Here will be a collection of syllabi from seminaries, used by permission.
Here is one lesson from an evangelism class on the Roman’s Road to whet your appetite…
ROMANS ROAD: INTRODUCTION TO EVANGELISM
1. PURPOSE OF THE ROMANS ROAD CLASS
i) To know the way – i.e. to understand the theology of the gospel more deeply.
ii) To show the way – i.e. to be equipped to explain the gospel to an unbeliever.
2. OBJECTIVES OF THE CLASS
i) To name the most essential, indispensible elements of the gospel.
ii) To be able to confidently present the gospel in a limited time, by focusing on the essential elements.
iii) To be able to quote verses or at least their references when presenting the gospel.
iv) To be able to answer frequently asked questions unbelievers have in response to the presentation
v) To understand the discipline of staying on track and avoiding irrelevant rabbit trails during the presentation.
3. INTRO TO THE BOOK OF ROMANS
-Who wrote the book of Romans?
-Why did he write the book?
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-Why is Romans ideal for a gospel presentation?
4. INTRO TO EVANGELISM
-Why do people need to be saved?
-How is a person saved from sins?
-Is it possible for a person who has sinned, to be saved without hearing the gospel?
Definition of “Evangelion”
Rom 1: 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
So, why do we share the gospel with unbelievers?
Rom 10: 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
5. DEALING WITH INTERRUPTING QUESTIONS
Unbelievers frequently ask questions while you are talking. This is sometimes a red herring that sends you off down a rabbit trail that has no real relevance to the discussion. Other times it is a genuine concern that has come up because they have understood your gospel presentation.
Irrelevant FAQs:
-What does the Bible say about dinosaurs?
-Doesn’t the OT teach you should stone people?
-How can homosexuality be wrong if people are born that way?
-If God is so good, then why do bad things like earthquakes happen in the world?
-There are so many different interpretations of what the Bible means, how can be sure you have the right one?
Relevant FAQs:
-But then if grace is a free gift, then if I keep on sinning, will I still go to heaven?
Answer: Rom 6: 1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? …6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin.
-What about people who never hear the gospel at all? Do they still go to hell?
Rom 1: 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
6. THE ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS OF THE GOSPEL
In class assignment:
Put a tick next to which of these you would always include every time you present the gospel (ones you think are the indispensible elements of the gospel).
-God loves you
-God chooses who will be saved
-The Bible is true
-Hell is eternal, conscious suffering
-Satan is real and evil, but not equal to God in power
-The Trinity consists of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, three persons, one God
-God is holy
-You must be baptized
-You must repent of your sins
-You must trust Jesus to save you
-You are a sinner
-You are helpless to save yourself
-Jesus is the only way to salvation
-Jesus died on the cross
-Jesus died as a substitute for your sins
-Jesus rose from the dead physically
-Jesus will come again
-Once you are saved you cannot lose your salvation
Now read these passages that speak about the contents of the gospel, or what must be believed to be saved.
1 Cor 15: 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
Eph 2: 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
James 2: 14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
Gal 5: 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Now go back to your list and circle the elements you would include if you could only include FOUR. Yes four.
Romans Road will give three simple categories of truth that must be conveyed, but for each person you will need to determine how much detail to give under each category.
1) Bad news (God is holy, you are a sinner, there is consequence for your sin, you cannot save yourself).
2) Good news (But god loves you, and made a way for you through Jesus’ substitutionary death, and resurrection).
3) Repentance (You must place your trust in Jesus, as the only Savior & Lord, to save you from your sins ).
7. HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS DUE NEXT WEEK
-Can a person be saved without hearing the gospel?
Give a verse in the reason for your answer.
-What if you leave out some of the gospel, how can the person be saved?
-Why not just memorize that verse as the one-size-fits-all gospel presentation?
-Read Romans 1-4
