Faith-Sharing: A Concise Reference
There are many very good approaches to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ
with another person. Some approaches, unfortunately, are contrived—they
present a simple four-step approach to faith, for example: "Follow these
steps and pray this prayer, and that's it!" As such, they tend to be
more oriented toward the agenda of the persons sharing their faith than
beginning with the persons seeking faith. They favor a recitation of facts
or principles rather than leading a person through a process of discovery.
Also, many approaches are quite individualistic, neglecting the life of faith
and the importance of incorporating a new believer into the faith community.
The approach to faith-sharing that follows was designed to overcome those
shortcomings, offering a starting point for discussion and discovery of
believers with not-yet-believers. It is open-ended, allowing for
exploration and the possibility of many discussions. And it is
flexible. In some situations, it may be more appropriate to begin, say,
with point #4 than with point #1.
Use it as a concise reference to lead you in conversation with a person who
is seeking the joy and love of saving faith in Jesus Christ and relationship
with him in the midst of the church, his community on earth.
A Concise Reference for the Ministry of Evangelism
1. Concern and Love
Listen: Where does this person feel a need or an emptiness or
restlessness or failure?
Share your faith: All people have a need for a God who loves us and
wants our love in return. Jesus Christ shows us the depth of God=s
love for us. This is how I have experienced God=s
love. . . .
Next steps: Assure the person of God=s
love for him or her, and let God=s
love shine through you.
(John 3:16, 17)
2. Confession and Healing
Listen: How is this person experiencing evil and sin, their own sin or
that of others, or both?
Share your faith: All people have experienced sin in their lives—both
sinning and being sinned against. Through his life, death, and resurrection,
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has overcome evil, forgiving our sin and
reconciling us with God, and making us able to forgive our enemies (those who
have sinned against us) and returning good for evil. This is how Christ has
saved me from sin. . . .
Next steps: Pray for healing and deliverance from sin and evil. Hear
confession of sin. Assure the person of God=s
healing and forgiveness.
(Romans 3:23, 24)
3. Call
Listen: What calls has this person been following? What
"idols," what other gods, has this person been serving? Or has this
person been wandering without a guide?
Share your faith: God calls us to follow Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ,
who has defeated sin and evil on our behalf, is also our guide, the pioneer
and perfecter of our faith. The Holy Spirit, who gave Jesus the power to do
the will of God, also gives us the power to be disciples of Jesus. God also
calls us to give up serving other gods and to give our allegiance to Jesus,
our Lord. This is how Jesus has become Lord of my life. . . .
Next steps: Help the person to hear God=s
call to follow Jesus and to make Jesus Lord of life.
(Mark 8:34, 35)
4. Community
Listen: Where or who is this person=s
community? Does he or she have a community—or believe that the ideal is to
be a person who doesn=t need others?
Where are this person=s loyalties?
Share your faith: God calls us into community with others who claim
Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. This community is the church, the people of
God, that gives its highest allegiance to God and that lets God=s
healing and hope flow through them to the world. This community of grace, joy,
and peace is called to be a preview of the reign of God in the age to come.
This is what being part of the people of God has meant to me. . . .
Next steps: Invite the person to experience the life of the people of
God in your congregation (or other appropriate congregation).
(1 Peter 2:4, 5, 9, 10)
5. Commitment
Listen: Is this person ready to make a commitment to Christ and his
church?
Share your faith: Becoming a Christian requires a decision. It requires
a commitment to follow Jesus in his life and to put ourselves into the hands
of God, just as Jesus did on the cross, knowing that, just as God raised Jesus
from the dead, God will also raise us in the age to come. Baptism is the sign
of our decision to accept and follow Jesus as Lord and Savior. This is the
commitment I have made. . . .
Next steps: Talk and pray, helping the person to make a commitment to
Christ and the church, when he or she is ready to do so.
(Acts 2:38-39)
6. Continue
Listen: What questions does the person have about the continuing life
of faith?
Share your faith: After baptism, we keep on growing in our faith
through individual and group spiritual disciplines. Prayer, Bible study,
corporate worship, participation in the mission of the church, and being a
part of groups in the church where we can experience both love and
accountability help us continue in the original commitment that we made. This
is how I am trying to grow in faith in the church. . . .
Next steps: Connect the person with others who can help him or her
continue in faith and faithfulness.
(Ephesians 3:18, 19)
Developed by the Commission on Home Ministries of the General Conference
Mennonite Church and Mennonite Board of Congregational Ministries of the
Mennonite Church. Used by permission. Permission to reproduce for
local church use is granted.
Provided by New Life Ministries,
6404 S Calhoun St, Fort Wayne, IN 46807, through its web site at
www.NewLifeMinistries-NLM.org
The concise reference is designed to be used in evangelistic
conversations. We have included a web-based adaptation on this site.
See Your New Life.
