15 Sep How to Lead Someone to Christ Using Just 5 Words

How to Lead Someone to Christ, The 5-Word Method

Sometimes simple is just best. You can learn the share Christ with others using just 5 simple words. These 5 words are easily memorized and provide the outline that help you easily remember the 5 key points of the gospel. Those words are: God, Sin, Jesus Christ, Trust, Relationship. The final step is to ask a very simple question: Are you ready to accept Jesus as your Savior and the Lord of your life? This article is meant to help you learn the skill of sharing the gospel. Let’s get into it.

The Five Words

1. God. God is real, he loves you and He created you to know Him and experience a relationship with Him. This was the plan from the beginning.

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him.” (Genesis 1:27)

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3)

2. Sin. But sin broke that relationship. Every person, without exception, has chosen their own way over God’s, and that choice separates us from Him.

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

“For the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23a)

3. Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ died on the cross and took on Himself the judgment your sin deserved. This payment was required because God is holy and cannot coexist with sin. His death was the just payment that takes sin away. He paid our debt on the cross with His blood.

“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God.” (1 Peter 3:18)

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

4. Trust. We must trust Christ and receive His gift of forgiveness, not just agree intellectually that it’s true but actually depend on Him, turning from our own way (repentance) and letting Him begin to change us into who He made us to be.

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him.” (Revelation 3:20)

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

5. Relationship. Your Christian life is not a religion, or about living out a list of do’s and dont’s. It is a personal and intimate relationship with God that lasts the rest of your life and beyond it.

“That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.” (1 John 1:3)

Ask Them Directly

After the five words, ask plainly: are you ready to accept Christ as your Lord and Savior right now? At this point, if the cues aren’t telling you they are not interested, ask them plainly. If the Holy Spirit has prepared them, your hesitation doesn’t protect them from anything. It just delays what God may already be doing. If they say yes, lead them in a prayer. If not, encourage them to think up questions and set a time to talk again.

The Prayer to Pray With Them

God isn’t so concerned with the exact words as the attitude of the heart. Offer to pray it phrase by phrase and have them repeat after you:

Lord Jesus, I know I’ve sinned against You, and I know I need your forgiveness. I believe You died on the cross to pay for my sin, and that You rose from the dead. Right now, I’m turning away from running my own life and I’m asking You to forgive me and come into my life. I’m putting my trust in You alone to save me. Thank You for loving me enough to do this. I commit to follow You from today forward. Amen.

Follow Up

If someone prays that with you, there are important follow up steps you’ll want to communicate, and walk them through. Tell them to get a Bible (or better yet gift them one) and start reading it everyday and praying. For new Christians i like to start them in the book of John. You need to help them find a good Bible teaching church – one where the Bible is opened every Sunday from the pulpit, and get accountable with another Christian because the temptation to fall away will be great, especially during their first weeks as a new Christian. Track with them and pray for them everyday. Take them through basic Christian concepts that help them grow in their faith.

This isn’t the only method to sharing the gospel. But its one that is easily memorized. Memorize the words, phrases and associated verses and you’ll have the basics of a gospel presentation ready to go at a moments notice. Practice this method and look for opportunities to share it. It’s actually kind of amazing how once you memorize this and train on it, the opportunities start to appear everywhere. For more resources in evangelism see the additional resources below. May God use you powerfully in the lives of others!

Additional Resources on Evangelism

Handing someone a book is one moment in a much longer conversation. If you’re the one who walked with this person toward Christ, or you want to be ready the next time it happens, these will help:

• The Master Plan of Evangelism — Jesus’ own method for reaching people, and why it is still the best method.
• The Best Book To Give A New Christian — Follow up resources for grounding new Christians in their faith
• Gospel Conversation Starters — practical ways to move an ordinary conversation toward the gospel.
• Evangelism and Spiritual Warfare: Bible Verses — what Scripture says about the resistance you’ll meet when you share your faith.
• Find Your Mission Field — how to identify the specific people God has already put in your path.
• How To Become A Christian Through the Roman Road – The gospel in the book of Romans; another excellent resource for sharing your faith.

Storyline has developed a tool to help you learn how to share your faith more effectively. The Storyline Sent app is a 30-Day Challenge with daily prompts that guide you through practical next steps in your evangelism journey. Check it out.