How to share the gospel
ESTABLISHING THAT GOD EXIST
1. What do you think happens to us after we die?
Establishing that we go to either Heaven or Hell after we die
If they say something else than Heaven or Hell go to next question
2. Do you believe there’s a God?
Establishing that there’s a God
Proof of God is that a building needs a builder, same with this universe
BAD NEWS
3. Do you think you are a good or a bad person?
Establishing we are all bad people deserving hell
Help them understand that they are not good people
4. Have you ever told a lie?
Establishing that we are all sinners
5. Have you ever been rude or disrespectful to someone?
Establishing that we are all sinners
6. Have you ever used bad language before?
Establishing that we are all sinners
7. We have all done these things, so if God were to judge you based on these things, do you think you’re innocent or guilty?
Establishing we are all guilty
If they say innocent say “Innocent means you've never done anything wrong your whole life, and guilty means you've done at least one bad thing - so which one would you be?”
8. So would we deserve a punishment or reward?
Establishing we all deserve punishment
9. Does that punishment sound like Heaven or Hell?
Establishing we all deserve Hell
If they say Heaven, ask them “Does heaven sound like punishment or does it sound like hell?”
10. So how do you think we could avoid Hell?
Establishing there’s a way to avoid Hell
Goal is to have them understand they can’t avoid hell by themselves.
If they say “good things”, let them know doing good things is really good, but it is not the way to avoid hell. Say the following: “Imagine you steal a car, and now you deserve prison, do you think you’re gonna get out of that punishment if you did good stuff like giving away away 5 cars?”
If they say “we need to ask for forgiveness” then tell them “asking for forgiveness is a good thing, and something we should do, but if we committed a serious crime and asked the judge for forgiveness, do you think they would forgive you?”
If they say “repent” let them know that repent doesn’t mean change your way, but the greek word metanoeō means change one’s mind
GOOD NEWS
11. What we need is someone else to take the punishment for us. So if someone took 100% of the Hell punishment for you, how much would be left for you to take?
Establishing someone is willing to take all of their punishment
12. So then if you have no more hell punishment, where will you go when you die?
Establishing someone is willing to take all of their punishment
13. That was Jesus, that’s why He died on the cross, to take the punishment for our sins, and he rose again 3 days later.
Establishing Jesus died on the cross for them
14. So if Jesus died on the cross for you taking all of your punishment, where do you get to go when you die?
Establishing Jesus took all of the punishment and that they understand they get to go to Heaven if they trust Jesus
15. So remind me, why would God let you into Heaven?
Establishing the way to Heaven
16. He offers this as a free gift for us and all you have to do to receive this free gift is to trust that Jesus died on the cross paying for 100% of our Hell punishment.
Establishing that Jesus took 100% of our hell punishment
17. So if you trust that Jesus paid for all of your sins but then tomorrow you sin 5 more times and then die, would you go to Heaven or Hell?
Establishing they understand the good news
If they say hell, remind them the way to heaven, and remind them Jesus paying for past and future sins
If they say Heaven make sure they give you the right reason, and if they think because of good works go back to QUESTION 10
18. But if you don’t trust that Jesus paid for all of your sins, where would you end up?
Establishing if they understand Jesus paying for all of it
If they say heaven, say: “If I offered you a gift today, but you didn’t accept it from me, have you actually received that gift?” Then say: “In the same way, Jesus is offering to pay for our sins as a gift but if we don’t accept it, we won’t receive it and so where would we end up?”
19. Since you don’t want to go to Hell, WHEN should you start trusting that Jesus has paid for your sins?
Establishing that they should trust in Jesus now
If they say before you die, ask “Do you know when you will die? If not, when should you start trusting that Jesus paid for your sins?”
20. So if you stood before God right now and he asked you “Why should I let you into Heaven?” What would you say?
Establishing they know the way to Heaven
If they say “I don’t know” Ask, what was the reason you could go to heaven again? If they get that right, then return to re-ask
Help them understand that our answer shouldn't start with "Because I", but in the third person "Because Jesus...".
If they want a bible verse to support this, use: Matthew 7:22-23 - On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’*23+ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.
23. So, on a scale of 0-100%, how sure are you that you will go to Heaven when you die?
Establishing that they understand the way to Heaven
If they say anything less than 100%, then ask “What was the reason you would go to heaven again?... Jesus. Right, and how much of your punishment did Jesus take for you?” {wait for an answer} “So how much punishment is then left for you to still get in hell?” None…. “So if you trust in that, on a scale of 0- 100%, how sure could you be that you will go to Heaven?”
If they are still unsure, ask them what makes them less than 100% sure and deal with their answer.Reminding them that Jesus paid for past, present and future sins.
24. So, does doing good things play any part in getting you to heaven?
Establishing that they understand the way to Heaven
If they say yes, again, ask them: is it our good deeds that saves us, or is it Jesus dying on the cross that saves us?
25. Do you need to ask for forgiveness to go to Heaven?
Establishing that they understand they don't need to ask for forgiveness to get to Heaven
If they say yes, ask them, is it asking for forgiveness that saves us or is it Jesus taking 100% of the hell punishment that saves us? Then go back to the analogy if needed: if we committed a serious crime and asked the judge for forgiveness, do you think they would forgive you?
26. If all we need to get to Heaven is to trust in Jesus, why do we do good things?
Establishing that they know the way to Heaven
If they can’t answer this, say "If you are in a burning building and a fireman risks his life to bring you out to safety, what would you want to do for that fireman who saved you?” {wait for an answer} “Same with Jesus, if He has laid his life down to save you from hell, what would you want to do for Jesus?” And because we are thankful to Jesus for what he has done for us, that motivates us now to live our lives for him and avoid sinning. Does that make sense?
PROVIDING RESOURCES
27. Do you know where you can learn more about Jesus?
Establishing where you can learn about Jesus
28. Do you have a Bible, and do you read it much?
Establishing the Bible
If they don’t have a bible say this and send them this link “I would definitely recommend to download the Bible from this link https://www.esv.org/John+1/”
29. When it comes to reading your Bible, think about it like this: If you eat food once a week, would you be very strong?
Establishing the importance of reading the Bible
30. So how often do you think you should read the Bible?
Establishing that it is important to read the Bible every day
31. Do you go to church? What church do you go to?
Establishing if they go to a church
32. If they preach a different message than we talked about today or if you just need a great church to go to you can find one via this link: https://www.9marks.org/church-search/
Establishing good churches
Let them know I am not affiliated with the link
PROOF TESTING
33. Do you remember from the beginning of this chat? What did you think was the way to Heaven?
Establishing that they understand the good news
34. So, since you were trusting in yourself to get you to heaven, if you had died before this chat, where would you have ended up?
Establishing that they understand the good news
35. And if you died right now, where would you end up?
Establishing that they understand the good news
Sources: NeedGod.Net