We have established that our clever arguments and even our deeply personal stories cannot save anyone. In fact, none of us can bridge the divide between God and man. But to present the lost to the Lord, we must lead them to the Word of God. We learned that it is alive and effective, and that the best expression of the Word of God is Jesus Himself. The story of Jesus is found in the first four books of the New Testament called the gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
But how do you read through Scripture with someone who knows nothing about it? How do you teach Scripture if you don't know it? I've heard people say you have to get a Bible degree to do a good job, and sure it doesn't hurt to do that. However, the Apostles were not all college material. Many were rural fishermen. If God can use them, he can use us no matter where we are. We don't have to have all the answers.
First pray before opening the Bible. I'm guilty of not doing this. It's not so much a guilt thing, but it's just ineffective to read the Bible without the Spirit of God directing. So pray, invite the Holy Spirit into the study, and let Him guide you and direct you. If you really have trouble figuring out what to read, just start with John. It's a great book.
If we have established that the Word of God is living and active, why can't it teach itself? Guess what? It CAN! You can read the Bible in short bursts and discuss it. I like to start with 10-12 verses, trying to keep in line with the chapter breaks. For example, if the paragraph or story is 17 verses, I will have us all read the whole 17 verses. It is better to read according to the story structure in the Bible rather than the verse structure. (If you think that is blasphemous, consider that chapters and verses were later added to the text to help us quote and reference it. There is nothing holy about verse/chapter structure.)
Sometimes it is best to set some questions in play, then read the passage and then review it. For instance, we might ask 4 questions: Is this confusing? (Let people know that it confuses you sometimes, too), What does this mean?, Does this hurt?, What should I do?
What this looks like afterwards is that you read through verse by verse aloud (or preferably let someone else read through) and ask if there were any thoughts on the questions asked... again verse by verse. This often gets turned into good discussion and gets derailed. This is what you are wanting. You want the structure to get slightly derailed, because people's deep soul thoughts and feelings aren't expressed in structure.
We may not have to have all the answers, and it is always better to let people go on the journey to truth themselves so they will own their conclusions themselves. If they don't own the conclusions, they will not be passionate about them. Half of getting to know God is this very struggle. If people are struggling, then they are most likely beginning to understand. It's okay if people struggle! I promise! Jesus is a challenge for everyone, even when He taught people face to face, offensive to some and amazingly refreshing to others.
Over time you will begin to see people make their decisions. Some will not accept. This is not your decision to make. Some will find a passion ignited in them for Jesus Christ, and those people will want to know Him more and will want to know what to do. We'll discuss that next.
There is much to be said about being someone who simply listens and reflects. People will also take notice when you can have a rational spiritual conversation that goes deeper than rules and regulations and touches on how you yourself have been saved.
But... spiritual conversations are not going to save anyone. Our words and our testimony are just not enough. The Word of God is effective to break through the barriers that come between man and God.
Key Scriptures tell us about the Word of God.
Isaiah 55:11 "...so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."
Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."
2 Timothy 3:16-17 "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
John 1:1-5 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
The Word of God is found in Scripture, and it will accomplish its purpose. Keep that in mind when you share Scripture - it's powerful! The Word of God is also alive and effective for teaching. But if you want to understand the Word of God, look at Jesus Christ. He is the Word of God in flesh. If you have had experience speaking the Word of God into people's lives, you understand these truths deeply.
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Hebrews 1:3a "The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word...."
Colossians 1:15a "The Son is the image of the invisible God..."
Now there is something big to note here - the true way to communicate about God is to first communicate about Jesus. In Him we can see the Father (John 14:9).
The reason I am writing about the power and effectiveness of the word of God, is because we tend to think that our own words and testimony are the ultimate tools for spreading the good news of Jesus. But it isn't enough. Jesus is enough. The power of God is what you are relying on (1 Corinthians 2), not on eloquence or human wisdom. Remember this well. You are a messenger, and you simply point to the one who saved you - Jesus.
All of this to sum up: it is very useful to start with one of the gospel books of the Bible. These are the first four books of the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
