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by Dr. Bill BrightI could quote countless letters and reports from people who have benefited from receiving training in how to use this simple presentation.
A woman who had served with her husband as a missionary in Africa for many years wrote, “You should have seen the transformation in my husband when he returned from one of your training seminars. He wanted to share the Four Spiritual Laws booklet with everyone. He even shared in the swimming pool with water up to his neck! And the best part of all is that he keeps on doing it.”
Another person shared, “I was afraid at first, but the Lord has changed my attitude, and now I want to go out witnessing. I thank God with all my heart for this change.”
But even a Spirit-controlled person with a tested and trusted tool in his hands can expect barriers of resistance in sharing Christ with others. One of the most difficult barriers to overcome in witnessing is just getting started. No matter who you are or where you are, opportunities are always available. Assume that whenever you are alone with another person for more than a few moments, it is a divine appointment and an answer to your prayer.
For example, in addition to sharing Christ with students, executives and others individually and in large and small groups, I witness regularly to porters, elevator operators, hotel maids, taxicab drivers, gas station attendants and people in other types of work. On a plane, I often engage the flight attendant or my seatmate in conversation by having in hand a Bible, a Four Spiritual Laws booklet, or some other piece of Christian literature.
Beginning a Conversation
Beginning a conversation is simple. Following a group meeting - such as a church service, Bible study or student outreach meeting - you may wish to introduce yourself to different individuals. Then, after a warm greeting, proceed with the following questions in whatever way is natural for you:
“What did you think of the message?”
“Did it make sense to you?”
“Have you made the wonderful discovery of knowing Christ personally?”
“You would like to, wouldn’t you?”
Then ask, “Have you ever heard of the Four Spiritual Laws?” and proceed to read the booklet to him. If the individual indicates he has already heard of the Four Laws, ask for his opinion, review the booklet, and give him the opportunity to pray and receive Christ, if he has not already done so.
There are many other effective ways of establishing contact with another person. After a friendly greeting, you can say:
“This booklet is one of the most widely read booklets in history - more than 1.5 billion copies have been distributed in every major language. Have you ever heard of the Four Spiritual Laws?”
Or you might say:
“A friend of mine recently gave me this little booklet that really makes sense to me. I would like to share it with you. Have you ever heard of the Four Spiritual Laws?”
Here is another approach:
“The content of this booklet has been used to change the lives of millions of people. It contains truths that I believe will be of great interest to you. Would you read it and give me your impression?”
You could try this one:
“If you died today, do you know for sure that you will go to heaven?”
If the answer is yes, ask:
“On what basis do you know for sure that you are going to heaven? This little booklet, the Four Spiritual Laws, will help you know for sure that you will go to heaven when you die.”
This direct approach is best used when you have only a few moments with an individual. If you have a more unhurried opportunity, take a few minutes to establish rapport by sharing a few things of personal interest about yourself and asking the other person about himself, his business, profession, or family. Then you can explain that you are a Christian and have discovered a remarkable booklet that has been a great help to you and that you would like to share it with him. Then ask, “Have you ever heard of the Four Spiritual Laws?”
Presenting the Four Spiritual Laws
While making the presentation, do so in love. Be casual, friendly, warm and confident. You don’t need to impress people with your brilliance, but neither should you use a halfhearted, hesitant, negative approach that suggests, “I don’t suppose you would like to become a Christian, would you?”
When you share the Four Spiritual Laws, simply read through the booklet. Generally, you should read aloud, holding the booklet so that the person can read along with you. It is also helpful to use a pencil or other object to point to the lines as you read to help the listener concentrate.
At times, the Holy Spirit will lead you to stop and explain something that may be unclear or to add a personal illustration. Normally, however, it is more effective to read through the booklet before stopping to explain or answer questions. If the person raises a question, say, “Let’s remember that question and come back to it after we have finished reading the booklet.” Of course, be sure to answer the question later!
Some time ago, I spoke to a group of pastors in Dallas. Skeptical that such a simple approach as the Four Spiritual Laws would communicate with college students, a university chaplain asked if I would go with him to the nearby university campus to demonstrate how to use the Four Spiritual Laws booklet with non-Christian students. He gathered about a dozen students, most of whom were Christians. I gave them each a copy of the Four Spiritual Laws booklet and asked them to follow along silently as I read the booklet aloud.
Although I have shared Christ with thousands of students and lay people in individual counseling sessions through the years, I am a rather reserved person and do not always find it easy to witness. Therefore, as I read the booklet aloud to the students, I began to receive all kinds of negative impressions from the devil who was trying to discourage me and put doubts into my mind. I thought, These students will laugh at me. They are too intelligent to be responsive to such a simple presentation. I need a more intellectual approach. Don’t go too far; don’t be a fanatic. These students will be turned off. They will think I am crazy.
