Entire Presentation

Introduction

Their Secular Life

Their Church Background

Our Church

Testimony (Church and Personal)

Transition - May I ask you a question?

Launch Questions

On a scale of 1-10 how fulfilling is your life right now? Why?

What might move it closer to 10?

If God has more of a part in your life, would it move one way or another?

John 10:10 "...I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

Two Diagnostic Questions

1. Have you come to a place in your spiritual life where you know for certain that if you died tiday you would go to heaven, or is it something you would say you are still working on?

1 John 5:13 - "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life."

May I share with you how I came to know for certain that I have eternal life and you could know also?

2. Suppose you were to die today and stand before God and He were to say to you "Why should I let you into my heaven?" What would you say?

Grace

Heaven is a free gift

Romans 6:23 - "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life."

It is not earned or deserved

Ephesians 2:8-9 - "For it is by grace you have been saved, it is a gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast."

Friend's Gift Illustration

Transition: This can be seen more clearly when we se what the Bible says about man

Man

Man is a sinner

Romans 3:23 - "For all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God."

Sin Defined (separation from God)

Man cannot save himself

Matthew 5:48 - "Be ye there perfect as your heavenly father is perfect."

Omelet with Bad Egg Illustration

Do you see why this is impossible for anyone to get to heaven by their good works?

Transition: This comes into sharper focus when we look at the Bible says about God

God

God is merciful - therefore he does not want to punish us

I John 4:8b - "God is love."

God is just - therefore he must punish sin

Exodus 34:7b - "By no means will he let the guilty go unpunished."

Bank Robber Illustration

Transition: God solved this problem in the person of Jesus Christ.

Christ

Who He is - Both God and man.

John 1:1,14 - "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us."

What He did - He died on the cross and rose from the dead to pay the penalty for our sins and to purchase a place in heaven for us.

Record Book of Sin Illustration

Isaiah 53:6 - "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all."

Transition: How do we receive this gift? This gift is received by faith.

Faith

What saving faith is not...

Head knowledge

Just temporary

What saving faith is...

Trusting in Jesus Christ alone for our eternal life.

Acts 16:31 - "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved."

Boat Story

Transition: Does this make sense to you?

Commitment

Would you like to receive God's free gift of eternal life?

Let me clarify what this involves

Admit that you are a sinner in need of God's forgiveness.

Believe that Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins and rose from the dead to be your Savior.

Commit to turn from your sin (repent) and follow Jesus as Lord.

If this is really what you want to do, I can lead us in prayer and we can tell God what you just told me. I'll first pray for you then I will lead you in a prayer.

John 6:47 - "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes (in me) has eternal life."

When you prayed just now, would you saw that you have "believed"?

At the beginning of our conversation I asked you a couple of questions. I would like to ask you those again.

John 1:12 - "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God..."

Welcome to God's family!

Roman Handshake