The Grace/Judgment Paradox: Grace for me, Judgment for everyone else.
No one wants a God to give evil a pass, just their evil.
1 Peter 1. 15-16.
The Big Question:
Who made us and to whom are we accountable? God is the righteous Creator and we are accountable to Him. (Rom. 1; Ex. 34:6-7)
MAN –
Is there such a thing a breaking a “little” law?
Sin is not a spiritual traffic citation.
Gen. 3.
Even though Adam and Eve knew the consequences of sin, they didn’t care.
Sin is disobedience of God’s commands in word, thought or deed.
Rom 3.10; Rom. 3.23
Gospel Implications:
- I am not a victim of sin, but an active participant.
- Sin isn’t just a broken relationship, It is rebellion
- Sin vs. sins. Sin is in us, not just on us. It is both being and action. Jesus didn’t come to save us from our mistakes, He came to save us from us.
- Sin results in separation.
- The punishment of sin is eternal hell.
The Big Question:
What is our problem? Are we in trouble and why? Man is sinful. Our complete personhood is contaminated by sin. Each of us has rejected God’s authority over us and live in rebellion to Him. (Gen. 3; Rom. 1:18-ff; Rom. 3:9-10; 23)
CHRIST – What is God’s solution to that problem? How has he acted to save us? God has sent Christ to be our substitutionary atonement so that we might be reconciled to God. (Rom. 3:21-ff.)
RESPONSE – How do I come to be included in that salvation? Why is this good news for me, not just someone else? People are saved by God’s grace by repenting of sin and believing that Christ is their sole source of atonement. (Eph. 2)
*This outline and much of the content is taken from Gilbert, Greg. What Is The Gospel? Wheaton: Crossway, 2010. I highly recommend that every believer be familiar with the major content of this book.