Lesson 8: Jesus’ Method

► A student should read Matthew 19:16-22 for the group. What surprises you about Jesus’ answer to this man? If you heard a friend give that answer to a person who asked how to have eternal life, what would you want to explain to your friend?

Imagine that you are in good health, but a friend comes to you and says that he bought the cure for a certain deadly disease.[1] To buy it, he sold his house and everything he had. He bought the cure for you.

► What would you say to your friend when he gave you that gift?

You would thank him for his generosity, but you would not understand the gift. Why would he give so much to buy for you something you do not need?

Now imagine a different story. You have been to the doctor and found that you have a fatal disease. The cure is very expensive, and you have no way to pay for it. You go home and think about death, realizing that your family will lose you and you will never be able to experience what you hoped from life.

Then a friend comes and tells you that he gave everything he had to buy the cure for you. You appreciate it because you understood your need first. His gift is life for you.

Now think about the response of people of the world when they hear the gospel. The word gospel means “good news,” but many people do not understand why it is good news.

Imagine a man named Jason. His friend tells him, “Jesus died on the cross as a sacrifice so that your sins can be forgiven.”

Jason thinks, “I am not a bad person. I am good to my friends and family. Why would such a great sacrifice be needed for my sins? Why is forgiveness so important?” Jason might be angry that his friend thinks he is such a bad sinner that he would need the death of Jesus for his forgiveness.

The Bible tells us that people are offended by the cross. People want to find a way to justify themselves. They don’t think they need the sacrifice of Jesus, so the cross seems like foolishness to them (1 Corinthians 1:18).

Like the illustration about the cure for a disease, people do not appreciate the cross because they don’t understand why they need it.

The biblical way to prepare people for the good news is to show them why they need it. They need to realize that they are sinners who will soon be judged by God.

► Why should a person be glad to hear the gospel?

[1] Much of the material of this lesson is presented by Ray Comfort in the sermon “Hell’s Best-Kept Secret” and the book by the same title. More material is available at http://www.livingwaters.com.

The fact that unbelievers will be judged and punished is the most important reason for an unbeliever to be glad to hear the gospel.

"…it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment (Hebrews 9:27)."

"I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak (Matthew 12:36)."

► Read the description of judgment in Revelation 20:12-15.

The future judgment of unbelievers is the primary reason every unbeliever needs salvation.

God commands everyone to repent, “Because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness” (Acts 17:30-31).

If a person does not understand that his sin is serious, he lacks the most important reason to desire salvation.

► What would make a person realize that his sin is serious?

Many people are not interested in the gospel because they do not consider themselves guilty. The Bible says that most people consider themselves to be good (Proverbs 20:6). If you ask someone whether or not he is a good person, he will most likely say “yes” and be ready to argue for himself. Most people think their sins are not evil, and that they should be excused. To offer those people grace and forgiveness does not make sense.

The person must see himself as a sinner and be convicted by his conscience before he can see himself in need of grace. God has given the law to show sin.

By the term law we do not mean specifically the ceremonial requirements of the Old Testament that directed worship in the Temple. We also are not talking about laws that were given for the government of Israel, which do not apply to us the same way. We are talking about God’s standard of righteousness. King David wrote in Psalm 119 about how he loved the law of God just as he loved God, because it came from God’s own holy character.

The law of God shows us how we should live, and we are guilty for disobeying it. Nobody will be justified by keeping the law (Galatians 2:16, Romans 3:20) because everyone has already sinned. A person is using the law wrongly if he thinks that trying to follow it will earn his salvation.

The law of God directs our life (1 Corinthians 9:21), but it is not the means of our salvation. The law could not bring us to salvation because we do not have the ability to perfectly meet its requirements from birth (Romans 8:3, Galatians 3:21).

The law is not opposed to the gospel in God’s plan. The Bible tells us that the law serves the purpose of making an unbeliever realize his need of salvation. The gospel did not destroy the law (Matthew 5:17) or make it irrelevant to us. The law serves as the perfect preparation for the gospel, not just in ancient times but still today as well.

The law is a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ (Galatians 3:24). Some people think there was a period of law that is over, and now there is a period of grace. The fact is that every person must encounter the law of God and realize that he is condemned before he can understand grace. The Apostle Paul said, “If it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin” (Romans 7:7).

Paul said that the law is given so that sinners are shown to be guilty and without excuse; because, by the law people realize that they are sinners (Romans 3:19-20). Every person is under the law and condemned by it until he is saved.

The gospel is not good news to a person who does not know that his sin is serious. The gospel is good news to a person who knows he is guilty and soon to face the judgment of God.

► A student should read Luke 18:10-14 for the group. If someone had told the Pharisee that he could be freely forgiven by God’s grace, how would he have responded?

[1] 

Today many evangelicals do not like to emphasize that every person is guilty of sin and deserving of God’s judgment.

