Category: The Gospel in a Nutshell

Share How God Showed Up

Gospel in a Minute

Paul continued his testimony by introducing the supernatural part of his story.

As I was on the road, approaching Damascus about noon, a very bright light from heaven suddenly shone down around me. 7  I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 8  “‘Who are you, lord?’ I asked. “And the voice replied, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, the one you are persecuting.’ Acts 22:6-8 (NLT)

Principle: Share How God Showed Up

A testimony is essentially the relating of how God intersected a life.

Unless God intervenes, we are headed for hell. We don’t need any help to pull that off. That was certainly the case with Paul. He was “hell bent” on persecuting Christians in an attempt to stamp out what had become known as the Way. He was the chief enemy of the faith and perhaps the most unlikely of all people to have an encounter with the risen Christ, and that is exactly the point.

This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. 16  But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. 1 Timothy 1:15-16 (NLT)

A good testimony invites people to consider that God is real, cares about us, and is able to communicate effectively. Most people are unaware that this sort of thing can happen, and, even if they know it can, they do not believe it will.

If we have successfully made people realize we were just as unlikely a candidate for divine intervention as they are, our testimony may require them to come to terms that the gospel might be for them, too. When I share with people how God intersected my life and revealed to me that Jesus is truly who the Bible says he is, I always tell them that God does not turn away any sincere seeker. If our listeners will honestly turn to God and ask him for help, the Lord will not turn his back on them.

A testimony offers people hope that God will intersect their lives, too.

However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. John 6:37 (NLT)
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Share Your “Back Story”

Gospel in a Minute

Paul continued his testimony by telling his listeners that he previously was an enemy of the gospel.

And I persecuted the followers of the Way, hounding some to death, arresting both men and women and throwing them in prison. 5  The high priest and the whole council of elders can testify that this is so. For I received letters from them to our Jewish brothers in Damascus, authorizing me to bring the Christians from there to Jerusalem, in chains, to be punished. Acts 22:4-5 (NLT)

Principle: Share Your “Back Story”

If people are meeting us for the first time, they have no context for understanding how Christ has impacted our lives. After establishing solidarity, It is important for us to relate what we were like before we became followers of Christ. People need to know that we were not always as we are today. We had a life before Christ of which they know nothing.

Sharing our “back story” is another way for us to establish common ground with our listeners and sets the stage for relating how Christ gives purpose to our lives and transforms us.

People may argue with our doctrine and conclusions, but they cannot deny our personal story. Related properly a testimony can be a powerful corroboration of the gospel.

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Establish Solidarity

Gospel in a Minute

Paul was in Jerusalem when hostile Jews attacked and falsely accused him. In order to quell a riot, Roman soldiers took him into custody. On his way to the military outpost, the commander granted Paul permission to speak to the crowd.

Paul provides us with a model for sharing our own testimonies.

Then Paul said, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, and I was brought up and educated here in Jerusalem under Gamaliel. As his student, I was carefully trained in our Jewish laws and customs. I became very zealous to honor God in everything I did, just like all of you today. Acts 22:3 (NLT)

Principle: Establish Solidarity

People generally think that followers of Christ are at least a little weird. I became a disciple during what was called the “Jesus Revolution” or “Jesus Movement” back in the early seventies. Society labeled those who turned to Christ during that great awakening as “Jesus Freaks.”

Anyone who is not like everyone else arouses suspicion. When we promulgate a message that runs counter to the accepted norm, we become a threat. Gospel communicators must be aware of these two barriers by first establishing solidarity with the audience.

Since Paul was addressing Jews, he first established that he was a Jew. People need to know that we understand them. Not only was Paul Jewish, he also had been a man of stature in the community, having studied under the finest teachers. In other words,

Paul told his listeners that he understood them and was like them.

Secondly, Paul complimented them on their zeal, however misplaced. As mentioned in a previous article, if we can find common ground with our listeners, it helps a lot. It is rarely a good idea to launch an attack on those whom we are trying to convert. Even though his antagonists were in the wrong, he found something for which to praise them: their zeal for Jewish beliefs.

