Sharing the Gospel

Pioneered by Dawson Trotmann, founder of The Navigators, but updated for a postmodern audience, the Bridge Illustration is a powerful presentation of our need for a Savior. If you think you'll use this illustration we recommend you either memorize all the verses or write them in the inside back cover of your Bible to have them handy. We also recommend practicing this illustration on a friend to grow confident in sharing it and to personalize it for your own use.

The One-Verse Bridge is a fantastic abridged version of the Bridge. It takes about 10 minutes to share so is ideal for drawing out when you don't have much time or you're not sure how long your friend will want to invest. We recommend introducing the One-Verse Bridge as a 10-minute illustration that explains the main theme of the Bible. At the end you can say that as simple as the illustration is, it captures the main theme - God's desire and plan for restoring relationship with men and women.

The Bridge Illustration is a great tool, yet there are times when you want to illustrate the process of receiving Christ, rather than the event. The Well Illustration might be right for that situation. Young people today are largely blinded to their sinfulness and need for Christ. This illustration is a sowing, rather than reaping tool, helping people move closer to making a decision for Christ by graciously exposing an individual to their sinfulness. It also helps you become acquainted with where your friend is at and is therefore helpful in how to proceed in sharing Christ. Later you may want to also use the bridge illustration to talk specifically about the event of receiving Christ.