# The various forms of evangelistic presentation

## Lifestyle evangelism

The most significant form of evangelism will come through how Christians love each other ([John 13:35](https://biblehub.com/john/13-35.htm)).

- To be a witness in this capacity, Christians will have performed many [spiritual exercises](spiritual-exercises.md) and time together to strengthen that love.
- This bleeds out from simply a hope after we die into a key part of believers' [identity](people-identity.md).

We frequently overlook opportunities to share Jesus.

- Instead of waiting for future chances, take advantage of what you have now.
- They'll be suspicious or think you're crazy, especially as God starts [permanently changing you](people-identity.md) from the inside.

Most people won't care about what you have to say until they've seen evidence of you changing.

Expect dramatic [conflict](people-conflicts.md) ([Matthew 10:34-36](https://biblehub.com/matthew/10.htm)).

- If any pre-conversion friends *also* convert to Christ, it's usually long after they've parted ways with you.

Your new lifestyle will create [rumors](people-image-why.md).

- Extended family, casual friends, and coworkers will see your changes.
- Expect to lose more relationships as time goes on.
- Don't be surprised if you lose your job, professional affiliations, and reputation.
  - Every year, millions of Christians in [persecuted countries](hardship-persecution-church.md) lose *everything* to follow Jesus.
- Eventually, your ministry will become public knowledge because it's difficult to *not* talk about Jesus when your [life revolves around Him](https://theologos.site/devotion-chaos/).

Search within the Church to fill the new void.

- Find a [healthy church](church.md) (irrespective of [denomination](history-church.md)) where you can [connect](people-friends.md) with other believers.
- As you lose friends, you'll connect with other believers (even ones you may have previously disliked).
- Not all people in Christian culture are Christians, so don't implicitly trust a [church's brand](marketing.md).
- God is faithful to give you new friends as you lose the old ones.

The easiest way to share the Gospel is to donate something you have (e.g., time, energy, resources).

- Your most effective work will come through sacrifices that align with your [spiritual gifts](spiritual-gifts.md).
  - Use existing skills (or [learn them](success-5_persevering.md)) to fill the needs you see.
- [Volunteer](church-serve.md) at churches and organizations to serve others' physical/emotional needs.
  - The greater needs are *outside* the Church (where believers are less frequent), so look toward secular groups if you want to see the more pressing needs.

## Pre-made presentations

Some churches make rigid Gospel presentation systems.

- If it helps you, use that system to share Jesus, but the Holy Spirit will more often draw from your personal experiences than a formalized.
- However, most believers will eventually have a unique [story](stories-why.md) as they gain personal experiences.
  - It's a presentation of what God has done, so style it to your preference and experiment.

The best Gospel presentations come from personal experience and established [beliefs](values.md), *not* a [scripted speech](language-speaking.md).

There really isn't any straightforward approach that works for everyone because every believer's [story](stories-why.md) is different:

- Each believer develops 3 interdependent states in a different order:
  - Believe: they have come to understand the truth of Christ.
  - Act: they repent of their sins and work toward Christ.
  - Connect: they are part of the [church community](church.md).
- These states create many archetypes, depending on an individual's journey.
  - Some people come to Christ after familiarity with the lifestyle.
  - Other people become Christians while having zero affiliation with Christianity.
  - Yet others will be deeply involved in Christian culture, but won't repent of their sins until many years in professional ministry.

However, some "Christianisms" are worth avoiding:

- "Give your heart to Jesus" (since you're not really "giving" anything as much as "surrendering")
- "Give your life to God" (since your life's actions don't define whether He saves you)
- "Invite Jesus into your heart (misuses [Revelation 3:20](https://biblehub.com/revelation/3-20.htm) which speaks specifically to Christians)
- "Would you like to pray to receive Christ?" (the prayer doesn't matter, but instead in repenting and following Him)
- "Accept Jesus today" (accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior is repentance, but accepting Him a person or deity doesn't create salvation ([James 2:19](https://biblehub.com/james/2-19.htm)))

Many pre-made approaches will deviate differently from Jesus' core message.

- Jesus always started His presentations by talking about Himself or our need for salvation.
- He didn't focus on how bad our sins are, though the society of the time certainly understood sin more prominently than our [modern secular era](politics-leftism.md).

