Plan One: Use a Witnessing Booklet.
Many effective soul-winners use a witnessing booklet to lead others to Christ. These effective witnesses have found a witnessing booklet that shares the plan of salvation in a very normal and natural way for them, and they keep using it. They keep a supply on hand and carry several of them all of the time. When the Holy Spirit brings them into a witnessing opportunity, they use the booklet. If you decide to use a witnessing booklet as your method or plan for sharing the plan of salvation, please read carefully the following suggestions:
- Please understand that a person is not saved by reading or hearing you read the booklet. A person is saved by placing his or her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and by accepting Him as Savior and Lord. The booklet helps you present Christ. Do not present the booklet, but use it to aid you in presenting Christ and His salvation. Keep Christ in your presentation.
- Be sensitive to an individual’s interests and the leading of the Holy Spirit. The simplest way to explain the booklet is to read it aloud exactly as it is written.
- When questions come up that would change the subject, explain that most questions are answered as you go through the booklet. You can also say, “That’s a good question. Let’s talk about it after we have read through the booklet.”
- If there seems to be no response, stop and say, “Is this making sense to you?”
- Hold the booklet so that it can be seen clearly.
- Do not give the booklet to the person with whom you are sharing until you have finished.
- Use a pencil to focus on the key points as you read. This will help hold the attention of the person to whom you are reading. Tell him/her that you will give them the booklet when you are finished.
- In a group, give each person a booklet. Pray individually with those who are interested in receiving Christ. If only one is interested, talk to that individual privately, if possible.
- Be sensitive as to whether a person wants to pray his own prayer or use the prayer from the booklet. Some will request silent prayer, but encourage them to pray out loud.
- In the booklet, there is the place where the individual is asked to receive Christ. You can read exactly what is in the booklet, or you can say:
a. “Will you pray this prayer now and invite Christ to come into your life?” OR…
b. “Will you pray this prayer after me and invite Christ to come into your life and be your personal Savior and Lord?” - If someone has already heard of the booklet, ask him what he thought of it and if he has any questions about it. If he is interested in the Gospel and it is not clear, go over the booklet again.
- When a person does receive Christ during your first encounter, make clear your availability for further discussion. Make another appointment if interest is shown. Assure the person that you will be praying for him/her. Later on ask the individual if he/she has thought further about your discussion or if there are any questions.
