Tell - GREATCOMMISSION.COM

The three action steps for local disciple making are Tell, Teach and Train. Tell people about the Bible, teach people the Bible, and Train those who are ready, to Tell and Teach others.

The three steps of Tell are: Engage, Inform, and Invite.

1. Engage.

Engage by starting a conversation. Casual conversation is an excellent way to measure if a person is open to talking. A friendly, respectful dialogue is the building block to a relationship. And a relationship is foundational to friendship. Friendship is the best way to share the gospel. The gospel is best transmitted from person to person. It all starts with simple conversation.

Jesus never dealt with any two people the same way, but he engaged in a dialogue with each of them. — Greg Laurie

Engage situationally. Respond to unplanned opportunities. Most Christians naturally share their faith with a known group of people. However, witnessing lessens as those relationships are exhausted. Yet, the harvest remains ripe because God is actively drawing people to Himself. They are asking questions only the gospel answers. We encounter them every day in the regular routines of life. They are open to someone engaging them in friendly conversation, informing them of the blessings of reading the Bible, and asking if they want to know more. The real harvest exists among those we don’t presently know!

Engage intentionally. Plan a specific time to talk about the Bible. This requires purposefully setting aside time to talk with others. It’s a deliberate effort to witness. For those at work, it's having lunch with a fellow employee. For the homemaker, it's creating coffee time with a neighbor. For busy moms, it's scheduling play time for the kids. For college students, it's setting aside time to witness on campus.

2. Inform.

Inform people about the blessing of reading the Bible. The Bible speaks to the deepest part of who we are. It talks about the life we all deeply crave—the healing love of God, the hope of eternal life, the joy of forgiveness, genuine peace, power that conquers sin, and fulfilling purpose.

Inform through a personal presentation. Tell people what Bible had done for you. What words or phrases describe what you experience by reading the Bible? Be ready to share them.

Inform through a relevant presentation. As you converse with people, listen for words and phrases that have eternal meaning. Some call it a redemptive analogy, others call them "gospel nuggets." Pay attention to the concepts of love, hope, joy, forgiveness, peace, power, and purpose. Build a bridge between what you hear and what the Bible offers.

3. Invite.

Invite naturally. Invite people by asking if they want to know more. The gospel includes an invitation. It's not just information to share. It asks for a response. Ask, "Do you want to know more?" or "Do you want to study/read the Bible with me?"

Invite them to read Scripture. The Bible is the transformative element in conversion and growth. (Romans 1:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:13) Discovering people who want to read Scripture is the goal of the Tell phase of disciple making.

Invite with a question. Ask, “Do you want to know more?” This is not an appeal to respond with belief, but an offer to take the first step in a journey of discovery. Most people are not ready or capable of making informed or lasting decisions about Jesus Christ right on the spot. Forced appeals and coerced "sinner's prayers" are often not the product of the Holy Spirit but the result of human effort. Asking a person if he or she wants to know more, is less threatening than asking if they are ready to believe. If a person wants to know more about God, nothing more is needed. If the person doesn't want to know more about God, nothing else will work.

Invite clearly. Seek a yes or no answer. Sometimes, people answer by saying something that doesn't give a clear indication. It's a yes or no question best answered yes or no. If the answer is vague, it's often helpful to gently ask the question again so people can own their response with a yes or no. Something like this usually works: "So would that be a yes or no?" Most of the time, anything that is not a yes, is a no.

If the fruit is ripe, you don’t have to pull hard. —Rick Warren

Invite wisely. Practice catch and release with those who decline the invitation to know more. Catch and release is a fishing term, that describes catching a fish, reeling it in, and then releasing it back into the water. When someone says no to the "Do you want to know more?" question, thank the person for his or her time and the opportunity to get to know them. A healthy release enhances openness to a future gospel encounter. People need several different encounters with the gospel before they make a lasting decisions for Jesus Christ. How we release people often determines how open they are to their next gospel experience. If the person who said no is someone you have repeated contact with, pray for them, and love them. You don't need their permission for that. Move to Phase 2 (Teach) if a person says yes to the "Do you want to know more?" question.

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