They do not want to tell people they are bad.

They want to talk about positive things instead of the negative.

They want to offer immediate benefits of salvation, instead of eternal ones, because they are speaking to people who are focused on things of this world.

They imply that the law of God is a bad thing, an enemy to salvation, important only to people who want to be saved by works. The Bible says that the law is good and holy (Romans 7:12-14); the person who wants to please God will try to follow God’s directions for life (Psalm 119:1-8).

They imply that God’s standard is impossible and unreasonable, and that you are not to blame for your sins.

The problem is that if a person is not really guilty, he cannot really repent. He cannot be sorry for what he did unless he knows that he chose to do wrong. If a person does not really believe himself to be a sinner when he asks for forgiveness, he really is just asking for God’s acceptance of his human failings.

The fact is that unbelievers are not condemned for being born with a sinful nature. They are condemned for their willful sins and attitudes of rebellion against God (Jude 15).

Many people believe that God is loving and forgiving, but they do not realize that he is also a righteous judge. They expect that if they ever meet God, he will forgive them even if they never repented. The incomplete gospel they have heard has made them more comfortable in their sins.

Many modern evangelicals emphasize that if a person becomes converted, he will have a happier life. They say that sin does not satisfy, but God does. They say that a person will receive love, peace, and joy. They say God has a wonderful plan for each person’s life, and that plan will be fulfilled if a person becomes a follower of God.

These promises can be misunderstood. God gives love and peace, but there will be conflict between believers and people who reject God (Matthew 10:34-36). He gives joy, but there may be persecution at the same time (1 Thessalonians 1:6). He has a wonderful plan for each person, but a believer may experience hard situations and tragedies (2 Corinthians 11:24-27). If a person decides to become a believer because he thinks his life’s condition will be better, he may be disappointed. Some people are suffering severely because of their faith in Christ.

As followers of Christ, we understand that life with God is wonderful, even if we suffer hard conditions. We can say that serving God is a wonderful life. However, most unbelievers do not have the right idea of what a wonderful life is. If you ask them to describe a wonderful life, they talk about health, money, freedom, peace, and other good conditions. They would not understand that a persecuted, suffering follower of Christ has a wonderful life. So, if you tell a unbeliever that if he follows Christ he will have a wonderful life, he probably will not understand what you are promising.

There is another problem with a false understanding of the gospel. A person may accept the message without seeing himself as a sinner deserving judgment. Because he does not see the seriousness of sin, he does not truly repent. He is not looking for salvation from sin, but for other benefits. He may think he is saved when really he is not.

He does not even receive the true benefits of salvation for his life, because he is not truly converted. He tries for a short time then gives up in disappointment.

The worst result of the wrong gospel is that the person who was disappointed is less likely to respond to the gospel in the future.

In summary, the problems with the gospel of a better life are

1. It promises what God does not promise.
2. It is misunderstood by the unbeliever.
3. The person may not be truly converted.
4. He will not get the benefits he expects.
5. He is less likely to accept the gospel in the future.

► A student should read Acts 14:21-23 for the group. What did the apostles tell new converts to expect?

Jesus warned his disciples that people would hate them because of their faith in Christ. He told them they would not be saved unless they endured until the end. Three of the gospel writers recorded these words (Matthew 10:22, Mark 13:13, Luke 21:17). Most of the original apostles died for Christ.

Millions of believers in Christ have been killed for their faith. This is not just an ancient problem. More than half of Christian martyrs were killed in the 20th century.

If a person is converted because of the promise of salvation without the promise of an easy life, he will not give up because of a hard life. He is willing to endure the trials for the sake of eternal salvation. The trials make salvation seem even more precious to him.

► Why do followers of Christ endure persecution?

[1] “Conversion involves a break with the past so complete that it is spoken of in terms of death. We have been crucified with Christ. Through his cross, we have died to the godless world, its outlook, and its standards.”
- Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization, The Willowbank Report

► A student should read 2 Timothy 2:24-26 for the group. What do these verses tell us about the evangelist’s manner?

The evangelist should not seem to be fighting with the people he evangelizes. Satan is the enemy, and unbelievers are Satan’s prisoners. We should explain truth with gentleness. Our purpose is to help them, not to defeat them in argument. Words used in this passage include gentleness, meekness, and patience.

► A student should read Titus 3:2-5 for the group. What does this passage say about the behavior of the evangelist?

We should remember that without the grace of God, we would be like the people of the world. God came to us not with judgment, but with kindness and love.

An evangelist must not seem angry at the unbeliever, but at sin and Satan. He should not seem harsh. He should not seem glad to find their errors, but concerned about their salvation.

We have learned in this lesson that we do not show love to unbelievers by promising things that God does not promise. We do not show compassion by acting as though the problems of their life are more important than their eternal destiny.

