How to Lead Someone to Christ
One of the greatest tools to lead someone to the
Lord is the
Preparation: If you know that you are about to reach out to someone spend some
time in prayer. Pray for strength. This is no easy task, but it is what all have
been called to do. “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).
Recognize your sin: The first step to salvation is recognizing that there is sin in your life. The following verses identify that there is sin in the lives of all men and women.
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of
God” (Romans
“There is no one righteous, not even one”
(Romans
Penalty for Sin: Based on the following verse, explain that the death is not a worldly death, but it is an eternal death; separation from God for eternity.
“The wages of sin is death” (Romans
God’s Gift: God’s gift to man is salvation, eternal life, through the death on the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God’s son. We are not deserving of this gift because we are sinners, but God gave us this gift because of his love for us.
“The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus
our Lord” (Romans
“God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
Become part of the family of God: These verses identify the need to take action in order to find salvation.
“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will
be saved” (Romans
No Condemnation: Once you have prayed to accept Jesus Christ you no longer have any condemnation. That means that you will not be punished for your sins because you have received forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
“We have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
The Question: Once you have talked through all the verses, ask if they would like accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior? If at this point they say yes move on to the next step.
If they say no, they may not be ready. Ask if you can contact them at another time to talk about it. Encourage them to get a Bible or read online and take a look at more of Romans or the Gospels. Make sure you follow up if they will allow it.
So how can a person have God's forgiveness, heaven and eternal life, and Jesus as personal Savior and Lord? By trusting in Christ and asking Him for forgiveness. Take the step of faith described by another meaning of FAITH: Forsaking All I Trust Him. You do this through a simple prayer reflecting your desire for Christ to change your life. You don't need fancy words--only an honest heart. You can pray something like this:
Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and have displeased You in many ways. I believe You died for my sin, and only through faith in Your death and resurrection can I be forgiven. I want to turn from my sin and ask You to come into my life as my Savior and Lord. From this day on, I will follow You by living a life that pleases You. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen.
Accepting Christ is just the beginning of a wonderful adventure with God! Get to know Him better in a number of ways:
Follow Christ's example in baptism.
Join a church where you can worship God and grow in your faith.
In your church, get involved in Sunday School and Bible study.
Begin a daily personal worship experience with God where you study the Bible and pray.