*Many* Gospel presentations have additional [creative media](creations.md) beyond the spoken/written word:

- Visual media - e.g., videos, pictures, tracts, comic books
- Performance art - e.g., body language, plays, children's entertainment
- Toys - e.g., colored gloves, cube toy with printed content
- None of the additional media is necessary, but it makes it easier to consume.

*Every* Gospel presentation requires a few elements for sufficient theological accuracy:

1. God is the good [creator](creations.md) of the universe.
2. We've rebelled and [sinned](theology-sins.md) against God, and are separated from Him.
3. The only [justice](morality-justice.md) we deserve is death, and that's the eventual state of this world.
4. God loves us so much that He sent Jesus ([who is God](theology-god.md)) to die for us.
5. Jesus died for our sins, rose again, and is ruler and savior.
6. Anyone who [believes](understanding-certainty.md) in Jesus as Lord will have their sins forgiven and eternal life.

Many Christians will focus on Jesus' death, but His resurrection is the only part that gives hope ([1 Corinthians 15:12-19](https://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/15.htm)).

- They can also mix themselves so much into the responsibility for dying to themselves that they forget about the abundant Christian life ([John 10:10](https://biblehub.com/john/10-10.htm)).

Don't obsess about appearing professional, precise, or [convincing](power-influence.md).

- The Holy Spirit will work through your imperfections, and often in remarkable ways.
- Most mainstream Christian evangelistic publications may [generate leads](marketing.md), but do *not* bring people to Jesus nearly as much as sincere, personal conversations between non-Christians and Christians.

## Specific presentations

These are just a few gathered approaches. This is a non-exhaustive list, and people are constantly making new ones.

[The Four Spiritual Laws](https://www.cru.org/content/movementlife/ph/en/how-to-know-god/would-you-like-to-know-god-personally1.html):

1. God loves you ([John 3:16](https://biblehub.com/john/3-16.htm))
2. Man is sinful and separated from God ([Romans 3:23](https://biblehub.com/romans/3-23.htm), [Romans 6:23](https://biblehub.com/romans/6-23.htm), [Isaiah 59:2](https://biblehub.com/isaiah/59-2.htm))
3. Jesus Christ is God’s only provision for man’s sin ([Romans 5:8](https://biblehub.com/romans/5-8.htm))
4. We must individually receive Jesus as Savior and Lord ([John 1:12](https://biblehub.com/john/1-12.htm), [Romans 10:9](https://biblehub.com/romans/10-9.htm), [Ephesians 2:8](https://biblehub.com/ephesians/2-8.htm))

F.A.I.T.H:

- F for Forgiveness: Everyone has sinned and needs God's forgiveness ([Romans 3:23](https://biblehub.com/romans/3-23.htm), [Ephesians 1:7](https://biblehub.com/ephesians/1-7.htm))
- A for Available: Forgiveness is available to all, but is not automatic ([John 3:16](https://biblehub.com/john/3-16.htm), [Matthew 7:21](https://biblehub.com/matthew/7-21.htm))
- I for Impossible: The Bible tells us it is impossible for us to get to heaven on our own ([Romans 3:23](https://biblehub.com/ephesians/2.htm))
- T for Turn: We must turn away from our sin and self ([Luke 13:3](https://biblehub.com/luke/13-3.htm), [John 14:6](https://biblehub.com/john/14-6.htm), [Romans 10:9](https://biblehub.com/romans/10-9.htm))
- H for Heaven: We will go to a place where we will live with God forever ([John 14:3](https://biblehub.com/john/14-3.htm))

Two Ways to Live:

1. God is a good ruler and creator ([Revelation 4:11](https://biblehub.com/revelation/4-11.htm))
2. We have rebelled against God ([Isaiah 53:6a](https://biblehub.com/isaiah/53-6.htm))
3. God is just ([Hebrews 9:27](https://biblehub.com/hebrews/9-27.htm))
4. God sent Jesus to die for us ([Isaiah 53:6](https://biblehub.com/isaiah/53-6.htm))
5. Jesus is the risen ruler and savior ([1 Peter 1:3](https://biblehub.com/1_peter/1-3.htm))
6. We must choose from two ways to live ([John 3:36](https://biblehub.com/john/3-36.htm))

## Spiritual conversations

[Make casual friendships](people-friends.md) with non-believers and seek opportunities to serve your neighbors ([Mark 12:28-31](https://biblehub.com/mark/12.htm)).

