Evangelism Training, Part 1:

The “Why’s” and the “What” of the Gospel

I. Introduction

The Gospel is 
The Gospel is 
The Gospel is 
The Gospel is .

Romans 1:15-16 – So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in
Rome. 16For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for
salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

A. Obstacles to the Gospel in the Church Today

a. .

This idea seeks only to answer “What works?” and never “Who are we to
be?” Method and success are more important than faithfulness and
change of heart.
“Pragmatic evangelism counts: converts, members, programs, but rarely
counts faithfulness to the message or the faithfulness of the messenger.”
(Mack Stiles)

Our focus should never be on what’s the best way to get the most amount
of people into our church or program. Our primary focus should be who
we are (men and women of faith) and what we proclaim (the Gospel
promoted in Scripture).

b. .

This means a vague “Christian set of convictions that result in a view of

God as a divine butler-therapist figure. The majority of teens…reflected
the belief that God is primarily concerned with making people happy,
bailing them out when they get in trouble, and providing them with the
necessary goods to enjoy life. Apart from these activities, God is
uninvolved in the world. In other words, God is basically a nice,
permissive dad with a big wallet.” (David R. Nienhuis)
II. Why Don’t We Share the Gospel?

A. We don’t know it.

B. We fear man and lack boldness.
C. We don’t accept it as our responsibility as Christians.
D. We don’t plan for it.
E. We don’t love people.
F. We don’t pray for opportunities.

III. Why Share the Gospel?

A. Out of Love for .

John 15:8 – By this my Father is glorified (how do we know that we are

glorifying God?), that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

1 Corinthians 10:31 – So whether you eat or drink, or whatever, you do

(sharing the Gospel), do all to the glory of God.

1 Peter 2:12 – Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that
when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and
glorify God on the day of visitation.

B. Out of Love for .

John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that
whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

If God loves in this way, shouldn’t we love the lost as well?

Romans 10:1 – Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them (the
Israelites) is that they may be saved.

1 Corinthians 9:22 – To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak.
I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.

This is what the Gospel does. It draws us away from ourselves and toward
God and what He loves. He loves those who are lost, and so we too, will love
the lost and call them to faith in Christ.

C. Out of .
 Matthew 28:19 – Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 8:4 - Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.

1 Peter 3:15 – [B]ut in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always
being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for
the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.

Concluding Appeal:

“The critical question for our generation—and for every generation—is this: If
you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had
on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever
enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you
ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be
satisfied with heaven, if Christ were not there?” (John Piper, God is the Gospel:
Meditations on God’s Love as the Gift of Himself, 15)

IV. What is the Gospel?

A. God

a. The Bible starts with and assumes God exists, and that we
know it. It also says the world around us demonstrates His
existence.

Genesis 1:1 – In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

Psalm 14:1 – The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are
corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good.

Romans 1:18-20 – For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against
all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their
unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God
is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible
attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly
perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have
been made. So they are without excuse.
 Psalm 19:1 - The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above
proclaims his handiwork.

b. The Bible says there is only …

Deuteronomy 6:4 – “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.”

Isaiah 43:10 – “You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my

servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and
understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be
any after me.”

Isaiah 44:6-8 – Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer,
the LORD of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no
god. 7 Who is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and set it
before me, since I appointed an ancient people. Let them declare what is
to come, and what will happen. 8 Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told
you from of old and declared it? And you are my witnesses! Is there a God
besides me? There is no Rock; I know not any.”

Isaiah 46:9-10 – “[R]emember the former things of old; for I am God, and
there is no other; I am God and there is none like me, 10 declaring the end
from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying,
‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.’”

Psalm 86:9-10 – All the nations you have made shall come and worship
before you, O LORD, and shall glorify your name. 10 For you are great and
do wondrous things; you alone are God.

He is the of all that exists…

Genesis 1:1 – In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

Colossians 1:16-17 – For by him all things were created, in heaven and
on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or
authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is
before all things, and in him all things hold together.

John 1:3 – All things were made through him, and without him was not
any thing made that was made.

