There are many ways to share the core of the Gospel message. My preference is to simply use the Scriptures themselves. This is because I believe it is best to keep the Word of God at the center of the conversation.
Remember, God brings about salvation directly through His Word: 1 Peter 1:23, “you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.”
Pick A Passage And Stay Put
Even then, I prefer to stick to one passage rather than flip around to multiple places in the Bible. This is easier on the person sharing the Gospel and the one learning about it for the first time. There is no need to worry that something important might get left out. Because you know the Gospel story so well, you can simply fill in the details in the course of the conversation.
All one has to do is have a few passages in mind that might meet a few different types of people or situations. By staying in one paragraph of the Bible, the conversation will flow more naturally and include dialogue, rather than consisting of a presentation and a response to it. It will be much easier to listen sincerely to one another; likewise it will be much easier to discern the work of the Holy Spirit on someone’s mind with the Word He Himself wrote.
Some Easier Passages
There are many passages that could be used, and theoretically every Bible passage could be used for evangelistic purposes. However, some are more readily understandable and accessible than others, and so selectivity is important.
For those who want to discuss the basic storyline and ideas, try the teaching passages in the Gospels and Epistles. One of the most user-friendly, straightforward passages is Ephesians 2:1-10. The statements of Jesus Christ Himself can produce amazing conversations, such as His “I Am the Good Shepherd” speech (John 10).
For those who like stories, or perhaps relate better to stories because of their cultural background, try the parables of Jesus. Some of the more easily used would be the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10) and the Parables of the Lost Sheep, Coin and Son (Luke 15). Also, the story of Zacchaeus (Luke 19) makes vivid the realities of salvation.
The Conversation Will Live On
Those with whom you have a had such a conversation will be able to return to the one passage easily and replay the conversation in their mind over and over. This is also a result of having a real and relational discussion about the Gospel. It is harder to remember a Gospel presentation that includes a bundle of Bible references, and harder yet to find all of them and decipher their meanings.
The key point to remember when doing one passage evangelism is not to leave any ambiguities regarding the main points. The main points are always going to be the unique divine-human person of Jesus Christ, his unique work upon the cross and in the resurrection, and that faith in Him alone, and not in one’s attempts at good works, will lead to new life and eternal salvation.
What other passages might you select? I would encourage you to make a list, give each of them a try, and share your stories of success with others.
Remember, God brings about salvation directly through His Word: 1 Peter 1:23, “you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.”
Pick A Passage And Stay Put
Even then, I prefer to stick to one passage rather than flip around to multiple places in the Bible. This is easier on the person sharing the Gospel and the one learning about it for the first time. There is no need to worry that something important might get left out. Because you know the Gospel story so well, you can simply fill in the details in the course of the conversation.
All one has to do is have a few passages in mind that might meet a few different types of people or situations. By staying in one paragraph of the Bible, the conversation will flow more naturally and include dialogue, rather than consisting of a presentation and a response to it. It will be much easier to listen sincerely to one another; likewise it will be much easier to discern the work of the Holy Spirit on someone’s mind with the Word He Himself wrote.
Some Easier Passages
There are many passages that could be used, and theoretically every Bible passage could be used for evangelistic purposes. However, some are more readily understandable and accessible than others, and so selectivity is important.
For those who want to discuss the basic storyline and ideas, try the teaching passages in the Gospels and Epistles. One of the most user-friendly, straightforward passages is Ephesians 2:1-10. The statements of Jesus Christ Himself can produce amazing conversations, such as His “I Am the Good Shepherd” speech (John 10).
For those who like stories, or perhaps relate better to stories because of their cultural background, try the parables of Jesus. Some of the more easily used would be the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10) and the Parables of the Lost Sheep, Coin and Son (Luke 15). Also, the story of Zacchaeus (Luke 19) makes vivid the realities of salvation.
The Conversation Will Live On
Those with whom you have a had such a conversation will be able to return to the one passage easily and replay the conversation in their mind over and over. This is also a result of having a real and relational discussion about the Gospel. It is harder to remember a Gospel presentation that includes a bundle of Bible references, and harder yet to find all of them and decipher their meanings.
The key point to remember when doing one passage evangelism is not to leave any ambiguities regarding the main points. The main points are always going to be the unique divine-human person of Jesus Christ, his unique work upon the cross and in the resurrection, and that faith in Him alone, and not in one’s attempts at good works, will lead to new life and eternal salvation.
What other passages might you select? I would encourage you to make a list, give each of them a try, and share your stories of success with others.
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