***Download Our Spiritual Journey Together***
(English and Spanish Versions Available).

Our Spiritual Journey Together is a pamphlet that briefly introduces people to God’s plan of salvation. Together with some explanation on your part, it can be a powerful tool you can use to share your faith with others.

Feel free to download, print, and distribute as many pamphlets as you like. Make sure you add your church’s contact information on the back of each pamphlet. (We find the easiest way is to use the church’s mailing labels.)

To print the pamphlets on both sides of a sheet of paper, print a pamphlet on one side of a sheet, then flip the sheet upside-down and print it again on other side. (If your printer is an inkjet, it will be much easier to photocopy than print.)

If you intend to use a significant number of pamphlets, we recommend going through a professional printer, who can print large quantities, cut, fold, and bundle. (We at Barnabas Missions also like to print our pamphlets with blue or red ink.)

Using the Pamphlet

Most Christians are most comfortable with just giving the pamphlets away, and leaving it to the people who accept them to read the pamphlet later. Some of those people will actually read the pamphlet, or leave it behind for someone else to read. Some of them will stuff it in a pocket and forget about it, or throw it in the trash when they next discover it. Some of them don’t or can’t read, and will only look at the pictures and guess what they might represent.

If you want to be certain that people read the pamphlet, the best thing to do is to read it with them. When the pamphlet is used together with the Religious Attitudes Questionnaire, you have a unique opportunity to use the pamphlet to explain what the Bible says about God and the spiritual realities of life and death, as the questionnaire puts it.

Brian Kelly figures a really thorough reading and explanation of the pamphlet will take about 20 minutes. It may actually take no more than five minutes; but give yourself time to go through and explain the pamphlet in detail.

Describing the Pamphlet

Panel 1: God Made Us All

The first panel, or the front, depicts God’s hands and a man and woman that he created. The scripture passage is from Genesis 1:27 NIV: So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

The verse is from the beginning of the Bible, rather than skipping past the Old Testament to quote from the New Testament, to show that the whole Bible is relevant. It also appeals to Jews who might object when they’re immediately confronted with unfamiliar scriptures from the New Testament. (We’ll get to the New Testament soon enough.)

It begins the salvation story at the very beginning of human history, before humans are divided up into races and cultures. It reminds people that God created everyone—an idea that no reasonable person will argue with. And it prepares people for the idea that everyone needs salvation.

Panel 2: Sin Seperates Us

The second panel, on the inside, depicts various people (of various ethnicities; remember, salvation is for everyone!) going their own direction, and God’s hands held up in alarm. The scripture is from Exodus 32:7-8 NIV: ...Your people ...have become corrupt. They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them....

When you share this pamphlet, explain the background behind the verse. At this point in the Exodus story, God has freed the people of Israel from slavery, taken them to Sinai, and presented them with the ten commandments. Ask people, Have you seen the movie The Ten Commandments? God presents the commandments to Israel and tells them that if they follow them, you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. (Ex 19:5-6)

God refers to Israel as my people up to this point, but in chapter 32 the people of Israel decide to make and worship a golden calf. Suddenly God’s language changes, and when he speaks to Moses he refers to Israel not as my people but as your people. Their sin separated them from God. Our sin likewise separates us from God. He gave us commandments because he wants us to live good and right lives, but we think we know better, and this is why we live miserable and wrong lives.

Panel 3: Jesus Restores Us

The third panel depicts God’s hands reaching out to his people again. This time, they are nail-scarred. The cross reminds us of why they are nail-scarred. People are now reaching out to God as they turn away from sin and turn to him. The scripture is from John 3:3, 14-15 NIV: Jesus declared, I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. ...The Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

Explain the background behind this verse. Nicodemus, whom Jesus calls Israel’s teacher, has come to Jesus to tell him that he approves of him: Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him. (Jn 3:2) But Jesus cuts through all the flattery and tells him, I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. (3:3)

Ask, Have you heard that phrase born again before? What does it mean to you? Some will have heard the phrase before. Some will incorrectly say it stands for reincarnation. Explain that the Greek word for again can also mean from above; that Jesus is talking about being reborn spiritually. Nicodemus was confused by this too, but Jesus said, I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. (3:5-6)

How we become born again is through Jesus’s self-sacrifice: The Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. (3:14-15) Jesus died on the cross to remove sin as a barrier between God and us. This is how he saved us, and became our saver (or Savior). The nail scars in God’s hands remind us that this sacrifice wasn’t because God is bloodthirsty or vengeful; Jesus is God, and God did what he had to do to restore us to himself.

Panel 4: God Loves Us & We Love One Another

The fourth panel shows God’s hands accepting his people, who are demonstrating love for one another. The scripture is from 1 John 3:11 NIV: This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.

This links the message of salvation with God’s plan for humanity from the very beginning. It reminds people that Christians are to love one another as God loves us. (Jn 13:34, 15:12, 1Jn 4:11) It also suggests the need for a church, where we can best practice love for one another.

Panel 5: Basic Biblical Principles

The fifth panel recaps the main ideas from the pamphlet:

• God loves you and wants to share eternal life with you.
• You can begin to receive eternal life by making this commitment to God.

Then read the prayer on this page: Dear God, I know I am a sinner, and I need a Savior. I ask you to forgive me of my sins, and fill me with the power of your Holy Spirit now. I want to receive you, Jesus, as my personal living Savior. I now commit my life totally to you. Thank you, Jesus. Amen!

Once you read that prayer, ask the person, following the pamphlet, Does this prayer express the desires of your heart? Is it something that the person can pray and mean? If so, Would you like to pray this prayer with us today so you can begin a new journey—your new relationship with Christ Jesus?

If the person says yes, make sure the person prays the prayer aloud, not you. You can say the prayer one phrase at a time, and the person can follow; but make sure that the person says every word of it. (Not that the words save a person, but this is just to make sure that the person isn’t trying to say only part of a prayer and therefore it doesn’t count. Some people are deceptive like that.)

If the person has said the prayer, remind that person: Saying the prayer is only the beginning of a new relationship with Christ. Further steps will need to be taken. Follow up with the pamphlet Walking with the Lord Jesus Christ so that this person will know what the Christian life is supposed to look like. But do that quickly after you show them the last panel.

Panel 6: Final Panel

The sixth panel, or the back, is a place for the new Christian to sign and date the pamphlet, as a reminder that this person has received Christ. It’s also the place where you put your church’s contact information—if the new Christian has any questions, there should be someplace to call.

If the person can’t yet say the prayer, that’s fine; make sure to leave the pamphlet with the person, and point to the contact information on the back, in case there are any questions. Maybe at some later point, alone, the Holy Spirit will convict the person, who will then receive Christ. The important thing is that you did what the Lord commanded and shared the gospel.

If the person is still curious (or has said the prayer and wants more information), provide a Bible or New Testament, and use the pamphlet to bookmark the gospel of John. Tell the person to start with John; the writer gets to the point about who Jesus is and what he’s done, and wrote his gospel so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (Jn 20:31)

Further Training

For a video introduction to the Religious Attitudes Questionnaire and using booklets for evangelism, Sharing Your Spiritual Journey with Others presents a thorough introduction, particularly in Part 12, Intentional Outreach Approaches.

We’ve just finished principal photography for Be His Witness, a video seminar that specifically shows you how to use the Religious Attitudes Questionnaire for outreach. We expect it to be complete in January 2007. Check back with Barnabas Missions for updates.

Download the Discipleship Follow-Up Questionnaire