Jeremiah 10:12 – It is he who made the earth by his power, who

established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched
out the heavens.
 He is not part of creation, but is completely separate from it, and has
always existed, and did not have to bring the universe into existence.
God is and has always been, being as
well.

John 4:24 – “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in
spirit and truth.”

Psalm 90:2 – Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had
formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are
God.

Since God created everything, and since God is Himself and

creates with a reason, everything has a purpose and a meaning.

c. God is …

Isaiah 6:3 – And one called to another and said, “Holy, holy, holy is the
LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”

Isaiah 5:16 – But the LORD of hosts is exalted in justice, and the Holy God
shows himself holy in righteousness.

Psalm 99:3, 5, 9 – Let them praise your great and awesome name! Holy
is he!...5 Exalt the LORD our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he!... 9
Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the LORD
our God is holy!

He is the of goodness with no evil or

corruption in Him. Because of this, God must punish evil.

1 John 1:5 – This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to
you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

Psalm 92:15 – [T]o declare that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and
there is no unrighteousness in him.

d. God is personal. Actually, he’s . This is based

on 3 biblical truths:

1. There is one God

Isaiah 43:10 – “You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my

servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and
 understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall
there be any after me.”

2. There are three divine persons mentioned in Scripture

Matthew 3:16-17 – And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he

went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him,
and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest
on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved
Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Matthew 28:19-20 – “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded
you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

3. Each divine person has equality with the others.

Colossians 2:9 – For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.

John 20:28 – Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

e. God is , and – despite

man’s rebellion against Him.

Psalm 86:15 – But you, O LORD, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to
anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23 – The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;

his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is
your faithfulness.

B. Man

a. One great problem with man is that we refuse to see ourselves the
way God sees us. God gave us guidelines to see if we’re operating
rightly, much of which deals with our behavior, such as:

1. Worshipping the true God (Exodus 20:3-4; 34:14)

2. We should not murder (Exodus 20:13)
3. Commit adultery (Exodus 20:14)
4. Steal (Exodus 20:15)
5. Lie (Exodus 20:16)

This is summed up in the 2 greatest commandments:

 Luke 10:27 - And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all
your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all
your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

b. We all fall short according to God’s standard, and God calls this
rebellion . We have all sinned.

Romans 3:10-18 – [A]s it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no

one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together
they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” 13 “Their
throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of
asps is under their lips.” 14 “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” 15
“Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 in their paths are ruin and misery, 17
and the way of peace they have not known.” 18 “There is no fear of God
before their eyes.”

Romans 3:23 – [F]or all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Ecclesiastes 7:20 – Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who

does good and never sins.

c. Sin us from God, and since God is the source of

life, the result of sin is death…

Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is
eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ezekiel 18:4 – Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as
the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die.

…both physical death (on earth) and spiritual death (separation

from God both now and in eternity). God’s is revealed
against sin, and so against sinners.

Romans 1:18 – For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all
ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness
suppress the truth.

John 3:36 – Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does
not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Man, though physically alive, is spiritually dead, not able to even

seek God. (Ephesians 2:1-14)
 Colossians 2:13 – And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the
uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having
forgiven us all our trespasses.

Romans 3:11 – No one understands; no one seeks God.

Man will do whatever it takes to encounter God by the

truth that he sees all around him, becoming ,
turning, worship that should belong to God towards himself or an
idol.

Romans 1:21-25 – For although they knew God, they did not honor him
as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and
their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became
fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images
resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. 24
Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the
dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged
the truth about God for a lie and worshipped and served the creature
rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

C. Christ

a. God could have been just and fair to punish man based on their
rebellion against His law. And yet He didn’t. God is not obligated to
give man anything…and yet He does. He doesn’t leave us lost, but has
an eternal plan bring about the greatest good from the evilness of
man. His eternal plan is Jesus Christ.

b. Jesus Christ is God come in flesh – the (John 1:1-

18)

1 Timothy 3:16 – Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:

He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in
glory.

Colossians 2:9 – For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.

