Sharing the Gospel with strangers

This was one of my favorite videos out of all of the ones I've watched over the past week because it seemed like the most "organic" way to share the gospel and the method that would be most comfortable for me to approach the subject.

A simple outline of what he said:

1. Explore

 - Observe

 - Ask questions

2. Stimulate

 - Bridging from the conversation to the gospel

3. Share

 - testimony

 - Good News

It's my personal opinion that it would be difficult to share the gospel with a total stranger, and it's funny that that's the title of the video since his first step involves getting to know the person. There are gifted people out there who can go up to a stranger and ask, "do you have a personal relationship with Jesus?"

There are others who are able to start talking to someone at the next gas pump and by the time their tank is full, they've shared the Good News. Neither of those scenarios is going to be accomplished by me, so I need to find methods (and I really hate calling it a method, but when we're trying to learn a new skill, that's the only word that comes to mind) that will work with my spiritual gifts, knowledge, personality, etc. It needs to come from my heart.

     My husband shared this bible verse with me and it reminded me that when I was saved, I was transformed and people can just see that, whether they realize what they're witnessing or not. 

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, 

and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, 

they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.

Acts 4:13

Remember, God is with us always and forever. The Holy Spirit resides in each one of us. Jesus is our Savior. 

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Please join me this week in praying for the wisdom, courage, and words necessary to share the gospel, utilizing our spiritual gifts, in such a way that will plant seeds and ultimately bear fruit for the Kingdom of God.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Romans Road first verse

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 

(Romans 3:23 NKJV)

I'll post one Romans Road verse each evening the rest of the week (Wednesday through Sunday) so you can share it. Plus, the pictures might help us memorize the verses.

Romans Road to Salvation

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

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

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9 NKJV)

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (Romans 5:1 NKJV)

All of these verses were part of the Bridge illustration from yesterday's post, so once you learn them, you have two ways to present them. I did find a YouTube video of the Romans Road set to music but I hesitate to post it here because it's a kids' song and I'm just not sure how I feel about it, but if you're interested, you can google Romans Road song and it'll probably show up at the top of the list.

Just yesterday my husband shared the gospel with a co-worker. I am in awe of his gift. The two people who I've talked to about how they share the gospel have done so by using something about the person and showing them how to turn that around to committing their lives to Jesus. Tomorrow's video will explain that a little better, hopefully.

I'm going to make images, one for each verse, on YouVersion and share them so that we can share them on social media, so keep an eye open for that.

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Please join me this week in praying for the wisdom, courage, and words necessary to share the gospel, utilizing our spiritual gifts, in such a way that will plant seeds and ultimately bear fruit for the Kingdom of God.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Bridge to salvation

Like the title implies, this video shares two simple ways to share the Gospel. One is called the Roman Road which we can talk about in more detail tomorrow. The other one is the Bridge illustration.  I really like the version in the video, but I am also sharing the one below which has a few more Bible verses. Any version, no matter how basic, will be helpful in sharing the Gospel. If you can memorize the verses, that's great and very helpful, however, if you can't, speak from the heart as to what this process looked like in your life.

For example, I could share:

- We're all sinners. Ever since the fall of mankind, we have been separated from God because of our sin.  Before I was saved, I was very prideful, very full of myself and selfish. I believed in Jesus, but I hadn't repented my sins or asked Him into my life. I didn't have a personal relationship with Him. As a result of this, I felt as if there was something missing in my life, a sort of void, or hole in my heart that I couldn't fill. (Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God)

- That life, without Jesus, can only lead to death. My sin prevented me from being able to reach God. (Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.)

- I tried to get to God without making a full commitment, telling myself I was doing fine. After all, I was nice to people, I went to church, prayed sometimes, even read my Bible occasionally. I was "basically" a good person. I was completely missing the point. (Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.)

- But then, I was at a weekend-long Christian music event and the preachers were telling us that God sent His one and only Son to die on a cross for each one of us. It finally sunk in that Jesus did that and bore God's wrath which was meant for ME because I was a sinner and was incapable of avoiding sin. That cross allowed me access to the Father and an opportunity for salvation and eternal life. (Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.)

- All I had to do was go forward. I felt drawn to the front where people prayed with me. I confessed my sins, made a commitment to Jesus, accepted Him as my Lord and Savior. I believed with all my heart that He died for me and rose from the grave, defeating death, giving me life. (Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.)

This is a very generic, pared-down version of my testimony, but it's a starting point. I'm going to buy a pocket-sized New Testament Bible and highlight these verses so I'll always have it with me. I'm also going to try to memorize these verses and practice the Bridge so that when an opportunity arises, I'm ready. How about you?

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Please join me this week in praying for the wisdom, courage, and words necessary to share the gospel, utilizing our spiritual gifts, in such a way that will plant seeds and ultimately bear fruit for the Kingdom of God.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

What is the Gospel?

We're all called to share the Gospel, the Good News, but how do we do that? What does that look like? What do we say?
     I've personally been struggling with this for some time but have not yet gotten any concrete answers to my long list of questions. So, I've taken to the internet to see what I can find.
     My thinking is that since I have these questions, that maybe some of you do also, so I thought we would spend this week learning the answers to those questions from some online resources together. If at any time you see something that you feel isn't biblical, please let me know and I'll take it down. My intent is to share what's out there, not to teach, since I am no authority on any of this.
     My study bible says that 1 Corinthians 15:1-5 is Paul's summary of the gospel, so let's start there:

Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,  and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.

1 Corinthians 15:1-5 NKJV

From the Bible Project: What does the word "gospel" mean?

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Please join me this week in praying for the wisdom, courage, and words necessary to share the gospel, utilizing our spiritual gifts, in such a way that will plant seeds and ultimately bear fruit for the Kingdom of God.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Longing for you

These bible verses mean so much more to me now after speaking to missionaries who have returned. I could listen to their stories all day long. They form this seemingly instant bond with those they minister to; they love them as if they had been friends for years. I imagine Paul going on his trips and knowing that he couldn't return to see all of them, and probably longing to visit many more that he couldn't get to. You can just tell from his letters how much he loved these people and desired to be back with them.
     If you feel called to mission work, I encourage you to pray about it and see where God will take you. It takes a special person to do this kind of work, but if you are called, you can begin the process to see if there are opportunities where God will use you to do His will.

So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the 

gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.  

For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; 

for laboring night and day, that we might 

not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

1 Thessalonians 2:8-9 (NKJV)

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Please join me this week in praying for our missionaries. Pray for their safety and pray that they may bring others to Christ.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @archadia27

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Glad tidings

 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:

  “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,

Who bring glad tidings of good things!”

Romans 10:14-15 NKJV