The Lords’s 3 R’s of Evangelism
“GO and make disciples of all nations.” Jesus’ words are painfully simple. What Christian hasn’t at one time or another read those words with a certain amount of guilt? “This is a Christian mission, and what have I been doing about it? Nothing! Or very little.” It’s not that God’s people don’t WANT to; rather they don’t know HOW to.
There are, and there should be, many methods of Christian witness. God’s people come with different gifts, personalities and preferences. What works comfortably for one may not for another. “The Lord’s 3 R ‘s of Evangelism” is offered as one approach among many to equip and enable Christian witness.
The point of reference in this technique is a triangle. It fixes in one’s mind an organized way of telling God’s great message. At each point of the triangle is one of the Lord’s R’s.
We begin with RUINED – the condition of life and the state of humanity since the fall of Adam and Eve into sin. Evidence of the ruin exists in every newspaper, honest hearts and personal experience. Let each person make the point his own way. The Bible verse to associate with RUINED is Romans 3:23: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Isaiah also writes: “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among people of unclean lips.” Isaiah 6:5) Here is the horrible consequence of sin. We’ve ruined our lives, our world AND our future. We don’t measure up. We can’t save ourselves. Thank God the message doesn’t end here.
God didn’t abandon us to sin’s ruin. He REDEEMED us through Jesus’ blood.” Jesus paid the penalty for all sin. Because of His life and death in our place, God’s “glory” has been met and God’s justice satisfied. He has declared sin forgiven. John 3:16 is the verse most easily associated with REDEEMED for people. (In Ephesians 1:7 St. Paul Says: “In Jesus we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.”) The beautiful truth is that forgiveness and ever lasting life are God’s gift to all in Jesus. God simply invites people to believe it.
Such God-given faith in Jesus changes our whole life. We see life God’s way and in thankfulness want to live for Him. We are RENEWED by the Holy Spirit. There is new joy amid the old, depressing problems. There is new strength to cope with old headaches and temptations, new love for those unlovable and loveless feelings. We pray for ongoing renewal each Sunday when we sing: “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10)
The whole purpose of this witness technique is simplicity. There are only three passages to remember. The triangle is an easily remembered symbol to provide order to a witness. The Law and Gospel can be shared within a few minutes.
Evangelism is not a once-a-week call, but a way of life. With a simple presentation it will become just that.