One resource I have produced is the British website “What Is The Gospel?”

It looks at the gospel given out by both Peter and Paul in the New Testament and compares this with what many preach today.

The web address is http://www.whatisthegospel.org.uk/

Please bear in mind that the “Jesus evangelism model” that he taught the 12 and the 72 includes healing.

John 14:23: “Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.”"

John 14:24: “He who does not love me will not obey my teaching.”

Given that Jesus commnded us to obey his teaching, my site also addresses this healing element here:

http://www.whatisthegospel.org.uk/elijahchallenge.html

Blessings to you brother!

“Scripts are good tool, but not for a lead-in.” I agree with you. It’s not a good way to start a conversation.

I also agree that we can help people talk about what Jesus is doing in their lives in a normal and natural way. But our testimony is not a gospel explanation, but evidence of it working.

@Frank
I also agree with you that scripts can be cold and unreal when used to force conversations to your script.

In fact, I agree with everything you both say, and it’s forcing me to think how can I clarify the point I’m getting at.

Let me try this:

I’m making a distinction between telling a testimony and sharing the gospel. Testimony is focused on your personal experience Jesus, whereas sharing the gospel is focused on communicating what God has done for us in Christ.

For someone who has never shared the gospel message (not their testimony of conversion) in the course of a conversation, where can they start?

For someone who is scared to death of talking about the gospel, what tool can help them get started?

What tool can help them be prepared in season and out when a friend says “What is the gospel?”

A script can be such a tool, when the moment is has been setup by the Holy Spirit, such as when Phillip met the eunuch.

Once a person learns one and the basic “movements” of it, I encourage people to make it their own and use it naturally in a way that fits them.

You’ve both pointed out the dangers.

A script can be used mechanically, salesy, and without regard to the other person or the give and take of a conversation. Some evangelism training is focused on learning the script then spending every available moment using it to interrupt someone else’s day. The script is treated as a magical formula to follow and if you get it right, even down to the order and the words, you’ll get a convert.

A script can be followed to the letter as if one was an actor in a dramatic play by another writer. I don’t think we are training people correctly if we leave them with this impression.

I’m not advocating such a fixed or mechanical approach (and maybe not communicating it well).

We all agree that a gospel script is not a chemical formula to produce anything. Nor to use one outside of the course of natural conversation.

It is my goal to provide the clueless and nervous person who is wanting to overcome their fears by giving them a useful tool for when they have an appropriate moment to share in a genuine conversation.

Chris W
Evangelismcoach.org

I think there must be a balance between sharing what we know are the core elements of the gospel, but also LISTENING to people’s stories. I do not believe we should fire a pre-conceived script on a card at people to say that we “shared the gospel with them”. I think we truly share the gospel with people through modeling it to them first. And even by just sharing our story how God is real to us and has changed our lives. People will feel more cared about than if we just try to sell them something.

The greatest results we have seen in our setting is of helping people see and experience the greatness of who Jesus is, knowing that if Jesus is real in my everyday life, then I am likely to talk about it like I would the other things I love in life…my favorite restaurant, the game on Sunday, or my new car/truck. And to help people see that sharing Jesus happens in the course of normal life and everyday conversation. No scripts needed. No special knowledge needed. Just a love for Jesus and the ability to have a conversation with a friend.

We have seen people who have been Christians for years having truly natural conversations with unsaved family and friends that they were not having before. The number one comment I get from “veteran” Christians…”I didn’t know it could be that easy.”

Having said that, I will affirm that scripts do have value at certain points. Particularly when addressing common questions people have…”I’m good enough, why do I need Jesus?” “I don’t want religion, why would I want to be part of Christianity?” etc.

Scripts are a good tool, but not for the lead-in conversation. Christianity needs to be less institutional/organization/sales oriented and more organic, natural, and real-life oriented. That means normal people in love with Jesus sharing him in the course of everyday life in natural ways through loving actions and authentic conversation. That’s my perspective…at least at this stage in my journey.

Great point.

For some of us, talking about what Jesus has done for us, or talking about the elements of the gospel does seem as easy as passing along the plot of a great movie we just saw.

Those visual stories are fresh when we first see them, but give it a year or more, and we forget it, unless we keep retelling those stories.

Yet the more I do evangelism training, the more I realize that most people (at least those that attend my meetings) have a great difficulty talking about their faith and the content of the gospel.

A script gives them an outline to work with and grow comfortable with so they can recall it frequently and quickly.

A script gives a starting point for learning and organizing one’s thoughts.

When one gets familiar with it, there’s lots of liberty to adapt it to the context and conversation.

What have you seen in your settings?