My Story Gospel Tract Booklet

20

description

A small booklet that includes your testimony and a Gospel presentation.

Transcript of My Story Gospel Tract Booklet

Page 1: My Story Gospel Tract Booklet
Page 2: My Story Gospel Tract Booklet

For the first 17 years of my life, I sought answers to life’s two most important questions: “What is my purpose in life?” and “Where will I spend eternity?”

While I was growing up, my family regularly attended church and I learned about God, but I became very disillusioned with the church and organized religion as I observed the inconsistencies in the lives of many within the Church. For all of those years, I had head knowledge about God, but I never grasped what it meant to know Him personally. There was a 12-inch gap between my head and my heart. I had a little religion, but no relationship with Jesus.

The philosopher, Pascal, once said, “There is a God shaped void in the heart of every man that can only be filled by God Himself through His Son Jesus Christ.” I was trying to fill this emptiness in my life and find a sense of purpose through success in sports, academics, and the acceptance and

2

Page 3: My Story Gospel Tract Booklet

approval of others. Outwardly my life may have appeared successful and fulfilling, but inwardly I was very empty and searching for purpose.

Early in my senior year of high school, I received a phone call that really shook me to the core. I was told that my good friend Mark had committed suicide, and for the first time, I began to search and ask serious questions about life. Shortly after that incident, a guest speaker at our church gave a talk entitled “The Ultimate Rejection,” taken from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7. He described the final day of judgment when we will stand before God and He will say to many, “Depart from me I never knew you.” I felt as though the Lord was speaking directly to me.

The speaker went on to say that God created us to love Him and enjoy a relationship with Him forever; but our sins have separated us from God and none of our good deeds will save us. Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose again. On that day, I turned from my sin and by faith prayed to

3

Page 4: My Story Gospel Tract Booklet

receive Jesus Christ into my life. The Lord filled my emptiness and gave me a new sense of purpose and direction. I also gained the certainty that I would spend eternity in heaven. Life has not always been easy and my problems did not all go away, but I now have the security of knowing I am deeply loved by the Lord, completely forgiven, totally accepted by God, and absolutely complete in Christ.

After college, I served with the ministry of The Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and later as a Missions Pastor. I’ve also been blessed with a beautiful wife and five wonderful children, all who love the Lord. My ambition in life is to know Him and make Him known. Please read the following pages with an open mind and open heart, and ask God to speak to you. “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13.

Dave Gibson [email protected]

4

Page 5: My Story Gospel Tract Booklet

5

Page 6: My Story Gospel Tract Booklet

created us to be with Him.

God loves us. He created us to love Him and enjoy a relationship with Him forever.

GOD

“ You are worthy our Lord and God, to receive glory, and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” – Revelation 4:11

6

Page 7: My Story Gospel Tract Booklet

What prevents us from experiencing this kind of relationship with God?

Abundant life “ I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. “ – John 10:10b

Eternal life “ Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” – John 17:3

7

Page 8: My Story Gospel Tract Booklet

OUR sins separate us from God.

Man chose to go his own independent way and his relationship with God was broken. Sin means missing the mark, falling short of God’s standard.

8

Page 9: My Story Gospel Tract Booklet

All sin “ For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” – Romans 3:23

Sin separates “ But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.“ – Isaiah 59:2

Sin’s penalty “For the wages of sin is death…” – Romans 6:23

“ Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” – Hebrews 9:27

People continually try to get to God through their own efforts, but…

9

Page 10: My Story Gospel Tract Booklet

SINscannot be removed by good deeds.

God is holy and we are sinful and separated from Him. Man tries to reach God through his own efforts (good works, religion, philosophy, etc.) but they all fall short of God’s holiness and perfection.

10

Page 11: My Story Gospel Tract Booklet

There is only one way to bridge the gap between God and man…

“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts (good deeds) are like filthy rags.” – Isaiah 64:6a

“It is by grace you have been saved through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9

11

Page 12: My Story Gospel Tract Booklet

The diagram shows that God has bridged the gap between Himself and man by sending Jesus Christ to die in our place. Jesus defeated sin and death and rose from the grave.

PAYINGthe price for sin, Jesus died and rose again.

12

Page 13: My Story Gospel Tract Booklet

Who is Jesus? He is the infinite God-man, “I and the Father are one” – John 10:30.

“In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” – John 1:1

He died in our place “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8

He rose from the dead “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures...” – 1 Corinthians 15: 3-5

He is the only way to God “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’.” – John 14:6

Yet it isn’t enough to know these facts... 13

Page 14: My Story Gospel Tract Booklet

On which side do you see yourself? Where would you like to be?

EVERYONEwho trusts in Him alone has eternal life.

Faith in Jesus Christ involves Repentance, turning to God from sin.

“ Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” – 2 Corinthians 7:10

14

Page 15: My Story Gospel Tract Booklet

Receiving Jesus by faith, trusting in Him alone for salvation[Jesus speaking] “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me.” – Revelation 3:20

“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—” – John 1:12

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” – Romans 10:9-10

Are you ready to make this personal? The following is a suggested prayer of committment...

15

Page 16: My Story Gospel Tract Booklet

with Jesus starts now and lasts forever.

LIFE “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be con-demned; he has crossed over from death to life.” –John 5:24

16

Page 17: My Story Gospel Tract Booklet

Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? “Everyone who calls on the

name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13

God knows your heart and is not as concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart.

“ Lord Jesus, I need You. I realize that I am a sinner and can’t save

myself. I need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died on the

cross for my sins and rose from the dead. I repent of my sins and

put my faith in You as Savior and Lord. Take control of my life and

help me to follow you in obedience. In Jesus’ name. Amen”

17

Page 18: My Story Gospel Tract Booklet

Your new life as a child of God.– I am a New Creation in Christ. – 2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 2:20

– I have Eternal Life in Christ. – John 5:24, 1 John 5:11-13

– I am a Witness for Christ and am his Workmanship, created for good works. – Acts 1:8, Ephesians 2:10

– I am Loved and accepted completely in Christ. – Ephesians 1:6, Romans 8:39

– I have the Holy Spirit Indwelling in me. – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 1 John 4:4

– I am Forgiven and Free from condemnation. – 1 John 1:9, Romans 8:1-2

– I have Everything I need for life and godliness. – 2 Peter 1:3, Ephesians 1:3

Trust God! Put your faith in his Word, not in your feelings: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” – 1 John 5:13

NE

W

LIFE

18

Page 19: My Story Gospel Tract Booklet

7 Daily ExercisesJust as physical growth demands physical exercise, spiritual growth as a Christian demands spiritual exercise. To build spiritual muscle here are seven daily exercises:

If you prayed to receive Christ or have questions, please go to the Grace Church website: www.livinthecause.com

1. Daily Die to Self. – I Corinthians 15:31 2. Daily Obedience to Christ. – Luke 9:23 3. Daily Bible Reading – Acts 17:11 4. Daily Prayer – Matthew 6:11 5. Daily Fellowship – Hebrews 3:13 6. Daily Witnessing – Acts 5:42 7. Daily Praise – Psalm 119:164

19

Page 20: My Story Gospel Tract Booklet

www.livinthecause.com • www.gospeljourney.com

Copyright© Grace Church Missions 2012 all rights reserved

Life in 6 Words used by permission of Dare2Share, www.dare2share.org