Extra! Extra! Read all about it!!!!
(If you don’t “get” that headline, ask your parents. – Now that’s a new one!)
With the last lesson (Hallelujah, I’m Forgiven) I told you of the joy I gained through His salvation, and how I wanted to tell everyone they could have that joy, also. So, grab your Bible and read all about it! Seriously, I’m going to give you a lot of scriptures today so you should also get a pen and paper. The premise of that lesson and this one is WITNESSING.
Let’s start with Psalm 51:12-13 which begins: “Restore to me the joy of your salvation…”. If you have ever received the gift of salvation then you can relate to the JOY this verse is referring to, and who wouldn’t like to have that experience again? If you haven’t yet, prepare to, because I don’t believe anyone can read scripture and not be changed. (I’m already getting “Jesus bumps”, as my pastor calls them, about this lesson!) I’m trusting Him to change so many of us: those who are already Christians, into fishers of men; and those of you who will become new Christians, and thus disciples, as you read the scriptures about the gift* of His salvation.
Okay, back to the scripture above (Psa 51:12-13) and read verse 13: “I will teach your ways to sinners, and they will return to you”. Is that cool, or what? We will teach them, and they’ll come back to God! Oh, but I hear the same voices I heard in the last lesson: I could never have the courage or ability to witness. Yes. You. Can. Please reread in the previous lesson how Raymond, who had said the same thing, but then turned right into giving his own witness/story.
If you still don’t think you can, you’re about to get a short series of scriptures to mark in your bible to help you lead someone to Christ. (By the way, it’s ok to mark your bible. Jesus would love it, not hate it.) But know that we are all to imitate Christ, who said in Luke 19:10: “The Son of Man came to SEEK and SAVE those who are lost”. (The emphasis is mine. But He really did use those words.) He went out to find the lost! We are also told in 1 Peter 3:15 “…always be prepared to share…” when someone asks you about the joy you exhibit in your life.
I hope you have your Bible, pen, and paper ready, ‘cause here we go.
John 3:16. Almost everyone is familiar with this verse, right? And when you believe it, it’s an easy one to memorize, and easy to explain. A great scripture that’s a witness all by itself. Try it. Practice it.
Now if you happen to have your Bible with you when THE opportunity comes, then use the next five or so verses – commonly called the Roman Road. Open up to the book of Romans, first page, and at the bottom write 3:10. Turn to that verse (which you’ve underlined or highlighted already) and have the person read it, out loud. All the way to verse 12 if you want to. Explain that we are all, every single human since Adam, sinners. EVERY ONE. At the bottom of that page, you’ve written 5:8, and you’ll turn to that scripture and have them read it (You’ve highlighted it, too.) After they have read it explain that we don’t have to “straighten up and fly right” before God will forgive us. He is wanting and willing to forgive us just as we are NOW. REALLY?
WHY? Because He’s, our Father. He created us. He loves us with a love beyond human understanding. And so, does His son Jesus.
At the bottom of that page you’ve written 6:23, so go there (where you’ve done what? Already highlighted it. Right.). Have them read it (aloud, of course) and explain that just as an earthly father must punish a disobedient child, we are all sinners and our payment (wages) for sins is death: eternal separation from God and the heavenly place He has prepared for us. HOWEVER, God’s son, Jesus, volunteered to take the punishment of ALL our sins on Himself. Even though He never once committed a sin himself. So, God says anyone who repents of their sins and acknowledges Jesus took their punishment, will receive the GIFT* of eternal life in heaven. Explain that Jesus died a horrible death on a cross taking our punishment, but that God as Creator raised His son from the dead and enthroned Him at His right hand in heaven.
Next you go to the scriptures you’ve written at the bottom of that page: 10: 9 & 13, which they will also read aloud. You might ask what these verses mean to them. The Gift* of heaven is free to all who will believe.
I always end my own presentation of these verses with Ephesians 2:8-9, (you can write that at the bottom of the page, also) where it is explained to us why salvation is a Gift*: It isn’t earned, and we certainly don’t deserve it. It is simply given, by God’s grace, to all who believe in His son Jesus.
That, my friends, is the Roman Road; a simple outline to help you lead someone to Christ. (You can probably do a much better job of explaining each verse than I have.) I will warn you; you may wind up telling them your own salvation story, and wouldn’t that be wonderful for the both of you?
Now I’ll wrap up this very long lesson by saying none of us should ever ignore the little (sometimes big and strong) nudge from the Holy Spirit to speak Christ to someone. Just do it. You can’t screw it up, because you’re doing it at the urging of the Holy Spirit! This special opportunity is likely God’s purpose. How can we go wrong telling anyone about God’s gift? Even if you feel you could have done it better, you aren’t sending anyone to hell, are you? LOL!
The following scripture is more important to the past two lessons than anything else you have read. It should give anyone the courage to talk about Christ, no matter who it is you’re speaking to, and it isn’t one you use or share in speaking to them. It’s for YOU. And I’m going to write this scripture now, because I don’t want you to miss it.
From The New Living Translation:
“The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. 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 shall prosper everywhere I send it.”
There you go. God Himself says you cannot fail at witnessing, because you’re using His words, at His timing, to one of His children. And His Word will accomplish all He wants it to. He’s just asking you to tell it.
Sometimes, when I’m writing these lessons, I get really wound up and the words come so fast I can’t get them down. (Thank you, Lord) So I occasionally use Google to find me a scripture, and I did that today. Google will “help” us by trying to finish our thoughts, so you’ll see what others have searched for and can find it quicker. As I put in my question, I looked down the list and saw something that made me stop in my tracks, stunned. It wasn’t an accident that I saw it, or a coincidence, it was a God Incident. There was the question: “what is verse john 316”. No colon. John wasn’t capitalized. Someone was asking about one of the most important scriptures in the Bible. It almost brought a tear to my eye (a Joy tear). I immediately said a prayer for that person, asking God to answer her/his question, and that maybe, just maybe, someone will meet that person and tell them about Christ. Was she/he hungry for forgiveness? Wanting to know about Jesus, or how to get to Heaven? Maybe just looking for the JOY and peace that they had seen in someone. God knows. And I believe with all my heart that she/he will find Him. (That’s a promise God has made in Jeremiah 29:13, New International Version)
Read Luke 24:47. Then Romans 10:14-15. John 4:35 says “the fields are ripe for harvest…”, so how hard can it be to gather lost souls? Aren’t you glad someone spoke of forgiveness of your sins, and the free gift of salvation, to YOU? Thank God that person didn’t say: Oh, I could never…
Mike Jared, TCM board member
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