The Gospel is a very simple story. Jesus died, rose again, and anyone who receives Jesus is given eternal life. 

One of the main reasons believers don’t share their faith is that they feel ill-prepared.  Through Evangelism Explosion, I have discovered a simple method to share the Gospel presentation – a hand!  Each finger represents a key point of the Gospel.

Using the five fingers on your hand, each finger represents a key point of the Gospel. It’s easy to learn, hard to forget, and you always have it with you. It’s a “hands-on” approach to faith.

Let me explain:

THUMB—HEAVEN IS A FREE GIFT

Your thumb symbolizes hitching a free ride to heaven, we cannot get there on our own. Use your thumb to make a thumbs up, such as someone who is hitchhiking would do. This is an easy way to remember you need to get a ride to heaven, you cannot get there on your own – it is not earned or deserved.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. -Romans 6:23

INDEX FINGER—MAN IS A SINNER AND CANNOT SAVE HIMSELF

Your index finger is the first finger and symbolizes that man usually puts himself first. Using your index finger, or “first finger” is a good way to remember that we tend to put ourselves first. That is because we have a selfish and sinful nature. We also use our index finger to point at the sin of others, realizing others point at our sin. We are all sinners.

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, -Romans 3:23

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

MIDDLE FINGER—GOD LOVES YOU, BUT HATES YOUR SIN

Your middle finger is the tallest finger. It can represent God, since He is the creator and beginning of all things. God is love and does not want to punish us. But God is holy and must punish our sin. Sin against an eternal God deserves an eternal punishment – Hell.

God is love. -1 John 4:8b

Yet he [God] does not leave the guilty unpunished; -Exodus 34:7b

RING FINGER—JESUS IS THE INFINITE GOD-MAN

Your next finger is the ring finger. This finger represents marriage, like the marriage of Christ and the believer. Jesus loves us. It is very important to know who Jesus Christ is. Jesus Christ is the infinite God-man who died on the cross to pay for our sins and purchase a place in heaven for us.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God … The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. -John 1:1,14

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, ... -1 Peter 2:24

LITTLE FINGER—THIS GIFT IS RECEIVED BY FAITH

Your little finger is the smallest finger and symbolizes faith because it take just a small amount of faith to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. The gift of eternal life is received by faith. Real faith is not temporary faith or simply intellectual faith. It is to put complete trust in Jesus, and Jesus only, to save us.

… “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” -Acts 16:31

This simply explains the Gospel story.  Once this is understood, it is important to accept the invitation to trust Christ as Savior.  How does a person accept the gift of salvation? Simply by asking God through prayer. 

There is no certain prayer that must be used to receive Christ. If unsure what to pray, below is a simple prayer to use. Make sure it comes from the heart…

Dear Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner and cannot save myself. I believe you died on the cross to pay for my sin and purchase a place for me in heaven. I receive that gift right now by faith. Lord Jesus come into my heart and be my Lord and my Savior. Amen.

If you just prayed that prayer to receive Jesus as Savior, congratulations! Welcome to the family of God. I encourage you to contact a good Bible-believing church and grow in your new faith.

If you are already a Christian, I hope this will help you better share your faith. I have found that sharing your faith is rather simple, but it is never easy.  Sharing your faith is a bold move into the darkness of sin.  Satan will fight it.  I’ve found it ironic that we can talk about sports, politics, and health issues with no reluctance. But when it comes to eternal issues, we often relegate this discussion to the ‘professionals.’  I plead with you to share your faith with those you know who need Jesus. He will help you!

Contact me if you received Jesus Christ as your own personal Savior? I have some material I’d like to give you to help you in your journey.

Do you have a ‘gospel presentation’ that you have used effectively? Let me know.

Who are you praying for right now that needs to hear the Gospel story? I’d love to pray for them too.