Jesus fulfilled the prediction that the Messiah would not be a violent person, but gentle, and would not crush the person already wounded by sin (Matthew 12:19-20).

► What are some ways we can demonstrate the love of God when we evangelize?

The biblical approach to evangelism is to use the law of God to prepare people to receive the gospel. The law convicts unbelievers and shows them that they will be judged unless they find forgiveness.

John the Baptist preached that people should repent to prepare for the coming of the Lord and escape judgment (Matthew 3:1-12).

Jesus preached about judgment and hell many times. He offered grace to those who were sorry for their sins.

► A student should read Luke 7:36-50 for the group. What kind of person is offered forgiveness?

We do not find in the ministry of Jesus that he offered forgiveness to people who were not sorry for their sins. He warned people of judgment. After a disaster when many people were killed, Jesus told a crowd that they would all perish unless they repented (Luke 13:1-5).

Jesus told the story of the tax collector and the Pharisee who prayed opposite prayers. The tax collector was sorry and received forgiveness. The Pharisee tried to justify himself. It would not have made sense to offer forgiveness to the Pharisee because he did not believe he needed it.

The Apostle Peter preached the promise of eternal life and called upon people to repent and receive forgiveness (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19, Acts 5:31).

Stephen, preaching to the Jewish rulers, did not offer grace, but convicted them of resisting God and breaking his law (Acts 7:51-53).

Paul preached that people should repent because God will not excuse sin (Acts 17:30-31).

It is not wrong to talk about joy and blessing that comes with being a follower of Christ; but the primary method of evangelists in the Bible was to preach for conviction of sin and repentance, offering salvation from judgment.

► A student should read 2 Corinthians 5:11 for the group. What did the Apostle say he used for persuasion?

► A student should read Acts 24:25 for the group. What did Paul talk about to Felix? How was Felix affected?

Andrew was distributing invitations to church when he met Jason.

Jason: I don’t need church.

Andrew: The Bible says that every person will stand before God to be judged for his sins. Do you think God will accept you as you are?

Jason: Yes, I think so.

Andrew: Are you a good person?

Jason: Yes, I think I am.

Andrew: Maybe you are good compared to many people. Maybe you are good to your friends and family. But, do you know the standard that God uses? The Bible tells us about how God judges right and wrong. For example, some of his rules are called the Ten Commandments. Do you know the Ten Commandments?

Jason: Some of them.

Andrew: For example, one commandment says, “Do not witness falsely.” Have you ever in your life said something that was not true?

Jason: Of course, everyone has done that sometimes.

Andrew: But lying is breaking God’s command. Another one is to not steal. Have you ever stolen anything?

Jason: Only small things, and I have never made someone suffer by stealing from them.

Andrew: But God does not leave us to decide what we can steal. His command is that we not steal. Another one is that we never take God’s name in vain, saying it without reverence, or using it as a curse word.

[Each of the commandments can be used, but all do not have to be used in one conversation. Below are examples.]

• God tells us not to commit adultery, and Jesus said that to lust for a woman is to commit adultery in your heart.
• God said not to kill, and Jesus said that to hate someone is the same as murder in the heart.
• God tells us to keep His day holy. Have you always kept the Lord’s Day holy each week?
• God tells us not to covet, not to think that things will make us happy instead of God, wishing we had what others have.
• God tells us not to have any other god, not to let anything else be more important to us than him, which means that we don’t let anything keep us from obeying and worshipping God as he deserves.

[After using several commandments to show that the person is guilty, we go to the conclusion.]

Andrew: If God judged you today, you would not pass. You would be guilty by his standard. Would you like to know how to be forgiven so you do not have to fear the judgment of God?

[Then the evangelist can share the gospel and invite the person to pray.]

► Two students should demonstrate a conversation in which one presents the gospel using the Ten Commandments. The group can discuss their demonstration. Then the students should divide into pairs and practice this presentation.

► How do you know if a gospel presentation was successful?

Obviously if a person chooses to repent and become a follower of Jesus after our gospel presentation, we know it was successful. But that is not the only measurement of success. God is the one who is responsible to fasten the truth upon the hearer’s heart. If you presented the gospel in a way that the hearer understood, you accomplished something important even if you never see the results. If he felt your concern and desire to help him, that is good, also. If he was angry or mocking, that does not mean you failed, especially if he was angry at the truth. God is honored by the message of the gospel; when you communicate it, you are successful at something important.

This is an effective method for presenting the gospel. It is important that the students learn to use it. In your next class session, give them time to tell about their experiences when they tried to share the gospel with this method. Let them encourage and advise each other. It may be worthwhile to spend a session this way and wait until next time to go to the next lesson.

Present the gospel to at least three people the way that Andrew did in this lesson. Write a paragraph describing each conversation. Be prepared to tell about it in the next class session.