Spiritual discussions inspire [spiritual attention](spiritual-warfare.md).

- Expect distractions, discomfort, and awkward situations.
- Find ways to become comfortable with unexpected breaches of [unspoken social standards](morality-taboo.md).
- Your success comes from how much you and other believers have been [praying](spiritual-exercises-prayer.md), *not* from your skills or ability.

Sharing Christ with people is always [scary](mind-feelings-fear.md).

- It's an inherently uncomfortable topic because it addresses [death](hardship-death.md).
- However, [the devil](spiritual-warfare.md) is also doing everything possible to make that conversation into a conflict.
- Therefore, [prayer](spiritual-exercises-prayer.md) is *always* necessary before a discussion.

Behave as [politely and respectfully](people-boundaries.md) as possible with everyone.

- Even if others start [behaving inappropriately](people-conflicts.md), stay peaceable.
- If they would rather not hear it, don't even *try* to convince or convert them from what they [believe](understanding-certainty.md).
- If you're speaking with multiple people present, only share toward the most open-minded people there.
- Never control the conversation or over-assert yourself.
- Listen, respect their views, and make healthy conversations.

At the same time, learn to develop confidence similar to the Apostle Paul:

1. Understand the message and its truths so intimately that it's part of who you are.
2. Clearly understand that you're God's messenger.
3. Have a legitimate concern for the people you're speaking with.
4. Develop [habits](habits.md) that consistently demonstrate your [spirituality](spiritual-exercises.md) throughout your life.

[The EvanTell method](https://www.evantell.org/) is one approach to build spiritual conversations:

1. Start with one of 3 things:
   - Family
   - Job
   - Background
2. Move to secular topics.
3. Move to talking about Scripture.
4. Talk with the language of the Bible.
   - It is simply to trust in Chrsit.
   - Keep it very simple.

## Public presentations

Fit your presentations with the culture.

- In Jesus' day, society permitted open-air preaching ([Acts 2:14-36](https://biblehub.com/acts/2.htm)).
  - Open-air preaching is actually *harmful* to the Gospel in societies that value privacy.
- Find [creative](mind-creativity.md) ways to share the Gospel:
  - Open a booth at an event to advertise fulfillment and meaning, then share the Gospel to anyone who wants to hear.
  - Print, make or buy small tracts you can give to others.
  - Always keep copies of the Bible or [pocket Gospel presentations](http://www.ptl.org) with you.
- However, sharing with people will *never* influence anyone as much as helping them with what they need because you love them ([1 Corinthians 13:1-3](https://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/13.htm)).

A [culture](people-culture.md) saturated with [marketing](marketing.md) tends to dislike [persuasive messages](power-influence.md), but won't mind you sharing your personal experience.

- Your experiences should be Jesus' message throughout your life.
- The story should adapt to each person, so don't memorize the story word-for-word.
- Avoid Christian jargon (e.g., sanctified, blessed) and refine your thoughts to simple concepts.
- People focus on the ideas more when you use fewer words.
- If they're still interested, ask them if they mind you using your Bible.
- Walk them through the [basics of salvation](https://theologos.site/gospel/) and either drop it or pray with them as the situation permits.

God calls us to make [disciples](spiritual-discipleship.md), *not* fix the world ([Matthew 28:19-20](https://biblehub.com/matthew/28.htm)).

- The humanitarian needs in this world are severe, but only Jesus can solve them (and [He eventually will](https://theologos.site/millennium/)).
- Jesus came to fix the sin condition, which has caused *all* the world's issues.
- Helping the [poor and suffering](hardship.md) is a temporary solution, but it doesn't resolve the long-term problems in our souls or [the risks of corruption within any system designed to address the problem](mgmt-badsystems.md).
- In fact, modern American culture has suffered tremendously from the "[social gospel](https://gainedin.site/here-2/)".