Friday October 19, 2012

How do you preach the gospel to someone who asks? Get together with another believer today and practice together.

Read Romans 10:5-17

“This just in: Justin's had enough of cure-alls,

gonna quiz the neighbour kid with the fish on his car
He says: I don't know why you care
I don't know what's out there
I don't know how it's done
Just take me to your leader, son”

Newsboys—Take me to your Leader

 

Imagine the situation. A non-believer (Justin in the Newsboys song) comes to you with questions about faith. He says, “I have seen the way you live differently and I was just wondering if you could explain to me what you believe.” What an opportunity! What a moment! Would you know what to say? Would you be able to respond in a way which honoured Christ?

 

We don’t need to be afraid of a situation like this, Jesus tells His disciples that when they are called upon to speak, God will give them the words (Matthew 10:19-20). But Peter also commands us to “always be prepared to give an answer to anyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15). Just because we know we have the airbag of the Holy Spirit doesn’t mean we don’t prepare and put our seatbelts on.

 

Although this example situation is a rare opportunity and more likely to occur over a series of conversations, it provides a useful example to practice and to think about what answer you would give. We are called to more than just living our faith out in our holiness, in our good deeds and in the way that we suffer. We are also called to preach the Word. Have another look at today’s passage from Romans. Paul reminds us that no one can come to faith unless they believe, and they can’t believe unless they hear, and they can’t hear unless someone preaches. We have been commissioned to live our faith but also to preach our faith.

 

So, how would you share your faith with this person? What would you say to that question? How would you ‘preach’ the gospel?

 

Make a time to meet with another Christian today and to practice together. One of you take on the role of the non-believer and the other share the gospel message with them. It might seem silly at first but the more you can get into the activity together the more useful it will be for you, and the more prepared you will be to give an answer. Do it more than once if you need to.

 

If you have absolutely no idea where to start there are many useful tools to help you to share the Gospel. As an example try talking your friend through the following verses, often called the Romans Road:

Romans 3:23 -> Romans 6:23 -> Romans 5:8 -> Romans 10:13 -> Romans 10:9

 

Prayer:

Use today’s reading and notes to write down ideas for your prayers.

 

Adoration:

 

Confession:

 

Thanks:

 

Supplication:

¥ Continue to pray for church in the park this Sonday. Pray that the gospel would be clearly preached and that God would prepare the hearts of those who will attend. Begin to pray about how you might be able to help or engage with new people who come.

¥ Pray that the Holy Spirit would stir every member of the church with a passion to share the good news wherever they have opportunity. Pray that people would meet together and practice sharing the gospel with each other so that they might be prepared for any opportunity they are given.