02b. Sharing Your Faith – The Diagram

Posted by David on May 10, 2016February 16, 2018

What and Why

“You will be my witnesses.” (Acts 1:8) The disciples couldn’t have imagined how this one promise would change the lives of millions. Across the centuries, those who follow Jesus have been his witnesses. They have been used by God to change societies.

Today students across the world are trusting God to speak through them. They are bringing the life-changing message of a risen Savior to their classmates and friends. Each time they witness for Christ, they taste a satisfaction that reflects their Father’s pleasure. They have the honor of offering a life-changing message to others.

While witnessing for Christ brings great satisfaction it also raises pressing questions and fears. Many feel ill prepared to effectively share their faith. Christians, who are skilled at discussing sports, economics, and fashion, feel that discussing spiritual matters is different. They encounter something in modern culture that raises concern.

We know what it is like to have the opportunity to share Christ but not know what to say. This lesson helps us learn how to effectively talk about Jesus, and God’s free gift of salvation. God wants to use you to expand his Kingdom and to lead others to new life in Christ.

♦ 8:5 – Philip knew how to share the gospel with others. He was actively proclaiming Christ.

♦ 8:29 – Philip was directed by God to share his faith with someone from a different background. He was prepared to share the gospel with an Ethiopian who circulated among the elite.

In this passage, what was God’s role in what happened?

What was Philip’s role in the Ethiopian coming to Christ?

What was the message that Philip shared with the Ethiopian? (8:35)

We want to be like Philip. We want to ‘open our mouth’ and be able to lead someone to faith in Jesus Christ. There are many ways to help someone believe in Jesus. We will introduce you to one of them.

A tool: The Diagram

“The Diagram” has become one of the preferred ways to share the gospel. There are lots of reasons for this. Many people like it because it feels interactive and simple. All you need is a pen and paper and you are ready to go. Granted, behind that pen and paper is plenty of hard work invested in preparation. When someone knows the diagram well, the message of the gospel flows naturally with the strokes of a pen.

Please watch a graphical representation of this tool. The video below was designed to give a quick overview of the diagram. This overview will acquaint you with the tool, but not demonstrate how it is used interactively.

Now that you have seen the diagram it is time to learn how to work with it. We begin our work focusing on the message that needs to be communicated. At the end of this lesson you will find a a table that gives you step by step instructions for both what to say and what to draw. It contains all of the verses that we hope to share and the connecting thoughts that help us walk through the gospel.

Time to start drawing:

The best way to learn the diagram is by making your own sketch on a piece of paper. The following presentation was designed to walk you through the basic hand strokes of the diagram. Walk through this presentation two to three times, while you make your own drawings and you will quickly learn the tool. [The verses are included not for you to write down, but to help you remember what you want to say as you make your drawing.]

The “pre-visualization of Matrix Reloaded” illustrates the power of simulation. After the actors and film crew have studied the scene and even rehearsed it in their mind or mimed it in their room, each walks on set, prepared for their role. The simulation gives the actors the freedom to focus intently on any portion of the film that is particularly challenging for them. The benefits are experienced during the filming of each scene, when good preparation elevates everyone’s contribution.

Taking Action

You watched the Diagram in a video. You then drew the Diagram, learning the steps. Then you simulated it. It’s time to share the gospel.

You might be wondering, “How do I start a conversation with someone and transition to sharing the Diagram?” There are some simple things you can try. Meet with a friend or classmate. Tell them that you learned something that has helped you know what to know God personally and you would like to share it. Let your friend know that you would also like to hear his/her opinion on the subject. That’s really all you need to do. Then take a step of faith and trust God to guide you.

Share the Diagram with someone.

Remember, success in witnessing is taking the initiative to share Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, leaving the results to God.

Reflecting on what was learned

Now that you have shared the gospel using The Diagram it is time to evaluate what you learned. Take a moment to write down what went well. Also note what you didn’t think went so well.

