Just Another Walk in the Park
This story is based on true events that take place when doing surveys in the park.
Christian: If you were to die tonight, WHERE are you going, and WHY?
Ima Goode : “I hope I’m going to heaven, because overall I’m a good person. I try to help people and live a good life.”
Christian: “oh really? I used to think I was a good person too. Let’s test this if you don’t mind. I’ll play the prosecutor and you play the defendant, OK?” 
On that note, you can say almost anything if you say it in love and humility. If we approach people letting them know that we ourselves are totally in the same boat, there will be very little resistance or defensiveness.
Christian: “oh really? let’s test this… I used to think I was a good person too.” And I smiled at him with an “I know where you’re coming from” smile.
On another note, there’s nothing quite like being real with people.
As Paul said, don’t be afraid to become all things to all men. (1Co 9)
Whenever you can step back and relate to people, to whatever degree, do it.
Embrace it and show them your honesty and transparency.
Why would you try to put on some type of a show, anyway? (the answer is pride, so we need to drop that asap!)
Christian: ” Have you ever lied??” (You can imagine his answer)
Ima Goode: “oh yeah, who hasn’t?!”
Christian: “How many times do you think you’ve lied in your life?”
Ima Goode : “Oh wow, hundreds, I can’t even count.”
Christian: “So… ummm… what do you call someone that lies??”
Ima Goode: “A liar?”
Christian: You’ve just broken one part of God’s Law, the 10 Commandments, did you know that?”
Ima Goode: “No, not really.”
Christian: “Have you ever stolen something, even as a child?”
Ima Goode: “Ummmm…. yeahhhh.” he said with a sheepish grin.
Christian: “Hmmm… what do you call someone that steals?”
Ima Goode: “A thief!”
Christian: “Ok, I appreciate your honesty, really. Have you ever used God’s name in vain, kind of like a swear word??”
Ima Goode: “Uh, yeah, I’m guilty of that one too. I don’t mean to, but I have.”
Christian: “Yeah, I’ve been guilty of that too, unfortunately.”
Christian: “Jesus said if we look at a woman with lust, we’ve committed adultery with her in our hearts. Have you ever looked at someone with lust?”
Ima Goode: “Yeahhhh”
Christian: “So, my friend, I’m not judging you, I’ve been just as guilty in my life. But you’ve just told me by your own admission you’ve broken 4 of God’s 10 commandments, and that’s just as an example. That’s God’s Law that you’ve broken, which means these are actually crimes against your God and Creator.”
Christian: “If you were face to face with God tonight, do you think you would be innocent or guilty?”
Ima Goode: “Guilty”
Christian: “Heaven or hell?”
Ima Goode: “Gee, I guess Hell.”
Christian: “You see, God is perfect, and He requires perfection to get into heaven. If that’s true, and the Word of God says it is, then how are ANY of us getting into heaven if we’ve all broken His commands???”
Ima Goode: “We’re not!”
Do you see where these questions have brought this young man? – To HIS OWN realization of guilt and helplessness to save himself.
Christian: “So what hope do we have?!!… and I’m in the same boat as you, or at least I was. But there’s GOOD NEWS, my friend. If you’ve heard of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the word “gospel” means the good news. So what’s the good news?! Even though we are all guilty before God, the Bible says God loved us so much, He sent us His Son to save us from the judgment we actually deserve.”
Christian: “Have you heard that Jesus died on the cross from your sins, and then rose from the grave?”
Ima Goode : “Yes I have. I grew up Catholic.”
Christian: “ok good, but do you understand the legal implications of the cross?”
Ima Goode : “No”
Christian: Please allow me to explain the good news to you with an analogy: You are brought before the Court tomorrow in your nearby city, and the Judge finds you guilty of a crime. He says your fine is $50,000.You say ” Judge, I don’t have $50,000.” – so he sends you to jail.
You might even say “But Judge, I’m overall a good person.” But if he’s a good judge, he’s going to have to punish you for your crime, right? Do you want a judge letting murderers out on the street? But let’s say your best friend walks into the courtroom and says “Your Honor, I want to pay the $50,000 fine for my friend here.”And the Judge AGREES! He accepts the payment on your behalf! So even though you’re guilty, you are free to go. Why? – because someone paid your fine. Jesus PAID OUR FINE. (pause here to see if they “get it.”
Ima Goode : “Ohhhhhh”, he said with a smile. (This is a common reaction; many people are relieved to understand this!)
Christian: Those are the legal implications of the Cross! That’s the good news of the Gospel! The perfect Judge in heaven, God the Father, accepted the payment Jesus made on our behalf. But He paid our price NOT with money, but with His own innocent blood.
Then we might go on like this: And before He gave up His Spirit on the Cross, He said three peculiar words: do you know what He said?? – “It is finished”! Jesus, who was actually God in the flesh, paid the full price for our sins, so we don’t have to be judged.
What we’re commanded to do, if we want to be saved, is to repent and place our trust in Christ alone! (Change your mind, turn around in your heart! You’ve sinned against God and you cannot save your “self”; only the Savior can.)
Notice we’re clearly stating the Truth, planting a seed in their soul that the Spirit can use later on.
Christian: Does that make sense?? Will you at least think about this? (give them with a tract to take home) Do you own a Bible? If so, go home and check out the gospel of John.Would you like to talk about this again sometime? (At least give them the opportunity to be followed up with, whether on the phone or in person. You should offer to guide them; disciple them if they’re willing. We are told to make disciples)
This is what we went through with that young man at the park, and others like him.
We simply need to relate to people and gently tell them the whole truth.We might go on like this:
Christian : “You and I are guilty before God, so we must stop trusting in our own goodness to get to heaven (as religion often teaches us to do), and instead place our trust in Christ alone as our Lord and Savior.Jesus is the only truly good One, and He’s the only One that made a satisfactory payment for our sins, according to the Bible.As the Lord Jesus said; “repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:15c
And the word “gospel” means GOOD NEWS! – ALL OF THIS by God’s grace and mercy alone. That’s why people say His love is beyond what we can even imagine. Does that make sense?
If you have more time with someone, you might follow up with something like this, but honestly it can be any scripture the Spirit leads you to share with them.
The only way we could possibly relate at all is to ask ourselves the following:Would you be willing to sacrifice the life of your own child to save the lives of others? How about this? – Would you be willing to sacrifice the life of your own child to save the lives of … your enemies?
The Bible says God the Father gave up His only Son FOR US, and Christ died for us while we were His ENEMIES! Rom 5:8,10
THAT’S the tremendous, overwhelming love of God… and the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Embrace the Truth in your heart, by grace through faith, and the Truth will set you free, my friend! Rom 10:9-11, Joh 3:16-18
You might also go on like this; if they don’t want to leave you
Christian : Salvation is between you and the Lord. And God looks at the heart. The time is short, as is life. Go to Him and surrender in repentance and faith. He is a good, good God who is “rich in mercy”, and He loves to give “grace to the humble”. Eph 2:1-10, Jam 4:6
And you might tell them the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector, as a prime example of what genuine salvation looks like! Lk 18-9-14
The man beating his breast and unable to lift his head to heaven is a good picture of a repentant attitude towards God, leading to faith in Christ alone for salvation.
Christian: Find a Bible and start by reading the gospel of John. Jesus now calls you to follow Him, and that begins by following His Word. Jn 1:14, 10:27-28 “Would you like to chat again sometime??”
Again, be willing to obey the Lord’s command and make disciples! (Mt 28:18-20)
Evangelism should be intimate. We should appeal to them as to a brother and lay down our lives for them, doing whatever to help them follow Christ.