As pastors, we know we should be evangelistic.
Second Timothy 4:5 states, “But you be watchful in all things, endure affliction, do the work of an evangelist (emphasis added), fulfill your ministry.”
Many pastors feel guilty for their lack of evangelism. This article is not about heaping more guilt as I write as a fellow struggler. I want to share with you a tool that has helped me in my evangelism, but first, I want to clarify the meaning of the gospel and how to share the gospel.
According to 1 Corinthians 15:1–8, the gospel can be expressed in these ten words: Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead.
Even though the gospel can be defined in that simple statement, there are many rich theological truths found in that ten-word sentence, such as substitutionary atonement, literal physical resurrection, and the sinfulness of man.
The Bible identifies three ways a believer can share the gospel – experientially, propositionally, and narratively.
First, the gospel can be shared experientially. Paul shared how he personally trusted in Jesus Christ as his Savior (Acts 22 & 26). Peter commands believers to be ready to share their personal relationship with God with other people (1 Peter 3:15).
Second, the gospel can be shared propositionally. Peter proclaimed key theological truths to a large group of unbelieving Jews so that they would believe Jesus was the promised Messiah (Acts 2:14–41). As Paul preached the gospel to the Roman believers, he encouraged them to do the same so more could be saved (Romans 10:5–18).
Third, the gospel can be shared narratively. When Stephen addressed the Sanhedrin Council, he explained God’s redemptive story using key Biblical events (Acts 7:2–53). This way is more descriptive than prescriptive, as Jesus used this method (Luke 24:13–27) and Paul in Athens (Acts 17:16–31).
Believers need to be skilled and prepared to share the gospel in experientially, propositionally, and narratively.
A tool that I have found helpful in sharing the gospel narratively is The Story of Hope: Discovering the Provision in God’s Plan by Good Soil Evangelism and Discipleship.
The Story of Hope is a chronological, discovery-based Bible study that helps an unbeliever understand God’s redemptive plan. It contains twenty Old Testament events and twenty New Testament events. Each event has a summary statement, a detailed picture, a key Bible passage, and relevant questions that can be answered right from the Biblical text. At the bottom of the page, there are character qualities of God in the Old Testament and of Jesus in the New
Testament. After completing two events, one is encouraged to look for ways God or Jesus is portrayed in those particular events.
The Chronological Bridge to Life is a propositional gospel presentation highlighting eight essential truths. These propositional truths help to clarify, personalize, and persuade unbelievers to trust in Christ. The final page allows an individual to personalize John 3:16–18.
What are the benefits of this tool? In our Biblically illiterate culture, this tool introduces unbelievers to the God of the Bible and His Son Jesus Christ. Here are a few benefits:
· Unbelievers explore God’s Word.
· Unbelievers discover God’s character.
· Unbelievers evaluate their relationship with God.
After I was introduced to The Story of Hope, the Lord prompted me to do this for my personal devotions. While I worked through The Story of Hope, I asked the Lord for an opportunity to go through this study with an unbeliever. God answered my prayer! It was exciting to watch God work in them.
Would you consider doing The Story of Hope for your personal Bible study and pray that God would allow you to do the study with an unbeliever?
I believe as we are prepared to share the gospel experientially, propositionally, and narratively, God will give us opportunities.
Colossians 4:2-4 states, “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.”