In this lesson we focused on learning a skill by using a tool. While we are thankful for the many tools that have been created we know that people are not won to Christ through methods and materials. They respond through the ministry of the Holy Spirit who uses God’s Word, and different methods to draw them to the Savior.

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

Titus 3:4-5

What to Say	What to draw
In the beginning there was God.	Write “God” at the top
God created man. He created him with a body and a spirit.	Draw a circle at the top left - write “body”; draw a circle inside that one - write “spirit”
God loved him and had a perfect relationship with him.	Draw a 2 sided arrow connecting God and circles
God loves us and has a wonderful plan for our lives. The Bible tells us that “God so loved world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but the ideal relationship forever, but eternal life.” (Jn 3:16) also Jesus said, “I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly” (Jn 10:10)	Draw a long arrow from left to right at the top of the page - showing the ideal relationship forever
Why is it that most people are not experiencing this abundant life? Because...
All of us sin, and our sin has separated us from God.	Draw an “X” on the double sided arrow - shows relationship breaking
The Bible tells us that "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Rom 3:23	Draw an arrow downward on the left side of the page - write “sin”
and "The wages of sin is death" Rom. 6:23	Draw circles again at bottom left, below the sin arrow and color in the “spirit circle” to represent the soul dying.
This is the new path we are on, separated from God. This illustrates that God is holy and people are sinful. A great gulf separates God and us.	Draw an arrow across the bottom of the page from left to right.
These arrows illustrate that we are continually trying to reach God and the abundant life through our own efforts, such as a good life, philosophy, or religion -- but we inevitably fail.	Draw 3 arrows from the bottom line pointing upward.
There is only one way that our relationship with God can be restored and once again experience God’s love and plan for our lives. It’s Jesus. Jesus said “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” (Jn 14:6)
You see, "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Rom. 5:8	Draw a cross connecting the 2 large arrows.
Remember. The wages of sin is death. So because of God’s love He chose to send Jesus to die in our place. He took the punishment for our sin.
Another verse says “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 Cor. 15:3-6) Jesus died for us, and now He lives!
But just knowing this information is not enough to start our new relationship with God. We must receive Jesus as your Savior and Lord.	Draw the 2 circles again at the top of the cross. Don’t fill them in to show Christ took away the sin.
The Bible says “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.” (Jn 1:12) We will have a new relationship. Our spirit will have a new birth. (Ref. Jn 3:1-8) We are born into a new family, the family of God.
The Bible says “It is 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.” (Eph 2:8-9) This free gift, called grace, is the forgiveness of all our sins. We receive this gift by putting our faith in what Jesus has done and not in the good works that we do. So God is holding out a gift, already bought with a very expensive price, and offering it to you. This gift is not yours until you accept His gift.	Act like you are giving them a gift with open hands.... or you can just draw a present on the page somewhere in the middle.
There is a choice to make. Jesus put it this way “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him” (Rev 3:20)	Draw a splitting arrow where the cross connects to the line at the bottom representing the 2 choices: crossing the bridge or not.
If we choose to accept the gift or not, one more thing is sure to happen some day...We will die.	Draw a vertical dashed line from top to bottom to the right of the cross representing that death will come. Write “death of the body”
If we have chosen to put our faith in Jesus and we die, our soul continues to live. Later, our body will be resurrected and we will be whole.	Draw the 2 circles in the bottom right and fill in the inner circle and then the outer circle.
In contrast, if we have tried to be good enough on our own and reject God’s gift…not only is our spirit already dead, but now our body is dead also.
Remember what I said earlier that the wages of sin is death and instead of Jesus paying the punishment for us, we will be punished and separated from God forever. We call this Hell.
In summary, receiving Jesus involves turning to God from self and trusting Jesus to forgive our sins. This is not just an emotional experience but an act of faith; an act of our will.
A person here at the bottom (trace the bottom arrow) is a person who does not have Jesus in their life. A person here at the top (trace the top arrow) is a person who has Jesus in their life. This is the best way that I know how to describe Christianity.