REALITY CHECK

How to Lead Someone to Christ Part 2

 

Bruce Chant

PULSE / generation-j

7 June 2002

 

 

Our goal in 2002 is to…. MAKE ONE DISCIPLE.

Two weeks ago we looked at the reasons why people don’t accept Christ and why Christ don’t lead others to Christ:

 

These are barriers to others coming to know God and to us being active in leading others to the Lord.

Therefore, we need to combat these barriers with the TRUTH – about Jesus and the gospel.

 

So what is the TRUTH?

 

i)                    All have sinned – we are separated from God.
Sin is a foreign concept to most people. But we are essential sinful and prone to doing wrong.

 

ii)                   Dying in sin will keep us separated from God – eternity in Hell.

God is free of all sin – war, hurt, pain, sickness, abuse – we need to be cleaned of this if we are to be with Him.

 

iii)                 Only the sacrifice of Jesus blood can remove our sin.
Why?
Any one sin is an eternal sin
You either pay for that sin with an eternal price (Jesus – perfect God/Man – unique therefore Jesus only)
or you pay eternally (penalty of sin is eternal death)

It also shows how much God loves us – he gave us His Son as a sacrifice for our sins so we could be with Him for eternity.

 

iv)                 You must decide. Believe, Repent, Receive.
Believe in Jesus as a factual person as revealed in the bible.

Repent (turn away from) your sin – or else you will remain separated from God – the nature of sin is to destroy you.

Receive the sacrifice (price paid) of Jesus; receive your forgiveness from all unrighteousness; Receive the promises of the new life ahead!

 

This information needs to communicated.

You do this through a living example – but also through the use of words.

Why?

Romans 10:17

“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”

 

What else must I do to lead someone to Christ?

Here are some red hot tips:

 

  1. Pray to God.

Pray that the Holy Spirit will use you as you speak to your friend.

It is not us that convicts people of sin – it is the Holy Spirit.

 

1 Thessalonians 1:4-6
4For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. 6You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.

 

We need prayer to see the spiritual barriers to people getting saved lifted.

 

Understand God wants your friends and family saved. HE WANTS IT.

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

 

  1. Understand what God has done for you.

Take a step back and look – you may be amazed at how far God has taken you.

You are a new creation!

 

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

 

If you understand what God has done for you you will suddenly be eager and excited and prepared to share the good news. It really is true!

 

  1. Preach the Good News (not Bad News)

Marketers know all about stickiness. If a message is to be remembered it must have stickiness – it got to stick to the hearer.

 

Stickiness is compromised of four things. 1) a meaningful benefit, 2) presented meaningfully 3) presented repeatedly 4) presented repeatedly with variation.

 

The first thing is a meaningful benefit. Preach the meaningful benefit!

Forgiveness, eternal life, peace, joy, love inexpressible, life more abundantly.

Emphasise these benefits – don’t try and condemn/judge people into getting saved. “Well I’ll see you in hell!!” – emphasise the benefits.

 

  1. Assure them

Use the bible to show them what you are saying is true.

They may say they don’t believe in the bible – but showing the words written that you’ve spoken does hold wait. Like playing scrabble – that’s not a word – is settled with the book. Although you don’t want to be adversarial – it helps to show the truth.

 

Trust the word – it is powerful. God created with His word – it will not come back void.

Isaiah 55:11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

 

Get to know some verses – it’s your weapon...

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

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

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 10:9-10 9That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

John 3:3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave is one and only son so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

 

5.      Ask the Question

This can be the ace up your sleeve - Will you marry me? Kidding...

But asking a question can be what gives you the most amazing experience – personally leading your friend to Jesus: Ask the question of them.

 

Are you 100% sure if you died right now that you’d go to heaven? – is a popular one but there are so others that aren’t so heavy but still put the onus on the person to examine why or why not when it comes to God.

 

What do you think about becoming a Christian? You’d make a great one!

What’s stopping you from becoming a Christian right now?

 

It’s all about closing the deal!

 

  1. Pray with them

Never under estimate the power of prayer.

If you can pray with your friend it may be the difference in the end between them accepting Jesus and not.

If they show they want to be a Christian – lead them in a prayer of Forgiveness, Acceptance of Jesus sacrifice and new life. (Sinners prayer)

If they don’t, ask anyway – for whatever needs they have.

Tips: if things are bit private that is often better – people are self conscious and nervous if they don’t know what is going on.

Always ask first – don’t just launch into it.

Explain it is just talking with God – not a formula or spell.

But BELIEVE in the power of it. This is faith in action and attractive to others and powerful.

 

 

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