Philippians 2:5-11 – Have this in mind among yourselves, which is yours

in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count
equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing,
taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And
being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to
the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly
exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10
 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on
earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is
Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

He was without any hint of sin.

1 Peter 2:22 – He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his

mouth.

Hebrews 4:15 – For we do not have a high priest who is unable to

sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been
tempted as we are, yet without sin.

He obeyed all of God’s law perfectly, and was not under the curse of
death. Death did not have any power over Him, but He still died.
Why?

c. Jesus gave His life as a for

sinners.

John 10:14-18 – I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own

know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay
down my life for my sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this
fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will
be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me,
because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it
from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it
down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received
from my Father.

2 Corinthians 5:21 – For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no
sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

1 Peter 3:18 – For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the
unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh
but made alive in the spirit.

Isaiah 53:4-6 – Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was
wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon
him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we
are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every
one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Since Christ didn’t have to die, He voluntarily took the place of

everyone who would believe in Him throughout all ages. Dying in
 their place means He took their upon Himself –
He dies their death so they can live His life!

Galatians 2:20 – I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who

live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by
faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Romans 6:1-10 – What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that
grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live
in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ
Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him
by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the
dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For
if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be
united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was
crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to
nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has
died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we
believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised
from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over
him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he
lives he lives to God.

The penalty of sin = death, and because died that death, all sin is
forgiven for those who die with Christ. All sin will be punished:
either on the cross or in hell for all eternity.

d. Jesus – never to die again (Luke 24:1-36)

1 Corinthians 15:3-8 – For I delivered to you as of first importance what

I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the
Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in
accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to
the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one
time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then
he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one
untimely born, he appeared also to me.

If those who are saved in Christ will have died in Christ, then they
will also have God’s promise of being raised up with Him in eternal
life.
 John 5:24 – Truly, truly I say to you, whoever hears my word and
believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into
judgment, but has passed from death to life.

e. How can anyone be saved if no one seeks after God? The answer is
God’s . By definition it’s free and cannot be earned or
demanded.

Romans 11:6 – But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works;

otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

Ephesians 2:8-9 – For by grace you have been saved through faith. And
this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so
that no one may boast.

Out of God’s grace comes spiritual life (“regeneration” or being

“born again”).

John 3:3-6 - Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is
born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him,
“How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into
his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to
you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the
kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which
is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

He also gives …

Romans 2:4 – Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and

forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to
lead you to repentance?

2 Timothy 2:25 – [C]orrecting his opponents with gentleness. God may

perhaps grant repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.

…and .

Ephesians 2:8-10 - For by grace you have been saved through faith. And
this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so
that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ
Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should
walk in them.

Romans 12:3 – For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you
not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think
 with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has
assigned.

D. Response

a. To believe in Christ is to not only Jesus Christ

as Savior and Lord, but to to Him as Lord over
every aspect of your life – turning over your dreams, goals, and
ambitions over to Him and follow Him wherever He leads.

b. If your true desire is to trust in Christ as Lord and commit to Him as

Savior and Lord, that is a desire from the Spirit of God, and does not
originate in you.

Romans 8:5-8 – For those who live according to the flesh set their minds
on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set
their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is
death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind
that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s
law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

c. Believe in Christ.

Acts 16:31a – And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be
saved.

In faith toward Christ, and a true desire in your heart to turn from
what is against God’s will, commit to the Lord Jesus, knowing His
death is enough to clean you from all of your sin. Hold onto Him and
no one else. Trust Him to save you and give to you eternal life. He
promises to do this in His Word.

John 5:24 - Truly, truly I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes
him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but
has passed from death to life.

John 6:40 - For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on
the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him
up on the last day.

John 8:12 – Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the
world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the
light of life.”

Pray a heartfelt prayer of repentance and commitment.

 Romans 10:13 – For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be
saved.”

