Simple Gospel Outlines

Back in the early 70's I went through evangelism training with Campus Crusade for Christ.  We learned, of course, the use of their tract entitled "Have You Ever Heard of the Four Spiritual Laws?" That presentation was well adapted to the then current modern mindset.  However, it now seems to me to be rather dated, and also both incomplete and inadequate.

Tim Chester has two suggestions for simple gospel outlines that are easy to memorize and more Biblically comprehensive.

Here are two frameworks that may help talk about the gospel in the context of ordinary conversations.

Four points of intersection

Everyone has their own version of the ‘gospel’ story:

creation – who I am or who I should be
fall – what’s wrong with me and the world
redemption – what’s the solution
consummation – what I hope for

When we hear people expressing their version of creation, fall, redemption or consummation, we can talk about the gospel story. Talking about Jesus begins with listening to other people’s stories and sharing our own story of Jesus.

Four liberating truths

Everyone’s behaviour is shaped by what they believe. We can listen out for the beliefs that shape people’s behaviour and shape their hurts and hopes. This then allows us to speak of the liberating truth of God which counters the lies upon which people build their lives and which eventually fail them in some way:

God is great – so we don’t have to be in control
God is glorious – so we don’t have to fear others
God is good – so we don’t have to look elsewhere
God is gracious – so we don’t have to prove ourselves

It is usually less confrontational to present the truth in the form of a personal story. For example, ‘When I was ill last year I found it a great comfort to know that God was in control.’

What do you think?