Garwood Presbyterian Church

341 Spruce Avenue, Garwood, New Jersey 07027

Phone: 908-789-0360

Sharing Your Faith

Our Attitude

Caring, Courageous, Serving, Patient

Pray

Because only God can change a heart.

Listen

Ask Questions

Transition

Our being a member at our church...

Our Testimony

Before I was a Christian...
Since I became a Christian...

Transition

Their membership at a church.
You're a Christian then?
Do you expect that you'll go to heaven? Why?
Most people will answer because of how they are living, not because of their faith in Jesus' saving work on the cross for them, in which case the following should be shared with them.

The Gospel

  1. God Loves You
    1. Jer. 31:3, "I have loved you with an everlasting love."
      1. John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
    2. Therefore, he wants you to have a wonderful life.
      1. John 10:10, "I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly."
      2. Transition Why do many people not experience this?
  2. Because People Are Sinners
    1. Romans 3:23, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
      1. Illustration - Three Sins a Day
        If you only sinned 3 times a day, you would be a very good person. Yet you would sin over 1000 times a year, and ??? in your lifetime!
    2. The consequence - separation from God
      1. Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death ..." (spiritual death)
      2. Isaiah 59:2, "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you ..."
    3. And we can not save ourselves
      1. Mat. 5:48, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly father is perfect."
      2. Illustration - Omelet with a Bad Egg
        If I served you an omelet with one rotten egg, would it be acceptable to you? No! Our life also is not to God. The standard is perfection!
      3. Transition What is the solution?
  3. Jesus
    1. Who he is. John 1:1, 14, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."
    2. What He did. Romans 5:8, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
    3. What this makes possible. John 14:6, "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." We can come to God our Father and know Him personally.
      1. Transition How? What must I do?
  4. Through Faith
    1. Definition: Trusting God with our life.
      1. Illustration - A Chair
        Do you believe this chair will hold you? Yes. That is only intellectual knowledge until you actually sit in the chair. When you sit in the chair, then you are actually trusting it to hold you. The same is true with trusting Jesus.
    2. Scriptures
      1. Ephesians 2:8-9, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast."
      2. Acts 16:31, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved..."
      3. John 1:12, "Yet to all who received him [the Word, Jesus], to those who believed in His name [Savior], he gave the right to become children of God..."
      4. Rev. 3:20, Jesus says, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in...."
      5. Romans 10:9-10, "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. For it is with Your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you Confess and are saved,"
  5. Offer an Opportunity to Respond
    1. Would you like to do this?
    2. If "Yes", lead them in prayer
      1. Use the prayer in the "Four Spiritual Laws" booklet, page 10.
      2. Or use your own prayer, having them repeat after you.
    3. Give them a copy of the "Four Spiritual Laws".
      1. Put "Accepted Jesus into my life.", and have them sign their name and the date on the very back.
      2. Also put your name and phone number below that if you want.
  6. Immediate Follow-up Using the "Four Spiritual Laws" booklet
    1. Share with them "How to Know That Christ Is in Your Life" using Rev. 3:20, pg 11.
    2. Share with them "Do Not Depend on Feelings", page 12.
      1. Depending on feelings is depending on ourself and putting our trust in ourself.
      2. Instead, depend on God and continue to put your trust in Him, by depending on His truth in the Bible, and especially that He loves you no matter how you are feeling.
    3. Go over the promises that are true for them as a Christian on page 13.
    4. Go through the "Suggestions for Christian Growth" on page 14, and the importance of "Fellowship in a Good Church" on page 15.
    5. Emphasize that the Christian life is a continuing committed relationship with God.
  7. Continuing Follow-up
    1. Call them on the phone and follow-up that way or by meeting with them for the first few weeks, asking them how they are doing in their relationship with Jesus.
    2. Invite them (to go with you preferably) to your church.
    3. When they are ready, share with them the "Have You Made the Wonderful Dis-covery of the Spirit-Filled Life?' booklet.
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