In recent years, the business world has coined the phrase “elevator speech.” Sellers are encouraged to be able to explain their product offering to someone in the elevator in the 20 seconds or so it takes to get to their floor.
Most people who have been in the church for a while have been taught that the word gospel literally means good news. The question is, if someone asks you to explain the gospel, do you have a good explanation? Do you have an “elevator speech” prepared to explain the good news of Jesus Christ?
One of the best concise presentations of the Gospel can be found in 1 Corinthians 15:3–8:
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, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. (ESV)
This certainly does not explain everything, but it is a good starting point and I am committed to memorizing these verses to be ready to give an answer when required.
MarkMcIntyre says
September 23, 2014 at 5:29 AM@Sentinel Sentinal, Thanks for your encouragement to personalize the “speech”. I agree that it is important to share what is real to you so that it doesn’t come off as wrote repitition.
MarkMcIntyre says
September 15, 2014 at 12:02 PMJohn Myer Thanks for the comment and the link.
John Myer says
September 15, 2014 at 11:52 AMA kingdom elevator speech is a good idea. I’ve been caught too many times flat-footed. It’s totally embarrassing to have a passion for Jesus and have lived most of your life for Him, only to be “out of it” at that moment when somebody wants to know what you believe.
http://bareknuckle.org/2014/07/21/gospel-nightmare-open-mouth-nothing-comes-out/
Mark McIntyre says
November 29, 1999 at 7:00 PMSentinal,
Thanks for your encouragement to personalize the "speech". I agree that it is important to share what is real to you so that it doesn't come off as wrote repitition.
Sentinel says
November 29, 1999 at 7:00 PMThe elevator speech is a useful concept, and it's definitely worth thinking about what you would say in 20 secs as an intro to your faith.
My caution against using this particular passage (or any other quotation) is that it's Paul's elevator speech, not yours. I believe that a personal statement of your own faith – even if closely modelled on this passage – would be far more compelling than a quotation which lacks any context for the listener.
That is to say that the passage has meaning for you because you know who Paul was, when and to whom he was writing it, etc. Without this context it loses much of its punch.