4. Not Dismissing the Trash Talk.
In the “red zone,” the negative voices of the enemy are intense. The trash talk whispered in your mind will try to make you feel inadequate, spiritually unqualified, or fearful of rejection and failure. Those voices are not coming from God. He wants you to dismiss the voices of the enemy and focus on the goal of helping the seeker to Christ. When you share your faith, God’s Spirit will be speaking to the heart of your listener. Remember, it was God who “opened Lydia’s heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.” (Acts 16:14) You are not working alone in the “red zone.” God is working in their hearts, and God wants to use you. Dismiss the trash talk and focus on working with Him.
5. Not Helping the Ball Carrier Cross the Goal Line.
Often, seekers need help crossing the goal line of faith. If you just tell them to pray on their own to receive Christ, it often doesn’t happen. Many seekers have recited prayers in church without any sense that their prayers have been heard, and they usually lack confidence that their prayers will be answered. They often want and need someone to guide them through a prayer helping them to express their heart-felt repentance to God. Always offer to assist them in praying to receive Christ. You will be amazed at how many will want your help.
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6. Not Spiking the Ball.
When someone crosses the goal line, everyone on the team celebrates. It is a great victory. Often, the ball carrier or someone on the team will “spike the ball” in the end zone to celebrate the event. Once a seeker has received Christ and crossed the line of faith, “spike the ball” for him. Help him to celebrate. Explain to him the significance of what just happened. In How to Share Your Faith training, we use the acronym ESPN as a helpful outline for explaining four things that just happened to him.
- ETERNITY: Whenever you close your eyes on earth for the last time, you will open your eyes in God’s presence in heaven (John 5:24).
- SINS are forgiven—all of them, even the ones no one else knows about (Colossians 1:14).
- PERSONAL: You have begun a personal, growing friendship with Jesus Christ (John 17:3).
- NEVER leave you: You will sin again, but He will never leave you (Hebrews 13:5).
Write these short phrases down for them to reinforce what God has promised. It is a way of “spiking the ball,” so they will always remember the significance of crossing the line. It is an important way to help a new believer feel secure in God’s love and to be forever grateful for what God has done for him.
When seekers come to a place where they are open to God, we as believers need to be prepared. God may work in a seeker’s life for years before he or she turns toward Him. God wants us to become aware of this openness so we can cooperate with Him in helping people to Christ. Being prepared with an effective game plan for seekers in the “red zone” can make a huge difference in the lives of those you meet on your journey through life. They will be forever grateful for your sensitivity and clear guidance when they needed it the most.
Dr. Kent Tucker began his work in evangelism with Campus Crusade for Christ while attending UCLA; he now serves as Associate Pastor at Hillside Community Church in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. He has been involved in full-time ministry for over 35 years. He is the author of How to Share Your Faith and conducts evangelism training seminars and campaigns all over the country.
This article on Red Zone Evangelism originally published on SermonCentral.com. Used by permission.