But knowing that I am free from Satan’s power as I simply trust and obey the Lord, I claimed the promise of 1 John 4:4: "Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world." So I kept on reading, knowing from experience that God would honor this presentation as He has on thousands of other occasions, for He has promised to honor His Word. When I came to the prayer, it suddenly seemed that a chorus of voices was saying to me, You are not going to read this prayer and make a fool of yourself before these intelligent students, are you? But I read the prayer and said, “If this prayer expresses the desire of your heart, pray it with me silently. Make it your own prayer.”
Then I read the prayer aloud a second time.
When I finished the prayer, I looked up and saw tears running down the cheeks of one of the young women. She told me that she had prayed that prayer and knew that the Lord Jesus had come to live in her heart. Later a young man also received Christ. Before I left, the chaplain introduced me to another young woman who had just received Christ, too. As far as I know, all the rest of the students except one were Christians. The remaining one had been reared as an atheist, but was sobered by what he had heard and was also on the verge of receiving Christ. Through the simple reading of the gospel as contained in the Four Spiritual Laws booklet, the Spirit of God worked in the hearts of these young men and women in a marvelous way. Often this is the experience of any Spirit-controlled person who shares this presentation.
Generally, you will find that most people agree with the first three laws and are not likely to ask many, if any, questions. Therefore, you can proceed to Law Four with confidence.
When you come to the two circles, one representing the self-controlled life, the other the Christ-controlled life, ask the question contained in the booklet:
“Which circle represents your life?”
Then ask:
“Which circle would you like to have represent your life?”
In most cases the person with whom you are sharing will answer the first question, “The circle on the left,” and the second question, “The circle on the right.”
Before a nonbeliever can receive Christ, the Holy Spirit must be at work in his life producing a repentant attitude. This change of attitude will result in a change of action. However, it should be clearly understood that you do not become a Christian because you repent, but by the simple act of receiving Christ by faith as explained in the following verses:
"To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12).
"It is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8,9).
The Point of Decision
The next crucial part in sharing Christ is to help those who want to receive Him as their Savior know exactly what to do. As you continue to read from the booklet, explain how to receive Christ.
Read the prayer aloud, then ask:
“Does this prayer express the desire of your heart?”
If the answer is “Yes,” say:
“You can pray this prayer right now if you really mean it, and Christ will come into your life as He promised.”
Then pause to pray and suggest that if the individual will pray aloud, you can pray with him or her.
If there is a long silence, you may suggest that the person pray after you, phrase by phrase. Be sensitive, however. Don’t offend by “forcing” the prayer. Some people wish to pray their own prayer rather than the suggested one. Should someone wish to pray silently, suggest that he or she say “Amen” when finished. Then pray aloud for the new believer.
If the individual makes no commitment after you have read the booklet to this point, avoid offending the person. Don’t try to argue or pressure anyone into making a “decision” for Christ. Jesus says, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him” (John 6:44).
The important thing is not what you do, but what the Holy Spirit does through you. You and I do not have the ability to introduce anyone to Christ by our own power. Remember, success in witnessing is simply taking the initiative to share Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results to God.
However, if the individual does not pray to receive Christ at this time, maintain a positive and loving attitude. You may wish to say, “Quite likely you will want to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior one day. Let me show you what will happen when you do invite Christ to come into your life.” Then explain how he can have assurance of salvation by reading the rest of the booklet.
If the person responds positively, give him another opportunity to receive Christ by inviting him to pray with you. You may find that many will be ready to pray by the time you have read the entire booklet.
Some will want to pray then, while others may wish to pray at a later time after they better understand what is involved in receiving Christ. In this event:
1. Suggest that the person reread the booklet later that day and decide to receive Christ at that time.
2. Ask the person to call you as soon as he or she does so. Many people receive the Savior alone after your time together is over.
On one occasion, I shared the Four Spiritual Laws booklet with a well-known general who agreed with the content of the booklet but had never received Christ. He wanted to but had not done so. I offered to pray with him, but he said that he would prefer to receive Christ when alone. I promised to pray for him and said goodbye.
The next morning I called him and asked, “Did you pray that prayer?”
“I certainly did,” he responded enthusiastically, “just as I promised I would.”
Let me suggest two other methods that you might find helpful.
One is to share your own personal testimony and, as the Holy Spirit leads you, give another opportunity for the individual with whom you are sharing to receive Christ. Another is to simply review the booklet, explaining it clearly one law at a time, and asking after each law:
“Does this make sense?”
