1. Is the Gospel a Quick “Won-and-Done,” or an Ongoing “Lifestyle”?

CONTENTS:

·      Your Mission Field

·      Know the Gospel

·      Presenting with Confidence

·      Call to Action

·      Final Note

Your Mission Field. 

Many gospel presentations, with good intentions, may innocently lead unbelievers to try and take hold of a quick solution to alleviate the pain of their current situation (often, “caught in sin,” or the guilt of sin”). They will acknowledge being impassioned in the heat of the moment. But all too often many a disciple fails to present the other side, which is that Christ invites them into a life of continual and consistent surrender in a transformative lifestyle that takes place over their lifetime. The presenter may rush ahead seeing the finish line in sight and tell them, “Only believe in Jesus and your life will be changed from here on out! You get to go to heaven now!” You lead them in a prayer of what to say (your prayer, not theirs), and you tell this hopeful recipient to find a church and start living for Jesus. We hope it “took.”

But what does that mean? What does a life of “living for Jesus” really mean? Did you humbly and sincerely take the time needed to explain what Jesus’ message of the “good news” (gospel) really entails for would-be disciples and disciples alike? Perhaps the place to start is with YOU. The following verse encapsulates the idea of an ongoing lifestyle of every disciple-making disciple of Christ; it is the heart of the apostle Paul, as he takes those he evangelized under his care as a “nursing mother” as a model for us to follow:

“So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us”

(1 Thess 2:8, English Standard Version).

That is a commitment of time to learn, apply, and grow to share with others. And to then teach this same practice to be instilled in another’s life, as they too, go and do the same (2 Tim 2:2).

Know the Gospel. 

There are several ways you can present a Gospel message. To be included is the need for your sin to be addressed, Christ’s life, death, burial and resurrection to life, his substitutional atonement and gift of his righteousness for your sin, with an assurance of salvation in Christ now, leading to glorification with Christ in the future.

Presenting with Confidence.

Here are steps to “take on” in your own life that you can then “pass on” to those you are evangelizing/discipling to Christ:

Follow:	Your evangelism, teaching, and counseling calls unbelievers to Salvation and Relationship with Jesus (applies to backslidden believers also – (2 Timothy 2 24-26)
Grow:	The Disciple-Learner must put truth into his or her life on a steady and consistent basis to become a habitual lifestyle experience – (1 Timothy 4:7-8, 2 Timothy 2:15)
Teach:	The Disciple-Maker learns to live his life and doctrine before others as an example to follow – (1 Timothy 4:12, 15-16; 2 Timothy 2:2)
Go:	The Missional Disciple takes this out in him or herself as the church in action to make disciples of all you meet – (1 Thessalonians 2:8; Matthew 28:18-20)

Call to Action.

Should the extension of this life-giving message be in the attitude of “won-and-done,” or as an ongoing “lifestyle” that takes commitment and constant surrender of self to the Holy Spirit and be transformed into the image of Christ (2 Cor 3:18) as you get in step with the Spirit (Gal 5:16) and walk as Jesus walked (1 John 2:6)? It is time every believer sees he or she is a disciple with a responsibility to learn, grow, mature, and go and create more disciples as a missional disciple-maker. It is not for the “elite” in ministry, but a call to all who follow Christ...

“So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty’” (Luke 17:10, ESV).

Final Note.

Have fun with this! Presenting the gospel and sharing what God has done in you up to this point should be the most thrilling thing you ever do. Yes, you are scared to represent God and so want to be 100% accurate in what you say. Yes, you may not know everything about the gospel, God, and the Bible; however, Scripture shows that those who received the gospel were eager to share this immediately with others (See the demoniac, Mark 5:19; the Samaritan woman at the well, John 4:28-30, 39-42; and the thief on the cross, Luke 23:39-43). Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to help you in what to say (John 14:6; 16, 25-26; 16:7-15). Of course, this implies you must be putting Scripture into your life (reading, memorizing, meditating on, proclaiming, and living it (2 Tim 2:15; Rom 12:1-2; 1 Pet 3:13-16; Rom 10:13-15, 17).

You must practice giving the presentation (Prov 27:17). It is a common understanding that you cannot teach what do not have any prior experience with. A most powerful testimony comes from another seeing that you “walk the talk;” where teaching is often more “caught” then taught. The apostle Paul told Timothy that it didn’t matter his age, but it is the substance of what his life consists of that must be put into disciplined routine (1 Tim 4:7-8). This is to be modeled by actually voicing his doctrine and practice, and to be active and persistent before others to gain the maximum effect (1 Tim 4:15-16).

EXTRA HELP:

Sonlife.com  ...........How to Share the Gospel: Simple Presentation Tools[1]

Discipleship.org ....The Four Steps Jesus Gave Us to Change the World[2]

Cru.org ...................How and Who to Invite into Discipleship[3]

Every believer – a disciple of Christ!

[1] Doug Holiday, “How to Share the Gospel: Simple Presentation Tools,” Sonlife.com, https://www.sonlife.com/blog/sharing-the-gospel/.

[2] Disciple First Team, “The Four Steps Jesus Gave Us to Change the World,” Discipleship.org, https://discipleship.org/blog/the-four-steps-jesus-gave-us-to-change-the-world/.

[3] “Train Disciples to Help Others Grow in Faith and Fruitfulness,” Cru.org, https://www.cru.org/us/en/train-and-grow/help-others-grow/collaborative-discipleship/lessons/4c-how-and-who-to-invite-into-discipleship.html.