Equipping Evangelism
May 8, 2020 | Jim Gillespie
[The following is an excerpt from the training booklet, Equipping Evangelism] Download the...
TwoForTwo is Richland Creek's concerted effort to get every single member involved and excited about sharing their faith. We'll do this together by focusing on the TwoForTwo Challenge:
That's it! Ready to take the challenge? Read on for helpful resources, how-to videos, examples, and more.
TwoForTwo is simpler than you think. Pastor Jason walks through why our "Love God In Our Witness" goal at the Creek is:
If you are a believer and member of the Creek, you already know the Gospel, but what we mean is to know, from your heart, a simple summary of what the Bible says is true about God, man, sin, and Jesus.
The Gospel is a statement of the truth. It is not a sales pitch or an idea that we must convince people to believe. We do not need to defend it; we are only commanded to present it. So, we're not asking you to memorize certain words or a certain outline, alliterate anything, and so forth. For this step, just internalize and rehearse the glorious truth of salvation by faith in Jesus!
Here is an example summary of what the Bible says:
You can take the above, copy it, and then prayerfully put it in your own words. Make sure your presentation clarifies the basic Gospel message of who God is; what I did to destroy my relationship with him (sin); who Jesus is; the fact of Jesus' sinless life, atoning death, and bodily resurrection; and the necessity of faith in Jesus for salvation and reconciliation with God.
Your testimony is your story of how God saved you and changed you through the Gospel. God has commanded us to "declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9). We should declare this every time we have the opportunity. A personal testimony repeats the Gospel in the context of (1) who we were, (2) what happened, and (3) who we are now.
Our testimony should share who we were. There is no need to embellish your testimony in any way. Be honest about who you were before Jesus.
Next, explain what happened to you. Be as specific as possible. The statement "I went forward in church and prayed with the pastor" doesn't mean anything to most people in America and around the world. Maybe it would go something like this: "I realized when I heard the Gospel that I was a sinner, I had disobeyed God and deserved to be punished by Him forever. I realized that God loved me and wanted me to have a relationship with Him so much He punished His son Jesus in my place. I believe Jesus died for me and rose from the dead and was offering me the free gift of salvation. On that day, I placed my faith in Jesus and was reconciled with God."
Finally, your testimony should include who you are now. Explain how you have been changed by the Gospel. Explain how you want to live for Jesus and not for yourself.
Again, the point here is not to memorize an outline. You know your own story better than anyone! But you want to share your story in such a way that Jesus is the star, not you, and people are pointed to him, and not you.
We're mutually challenging each other, as the body of Christ at Richland Creek, to prayerfully share the Gospel with at least two people this month. Your pastors and elders, deacons, church staff, and other leaders will be taking up this challenge with you. Share the names of the two people with whom you plan to share with a trusted friend so they can hold you accountable.
Never shared the Gospel before? That's okay! God is bigger than your fear, and you've been equipped with everything you need in Christ to be obedient to His command.
Have you shared the Gospel dozens, or even hundreds, of times? Then you can be involved by not only committing to participate in this challenge but encouraging others as well.
As you step out in obedience, we'd love to hear how God is working, both in you and in others. Scroll to the bottom of this page to share your story with us. It doesn't matter the response; just sharing the Gospel is victory enough!
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