Day 1- BEST GIFT EVER
Read Romans 6:23 and write it below.
If you didn’t memorize this verse last week, memorize it now. Sometimes you might not have time to grab your Bible or you might not have it with you. It’s important to have this verse memorized to use anytime.
Day 2- SIN=DEATH
If you only had a few minutes to share the gospel, grab a piece a paper or a napkin and write out Romans 6:23. Do these steps below.
01 Write out Romans 6:23 on the paper. (Try and do it from memory)
02 Tell the person that sin is knowing what is right and not doing it. Then ask them if they have ever sinned.
03 When they say “yes” circle the word “sin” and ask them to tell you what the verse says they earn because of sin.
04 Draw two “cliffs” like the picture on page 118.
05 Ask them to imagine that those are two cliffs. Man is on one side and God is on the other. Draw a stick figure on top of the left cliff and put the word man next to him.
06 On the same side of the illustration, under the cliff that man is on, write “Sin and Death.”
Day 3- GIFT=ETERNAL LIFE
Read back through steps 1-6 to remind yourself where you are in the conversation with a person you are sharing the gospel with.
Write out Romans 6:23 below again (remember, in a real situation your verse is already written on the napkin or paper)
07 Have the person circle the word “but” and tell them this is the most important word in the verse because it transitions the bad news to the fact that there is good news.
08 Have them circle the word “gift” and ask what the gift of God is through Jesus.
09 Ask them how a gift is different than a wage.
10 Go back to the illustration and write “God” on the top of the right cliff. Draw a crown or a throne. You could even draw a stick figure with a crown. Don’t draw a cross yet. That is part of the illustration later.
11 Write underneath the cliff where you have drawn the picture of God “Gift = Eternal Life”
Day 4- BRIDGE THE GAP
The point of this illustration is to have a visual picture that man has sinned and deserves death and eternal life is a gift that comes from God. Today you are going to learn how to connect the two by explaining the distance between you and God. The point is to show them that there is nothing you can do to gain eternal life. It is Jesus that “bridges the gap.”
Write down Romans 6:23 from memory.
Read through all the things you have told them so far.
12 Point out that God and man are separated. Explain that it is because of sin. God is holy and perfect and can have nothing to do with sin. Explain there is nothing you can do to “bridge the gap.” You can’t be good enough, pray enough, give enough, or work enough. The cliff is too big.
13 Tell them that while God can’t be a part of sin, He loves you and wants to have a relationship with you. He knows that you can’t make yourself righteous so He sent his Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for you. Jesus paid the penalty of death for your sin so that you can have the gift of eternal life.
14 While you are explaining step 13, draw a cross to bridge the gap between the two cliffs.
15 If they are excited to accept Christ, help them pray to ask God for the gift of salvation. If someone is not interested, respect their decision and thank them for listening to what you believe. Give them your email or phone number just in case they think about it some more and have questions. Let them keep the napkin or piece of paper. You never know when that might turn up in their life.
16 Pray for them after they leave. The power of prayer is huge.
Day 5- YOUR TURN
Today, your challenge is to practice sharing the gospel using the bridge illustration. Practice on someone who is mature in their faith so they can help you. Ask them to listen the first time and play the role of the person who wants to believe in Jesus. Then have them role play different scenarios of different responses so you will be prepared and ready.
