10 Tried-and-True Salvation Segues

As the Southern branch of the family is fond of saying: “Y’all liss’n here. There’s mo’ than one way to skin a cat…yaw reckon?”

Variety is the spice of life. And the same is true in ministry. But one of the key elements we recommend when building a Gospel Advancing ministry is to include a clear Gospel invitation every week. So this is where your creativity needs to kick into high gear. With a little forethought, practically any lesson topic can transition into the Good News. After all, redemption is the theme of Scripture, so creatively working the Gospel into your message is essentially a matter of tying “a part” into “the whole.”

Let your Christian teenagers know why you’re including a Gospel invitation each and every week. Then they will know that whenever they invite their unreached friends, there will be an opportunity for them to trust in Christ. And don’t worry about your regular students repeatedly hearing the Gospel explained—seeing you model it will actually equip them to share it too! Plus, they’ll be learning to see every conversational topic as a potential opportunity to point others toward Jesus. And if you really want to get creative, occasionally arrange for one of your students to come up front and take a turn at explaining the G.O.S.P.E.L. acrostic to their peers.

Salvation Segue Sampler

The great preacher Charles Spurgeon once explained it like this: “I take my text and make a bee-line to the cross.” Basically, every lesson you teach simply needs a “salvation segue”—a few transitional sentences that “make a bee-line to the cross.” Here are 10 tried-and-true salvation segues:

1. Romantic relationships. Let me ask you a question. Why do people want to pair off in the first place? I know, I know, she’s hot, he’s cute, right? I wonder, though, if there’s something else going on, as well. I think there is, and it’s called loneliness. Most people think that if they can just find their soulmate, then their emotional tank will be forever filled to the brim. But human relationships will never fill the hole God built into our souls that only a relationship with Him can fill. Nothing else can satisfy that deep need, because God created us to be with Him…
2. Peer pressure. We all face peer pressure, sometimes negative, but sometimes positive—if it encourages us to make good choices, instead of destructive ones. Did you know that God Himself applies positive peer pressure? It’s true—because the Bible says that God “doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change.” (2 Peter 3:9, The Message). He may be speaking to your heart right now about what’s going to happen to you when life is over. Just what is He “pressuring you” about? The greatest news on Earth, which is…
3. Self-image. One of the things that can really help people’s self-image is when they find out that someone has sacrificed something on their behalf. When I find out that a friend has done something special for me, I definitely feel more valued. But did you know that the God of the Universe made the ultimate sacrifice for you? Here’s how it happened…
4. The future. If we think about the future too much, it’s easy to get freaked out about the kinds of bad things that might happen—terror attacks, school shootings, deadly diseases, car accidents. But while we don’t have a lot of control over what happens in this life, we do have a choice when it comes to next life and the free gift of eternal life that Jesus offers. Here’s how it works…
5. Other religions. One of the things that separates Christianity from other religions is that Jesus claimed to be God and the only way to God. The question I have for you is: What are you going to do with Jesus’s claims? Let me explain what the Bible says about how you can know that you’ll go to Heaven when you die…
6. Parents. I know the subject of parents can sometimes be challenging, especially if you’re feeling distant from them. It can leave an empty place inside you that nothing on Earth can really fill. Notice I said “nothing on Earth,” because I’d like to tell you about a loving Father who doesn’t live on Earth. He lives in Heaven. He’s a Dad who will never reject or abandon you. Here’s how you can enter into a relationship with Him…
7. Friendships. Tonight we’ve talked about ways we can make new friends and improve our relationship with the ones we already have. But did you know that Jesus said: “I have called you friends” (John 15:15)? Jesus came to Earth 2,000 years ago to prove His total commitment to being our friend. Why did He do that? Let me explain…
8. Addiction. Addiction to things like drugs, alcohol, and porn are ugly. But did you know that everyone in this room actually has an addiction? It’s true. We’re all addicted to a thing called “sin”—which is basically the things we do that mess up our relationships and hurt others and ourselves. The Bible says that we “all have sinned”—sounds like a common addiction to me! The good news is that God loves us and wants a personal relationship with each of us, despite our addiction to sin. Here’s how that’s possible…
9. God’s will for my life. Isn’t it amazing how many people are seeking advice from things like horoscopes, Ouija boards, and tarot cards to help guide their future? But let me ask you: If I told you I had a message for you directly from God, would you be just a little curious? Well, it just so happens that I do—and your decision to accept or reject it will have an unbelievable impact on your future. Here’s the message…
10. Guilt/shame. It’s easy to feel as if we’ll never measure up. Tonight I’d like to take just a few moments and explain how you can forever drop the feelings of guilt and shame that might be weighing you down, because there is a way. It started a long time ago…

There are a lot of hurting teens out there, so give a clear, hopeful Gospel message at your meeting this week and every week. And extend a grace-filled invitation to trust in Jesus! Be creative as you make a bee-line for the cross.

Because there really is mo’ than one way to skin a cat.