V. The Gospel and Your Life

A. The Gospel and Your Heart

Psalm 19:14 – Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be
acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

Matthew 12:34 – For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Is this Gospel in your heart? Is it in you? If you are unable to speak the Gospel
to another, not out of fear, but out of not knowing what to say, there is a
concern that you may not know the Gospel at all. The reason is because what
you talk about will reveal what is already in your heart. If you cannot say the
Gospel, and I’m not talking about having the best words to tell people this
beautiful news, but to lack the knowledge to then speak it out of your mouth,
then you may be in danger of being deceived into thinking you are a
Christian. If this is you, cry out to God for mercy and beg Him for forgiveness
of your sin. Call out to Christ to save you from yourself, and from God’s
wrath, and to God, and leave your life of sin. He is mighty to save and indeed
eager to save.

B. Avoiding Assuming the Gospel

How?

a. Repeat/preach the Gospel to yourself.

b. Preach the Gospel to your brothers and sisters in Christ in your local
church (Romans 1:15)
c. Ask one another for your testimony.
d. Pray the Gospel back to God.
e. Live in light of the Gospel.
f. Listen for the Gospel in Sunday sermons.
g. Stop acting like everyone you know who is nice at church is a
Christian.
 Evangelism Training, Part 2:

The “Who” and the “How” of Evangelism

I. Introduction

“Evangelism is pre-eminently dependent upon the quality of the Christian life

which is known and enjoyed in the church.” (Martin Lloyd-Jones)

II. Who Should Evangelize?

A. All and only .

Matthew 28:18-20 – And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in
heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Go therefore and make disciples
of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Acts 8:1-4 – And Saul approved of his (Stephen’s) execution. And there arose
on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they
were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the
apostles. 2Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him.
3
But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he
dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. 4Now those who
were scattered went about preaching the word.

1 Peter 3:15-16 – [B]ut in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always
being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for
the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16having a good
conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good
behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

B. Believers who understand biblical .

a. Conversion is .

John 3:3 – Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is
born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
 Acts 15:3 – So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed
through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion
of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers.

Romans 16:5 – Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved
Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia.

b. Conversion requires .

1 Corinthians 2:12 – Now we have received not the spirit of the world,
but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely
given us by God.

c. True conversion requires .

John 6:37 – All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever
comes to me I will never cast out.

John 7:37 – On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and
cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.”

Matthew 11:28-30 – Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and
I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am
gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my
yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Hebrews 7:25 – Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those

who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make
intercession for them.

d. A attests to true conversion.

Titus 1:15-16 – To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and
unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences
are defiled. 16They profess to know God, but they deny him by their
works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

1 John 2:3-6 – And by this we know that we have come to know him, if
we keep his commandments. 4Whoever says, “I know him” but does not
keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5but
 whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this
we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to
walk in the same way in which he walked.

e. Conversion results from .

Acts 2:47b – And the Lord added to their number day by day those who
were being saved.

Ephesians 2:8-10 – For by grace you have been saved through faith. And
this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9not a result of works, so
that no one may boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ
Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should
walk in them.

III. How Should One Evangelize?

A. Three Elements to Healthy Evangelism

a. .

“[W]e tell people with honesty that if they repent and believe, they will be
saved. But they will need to repent, and it will be costly. We must be
accurate in what we say, not holding any important parts back that seem
to us awkward or off-putting.” (Mark Dever)

Passages like Luke 14:26-33, Matthew 10:34-38, Mark 8:34-37, and John
12:25 should not be verses we readily avoid, but clarifications on what
Jesus demands from us. Salvation is free, but will cost us everything.

b. .

If we are honest about the Gospel in telling all of it, then we will recognize
that the Gospel has within it a call to lay down our own authority and
follow Christ’s. No one better will come along, time is short and evil, and
Christ will return. For anyone who is not a believer, God, at the present
moment, has His wrath set directly on them (John 3:36). He is not neutral
about the broken relationship with us, so why should we?
 2 Corinthians 6:2b – Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is
the day of salvation.

c. .

“The truth of this news of a restored relationship with God brings us great
joy. So we should joyfully tell people that if they repent and believe they
will be saved. It is all worth it, despite the cost.” (Mark Dever)

Hebrews 12:2 – [L]ooking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our

faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising
the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

B. Three Elements of an Effective Witness

a. The of a Church

The world looks to how Christians are with each other, and how they act
will determine whether they see us as credible witnesses of Jesus or not.
The most visible way is through the local church you are a part of.

