I just read a great teaching by Ray Comfort called "Hells Best Kept Secret". You can access and read this teaching here. I strongly recommend that you read this teaching. (If you haven't already - perhaps I'm the slow one and everyone has read this already). Ray Comfort is an evangelist that has paired up with Kirk Cameron (childhood star on the TV show "Growing Pains" and actor in recent Christian movies such as "Fireproof" and the "Left Behind" series) to lead an evangelism resource and training ministry called "The Way of the Master".

Ray's influential teaching called "Hells Best Kept Secret" is a message to the church and the saints on the true method of evangelism: the use of God's law (the ten commandments) to convince nonbelievers of their need for salvation. Ray argues that the church today has adopted the "life enhancement" method of sharing the gospel. Instead of preaching that nonbelievers are in danger of an eternity in hell without God as result of their unrepentant sin; a majority of modern day evangelism focuses to convince people that Jesus will make their life better and more fulfilled. And he does do this (and will); however, if a person isn't convinced that they NEED Christ's salvation as forgiveness for their sins FIRST, they will have a hard time on the journey of the Christian life. The Bible says that all believers will face persecution (2 Timothy 3:12). Therefore, it a believer isn't joyful of their salvation because of what they know that Christ spared them from (God's judgment and an eternity in Hell), then they are in danger of falling away from the faith and not trusting God when times are tough and persecution comes. Therefore, it is imperative that as we seek to share the gospel, according to Ray's teaching and the teachings of the Bible - that we speak to people about how they've broken God's law and need His forgiveness. Only when you've convinced someone of God offering them a free gift of having spared them from a penalty that we all deserve (as we've all broken God's law) will that person become an authentic follower of Christ. Sharing the gospel and only focusing on grace and life fulfillment (and not first on repentance) is not sharing the true gospel. God's grace in salvation is equally important in the gospel message - but it follows the true repentance of a person for breaking God's law and the need for forgiveness.

That's my summary of Ray's teaching, and I agree with him. You do see these patterns in some of today's evangelism, and Ray's teaching is centered on the biblical model of evangelism. Please share your thoughts (and read the article if you haven't).