Big Six Questions: Clarifying Knowing God Personally
The most effective way to share the "Would You Like To Know God Personally?" or "The Four Spiritual Laws" booklet is to simply read it completely through with the person you are witnessing to. No big Bible message or extra illustrations are needed. Just read it.
With this in mind, the Big Six are questions which serve only to clarify that which is already available, not add to it or lead you on any tangent. If you memorize and use the Big Six, you will more effectively communicate the gospel message by clarifying it for the person with whom you are sharing it.
The six questions are incredibly simple and will let you know if the person you’re witnessing to really understands the message. You will be giving them three opportunities to review the biblical message, and they will have to tell you what it means -- that's the secret.
What follows is the text (word-for-word) of "Would You Like to Know God Personally?" Each question is inserted in this presentation at the exact point where you would ask it.
God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life.
God’s Love
"God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16
God’s Plan
[Christ speaking] "I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly" [that it might be full and meaningful]. John 10:10
Why is it that most people are not experiencing the abundant life? Because ...
All of us sin, and our sin has separated us from God.
We Are Sinful
"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23
QUESTION 1. How would you define sin?
This can be answered 100 different ways. In fact, there is no wrong answer. Anything that is not pleasing to God or goes against His Word is sin. Everyone will get the answer to this question because there are many ways to sin. They’re telling you in their own words what sin is by giving you one example.
We were created to have fellowship with God; but because of our stubborn self-will, we chose to go our own independent way, and fellowship with God was broken. This self-will, characterized by an attitude of active rebellion or passive indifference, is evidence of what the Bible calls sin.
QUESTION 2: Have you ever sinned before?
This question on the surface sounds too simple, but it is perhaps the most significant in the booklet. To clearly and honestly admit that one has sinned, shows one’s need for forgiveness. God’s requirement to get into heaven is perfection. Nobody is perfect, so somehow we all need to find forgiveness in God’s eyes. They will be in a dilemma after they’ve answered this question. Humanly speaking, there’s no way to work back to perfection.
We Are Separated
"The wages of sin is death" [spiritual separation from God]. Romans 6:23
This diagram illustrates that God is holy, and people are sinful. A great gulf separates us. The arrows illustrate that we are continually trying to reach God and the abundant life through our own efforts -- such as being a good person, following a philosophy of good works or practicing religious mandates. But we inevitably fail.
The third point explains the only way to bridge this gulf ...
Jesus Christ is God's only provision for our sin. Through Him we can know and experience God's love and plan for our lives.
He Died in Our Place
"God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
QUESTION 3: Why did Christ die on the cross?
Don’t answer this question for the person, let them tell you first. The answer is found in the first five words of the next verse you’ll read in 1 Corinthians 15:3-6 “Christ died for our sins ...” That’s the Gospel message, the good news. You’ll come back to review this point again.
He Rose From the Dead
"Christ died for our sins ... He was buried ... He was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures ... He appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred ..." 1 Corinthians 15:3-6
He Is the Only Way to God
"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.'" John 14:6
This diagram illustrates that God has bridged the gulf which separates us from Him by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross in our place to pay the penalty for our sins.
It is not enough just to know these three points ...
We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know and experience God's love and plan for our lives.
We Must Receive Christ
"As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name." John 1:12
We Receive Christ Through Faith
"By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast." Ephesians 2:8,9
QUESTION 4: What do you think this verse is saying? (referring to Ephesians 2:8,9)
This is the big clarifying question in the booklet. It allows you to see if they fully understand the first three points in the booklet. The answer is: We are saved by placing our trust in Christ’s death on the cross to pay for our sins (by grace, gift of God), not by works (not from ourselves). Go back and review pages 4-5 of the booklet by simply asking: “What is it that separates one from God?” The answer is sin. Look at point three of the booklet (pages 6-7) and ask: “Once again, why did Christ die on the cross?” The answer is to pay for our sin. Ask: “Is there anything in our own power that we can do to get rid of our sin?” Answer: no.
In essence, what you’ve just done is reviewed the key points of the booklet again. This repetition is good and really clarifies the gospel to them. They are telling you what the Gospel is! Basically, don’t try to remember these extra questions, just ask questions two and three again, using your own words. The same is true for the extra questions in Question Five below.
When We Receive Christ, We Experience a New Birth
We Receive Christ by Personal Invitation
[Christ speaking] "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him." Revelation 3:20
Receiving Christ involves turning to God from self (repentance) and trusting Christ to come into our lives to forgive our sins and to make us what He wants us to be. Just to agree intellectually that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died on the cross for your sins is not enough. Nor is it enough to have an emotional experience. You receive Jesus Christ by faith, as an act of the will.
These two circles represent two kinds of lives:
QUESTION 5: What is the main difference between the circle on the left and the circle on the right?
Again, always give the person the opportunity to think about it and answer first. The answer is where the “cross” is. In the circle on the left, Christ is outside the life. In the circle on the right, Christ is in the life. Ask: “If Christ is in someone’s life, what is one of the most important things that He’ll do for that person? Answer: forgive them of their sin.
Ask: If Christ forgives us for our sin, is there anything that would stand between us and God? Answer: nothing, Christ did it all on the cross. Question five gives you a second opportunity to let them communicate back to you the gospel message in points two through four of the booklet.
Which circle best describes your life?
Which circle would you like to have represent your life?
The following explains how you can receive Christ:
You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer
Prayer is talking to God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. The following is a suggested prayer:
"Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be."
QUESTION 6: What is the main thing that this prayer is saying?
Yes, this is the third opportunity to let the person verbalize the message of the gospel. Answer: the third full line of the prayer “I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord.”
Now re-ask the extra questions under Questions Four and Five. By now they should really know the message and should know exactly the commitment they’re making if they pray the prayer to receive Christ.
If this prayer expresses the desire of your heart, then you can pray this prayer right now and Christ will come into your life as He promised.
Does this prayer express the desire of your heart?
Now Live it!
01: Share the Gospel