John 13:34-35 – A new commandment I give to you, that you love one
another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35By
this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for
one another. (1Peter 2:12 as well)

b. The of a Life

What a pure life does for your own testimony to the truth of the Gospel
shows most in how you are at home with other members of your family,
especially when you have unbelieving family members. It draws them to
see your life and wonder at the integrity of the Christian life, the life God
meant for all of us to live. We are to strive for perfection, knowing we will
fail, but never lowering the bar for the sake of holiness and putting Christ
up for all to see that He can change any life, especially ours. This pleases
God and leads to the final element.

1 Peter 2:15 – For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should
put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.
 c. The of the Power

When anyone shares the Gospel, they reveal (at least to God and in their
own hearts) whether they are truly depending on the Holy Spirit to do His
work. Any believer who witnesses to an unbeliever should recognize that
God is the one who does the work of saving someone. We are merely tools
in His hand, instruments for the purpose of calling sinners to faith and
repentance. When you realize Scripture’s testimony to the Holy Spirit
who works to open people’s eyes and hearts, you don’t witness in a way
where you trick them or coerce them through the emotions. You pray for
God to work, share the Gospel, and hope that God is drawing them to
come to Jesus. You will be grateful to God for the clarity of His message,
and His Holy Spirit in using you for His purposes and glory.

Jonah 2:9b – Salvation belongs to the LORD!

John 6:44 – No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws
him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

Acts 16:14 – One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city
of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshipper of God. The
Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.

John 16:7-11 – Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage

that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But
if I go, I will send him to you. 8And when he comes, he will convict the
world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9concerning sin,
because they do not believe in me; 10concerning righteousness, because I
go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11concerning judgment,
because the ruler of this world is judged.

Titus 3:5 – [H]e saved us, not because of works done by us in

righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of
regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.

IV. Recommended Resources

A. Books

What is the Gospel? By Greg Gilbert

 The Gospel and Personal Evangelism by Mark Dever
A Gospel Primer for Christians by Milton Vincent
For the Sake of His Name by Dave Doran, Pearson Johnson, & Ben Eckman
Let the Nations Be Glad! By John Piper
God is the Gospel by John Piper (free online:
http://cdn.desiringgod.org/pdf/books_bgg/books_bgg.pdf )
Marks of the Messenger by Mack Stiles
The Gospel According to Jesus by John MacArthur
The Gospel According to the Apostles by John MacArthur
Living the Cross-Centered Life by C.J. Mahaney
Today’s Gospel: Authentic or Synthetic? By Walt Chantry
Tell the Truth by Will Metzger
Nothing but the Truth by John MacArthur
Telling the Truth ed. by D.A. Carson

B. Articles

‘The Centrality of the Gospel’ by Tim Keller:

http://www.redeemer2.com/resources/papers/centrality.pdf

‘The Gospel of Jesus Christ’ by D.A. Carson:

http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/pdf-
articles/Carson_The_Gospel_of_Jesus_Christ.pdf

‘Gospel-Driven Sanctification’ by Jerry Bridges:

http://www.ouruf.org/d/cvt_sanctification.pdf

C. DVD’s

God is the Gospel (John Piper):

http://www.desiringgod.org/Store/DVDs/ByTopic/All/776_God_Is_the_Gospel_DVD/

The Gospel in Life: Grace Changes Everything (Tim Keller):

http://www.monergismbooks.com/Gospel-in-Life-Grace-Changes-Everything-DVD-p-
18983.html

D. Gospel Tracts

Who Do You Think that I Am? (Grace to You Ministries):

http://www.gty.org/Resources/Articles/A335
2 Ways to Live (Matthias Media): http://www.matthiasmedia.com.au/2wtl/

The Christian Message (Phoenix Reformed Baptist Church):

http://prbc.org/ChristianMessage.htm