We also should look for what we can acknowledge as being good in our listeners in an effort to establish solidarity prior to sharing the gospel.

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Be Glad for a Hot or Cold Response to the Gospel

Gospel in a Minute

After Paul addressed a crowd in Athens, his listeners responded as follows.

When they heard Paul speak about the resurrection of the dead, some laughed in contempt, but others said, “We want to hear more about this later.” 33  That ended Paul’s discussion with them, 34  but some joined him and became believers. Among them were Dionysius, a member of the council, a woman named Damaris, and others with them. Acts 17:32-34 (NLT)

Principle: Be Glad for a Hot or Cold Response to the Gospel

Lack of interest is not what we hope to obtain when we present the gospel. Far better that a person become hostile than simply ignore the greatest gift ever offered. This agrees with Jesus’ warning in Revelation.

I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! 16  But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! Revelation 3:15-16 (NLT)

Even though Jesus spoke these words to the church, the principle still applies to all. If people actively resist the gospel, it is because they are seriously listening and do not like what they hear. There is hope for such a person. Perhaps the Holy Spirit will bring them around as they continue to ponder the implications of the gospel. The “lukewarm” disinterested person, however, does not have much hope at all. His or her mind and heart are not engaged.

We should be glad for a “hot” response by those who readily receive the gospel. We should also be glad when we encounter hostility, knowing that at least the message is being heard.

Be assured that God’s word will accomplish his desired end.

It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. Isaiah 55:11 (NLT)
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Be Able to Quickly Summarize the Gospel

Gospel in a Minute

While addressing a crowd in Athens, Paul covered from creation to the resurrection in one paragraph.

“He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, 25  and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. 26  From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries. 27  “His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. 28  For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ 29  And since this is true, we shouldn’t think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone. 30  “God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. 31  For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.” Acts 17:24-31 (NLT)

Principle: Be Able to Quickly Summarize the Gospel

Sometimes we find ourselves in situation where we have a very small window of time in which to communicate big ideas.

To be an effective gospel communicator we need to learn how to share the good news with great thoroughness when given the opportunity and with brevity when that is required.

I am not sure what kind of time pressure Paul found himself, but it seems that he knew his audience’s attention span was short. He covered thousands of years in a few sentences. Let’s see what he established in that one paragraph.

  1. God is the Creator.
  2. Man-made religion and idols are useless.
  3. God is sovereign over the affairs of the world.
  4. God’s purpose for mankind was for us to seek and find him. He is near at hand.
  5. God is calling everyone to repent and turn to him.
  6. He will one day judge the world through one he raised from the dead.

Paul did not share the entire gospel in this paragraph, but he did manage to get their attention and provoke a response. He found out who was open and who just wanted to debate. That was a decent outcome.

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Find Common Ground

Gospel in a Minute

When given the opportunity to address a crowd in Athens, Paul found a way to segue into the gospel message.

So Paul, standing before the council, addressed them as follows: “Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, 23  for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about. Acts 17:22-23 (NLT)

Principle: Find Common Ground

When we have the opportunity to share the gospel, wisdom teaches us not to begin by attacking people and their beliefs. All that does is make them defensive and closes their mind against what we have to say. Paul found common ground with the Athenians in a most surprising way. Instead of negatively focusing on their pagan idolatry, he pointed out the one thing they shared.

By finding common ground he gave himself the best opportunity to be heard.

When we talk with people, we should ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to us where we can find a launching point to share Jesus. I am not of the persuasion that every conversation needs to end up with our sharing the gospel. That is a good way to alienate people. If we hope to have a long-term connection with people, we must be socially aware and smart, not a gospel bulldozer that flattens everything in its path.

Sometimes God will open a way to share the gospel in a first meeting. Other times we may need to cultivate a relationship. If we love people, we will rejoice either way. Love opens hearts to the gospel.

Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. Colossians 4:6 (NLT)
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Beware of Those Who Merely Want to Debate

Gospel in a Minute

While in Athens, Paul…

...had a debate with some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. When he told them about Jesus and his resurrection, they said, “What’s this babbler trying to say with these strange ideas he’s picked up?” Others said, “He seems to be preaching about some foreign gods.” 19  Then they took him to the high council of the city. “Come and tell us about this new teaching,” they said. 20  “You are saying some rather strange things, and we want to know what it’s all about.” 21  (It should be explained that all the Athenians as well as the foreigners in Athens seemed to spend all their time discussing the latest ideas.) Acts 17:18-21 (NLT)

Principle: Beware of Those Who Merely Want to Debate

Some people have a love of knowledge but not a love of the truth.

This might be like contrasting a womanizer with a faithful married man. Both like women in general, but the latter is willing to forsake all others for the sake of one special woman. When I found my wife, I stopped looking elsewhere. Likewise, when I found Jesus, my quest for truth was resolved in him. This is not to say that I have no more to learn, but now I know the Source of all truth, the one who said:

...“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. John 14:6 (NLT)

Beware debating with people who merely love to debate, but who are not committed to forsaking everything to follow the truth.

They are a waste of time and energy.

I close with Paul’s words to the church in Thessalonica.

He [the man of lawlessness, the antichrist] will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. 2 Thessalonians 2:10 (NLT)
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Go Where People Gather

Gospel in a Minute

Paul next traveled to Athens, Greece, where…

...he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17  So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. Acts 17:16-17 (NIV)

Principle: Go Where People Gather

Besides preaching to crowds, Paul conversed one-on-one with those in the marketplace. Today this will happen in places like coffee shops, but really wherever we might be. We should always be alert for opportunities.

Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’ Matthew 22:9 (NLT)

I believe more followers of Christ should make it a practice to visit places where people gather with the express purpose of seeing what God might do.

This will require us to hone our conversational skills so that we can easily talk to people without making them feel uncomfortable. The idea is that during the conversation we will discover more about them, their situations and needs, and thus find a way to offer to pray for them or to share how Christ is the answer. The more we do this, the easier it gets, the more relaxed we become, and the better will be our results. Give it a try. The Holy Spirit will help you. Listen to him. He is already at work in the marketplace. God is way ahead of us.

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Look for Open Minded People

Gospel in a Minute

Paul and Silas made it to the city of Berea where they encountered a different sort of people.

And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. 12  As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women and men. Acts 17:11-12 (NLT)

Principle: Look for Open Minded People

When we are critical and suspicious, our minds are closed. Most of the Jewish leaders had already made up their minds to reject Jesus and his teachings. Such closed mindedness blinded them to the beauty and truth of his words and the testimony of his many miracles. They were self-satisfied and smug, thinking themselves better than others. Humble open minded people are willing to consider an idea and check out its validity for themselves. Instead of being manipulated by those who hated Paul and the gospel as had been the Thessalonians, the Bereans examined the Scriptures to see if the gospel’s claims were true.

Jesus described this sort of people in his famous parable of the sower.

And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest. Luke 8:15 (NLT)

Rather than wasting time with proud, dishonest, and close-minded people who resist the gospel, look for those who are open. They make the best audience.

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Be Reasonable

Gospel in a Minute

As Paul and Silas continued on their second missionary journey, he arrived in Thessalonica in Greece.

Paul and Silas then traveled through the towns of Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2  As was Paul’s custom, he went to the synagogue service, and for three Sabbaths in a row he used the Scriptures to reason with the people. 3  He explained the prophecies and proved that the Messiah must suffer and rise from the dead. He said, “This Jesus I’m telling you about is the Messiah.” Acts 17:1-3 (NLT)

Principle: Be Reasonable

Paul used the Scriptures to try to convince people of the reasonableness of the gospel message concerning Jesus’ identity as the Jewish Messiah, whose death and resurrection provides salvation for the entire world.

There is a divine logic to the gospel, but only those whose eyes and hearts have been opened by the Holy Spirit can perceive it.

If a person or group already accepts the authority of the Bible, using its logic is possible.

Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. 7  No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. 8  But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. 1 Corinthians 2:6-8 (NLT)

If there is no common ground regarding the validity of the Bible, one can still declare the truth about Jesus in the hope that the Holy Spirit will open hearts and enable our hearers to understand and believe. Such a breakthrough is always a miracle.

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