Introduction: Tear a Summary of the Gospel

By Crated - BladeFyre
About: Here's a glimpse into my background: I have been a full time Electronics Technician for the last 23 years, and am now a Quality Engineering Technician I am an amateur photographer (yeah, I need to practice/lea…
This is a Christian themed Instructable!

First off I have to say that this is in no way my idea!!! 

I visit several ministry/resource websites, such as,You Version, Living Waters, LifeChurch.Tv, Chick Tracts, Bible.Is, etc. I find that they all have effective tools, resources, and how-to's on sharing my faith and witnessing to non-Christians!

I found this tool [idea] on the Living Waters (⇔Direct link to article/story) website, and want to share it. I have used it to open up deeper conversations with fellow co-workers, friends, and even members of my family.

Please note in the images I drew reference lines on the paper, DO NOT do this, it was just for highlighting the folds and tear spots to make it easier to follow!!!!

The reason I am creating this instructable:
  1. It helps evangelists to spread the good word!
  2. I like the idea and concept!
  3. There are no photos on the Living Waters website (for this tool)!
  4. I want to share it with people who haven't seen it before!

Step 1: Supplies and Preparation

Preparation:
  1. Read this instructable to the end ;)
  2. Memorize the story in step xx (You don't have to get it perfect!)
  3. Gather supplies (listed below)
Supplies:
  1. 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper
  2. Someone to share the story with
Alright on to the next step!

Step 2: Setting Up the Paper (1)

We are now going to start folding the paper to get it ready for the story:
  1. Fold the paper, from the top, down one third. You should now have a square piece in your hand.
  2. Fold the left top corner into the middle and crease it down.
  3. Fold the right corner down and crease it, as though you are making a paper plane. 
You should now have something that looks like a house with a pointed roof.

Step 3: Setting Up the Paper (2)

This is the last part of setting up the paper:
  1. Continue making a plane by folding the paper in half.
  2. Crease it down the center.
  3. Now turn the point of the plane toward the ground, with the shorter edge to your left. 
You should now have something that looks like a paper plane before you fold the wings down.

Step 4: Memorize the Story

This is the story:

A Christian was once talking to an atheist and someone who went to church. The atheist said he didn't believe in God, Heaven, Hell, the Cross. The Christian warned him that he would have to face God whether he believed in Him or not. The church-goer said he believed everything the Bible said, but he hadn't repented as yet. While the Christian pleaded with them both, a truck came around the corner, up onto the sidewalk and killed all three of them. As they stood before the Judgment Throne of God, the ex-atheist looked down and saw a piece of paper in the Christian's hand. He said, "That's a ticket to get into Heaven, give it to me!" The Christian said, "I'll tell you what I will do. I will give a third of the ticket to each of you" So they took their tickets, and gave them to God. He said, 'Let's see where the tickets say you are to go.'"

Then the Christian walked up to the Throne and gave his one third of the ticket to God, Who said, "The only way to get in, is the way of the Cross" 

NOTE: UPDATED 8/2/2011 with two alternate versions of the story (To Help Clarify any confusion [I Hope!!!]):
There are several alternate versions of this out on the net, and many good videos on youtube!!!

Alternate 1 (from http://crazytieguy.com/airplane.htm)

There was a man who loved to tell people about how they could get to heaven. He even caried a ticket around he told people it was his "ticket to heaven." Then he would tell people how he knew he had a ticket to heaven. One day, he didn't have time to tell the man he was talking with how he knew he would be in heaven. He was about to tell the man when they were both hit by a car and killed. The two men stood in line together in heaven and somehow the one man was still holding his ticket. So the other man said, "I never did get my ticket." Would you tear off a little of your ticket so I could get it...so the man tore a little off and gave it to the man. Then the man said, "you still have such a large ticket and mine is so small, could you spare just a little more of yours for me. The man told him the ticket didn't mean anything, but he tore some more off for him. Then the man who didn't have a ticket, but now held two pieces of the other man's ticket got to the entrance of heaven. He laid down his ticket and said, it's a little messed up, but I got my ticket in. But Saint Peter said, this isn't a ticket to heaven...let's see (piece the puzzle together) I'm sorry, but your forgot the most important thing in life...this is a ticket to Hell. The man turned to the other guy and said, "You told me you had a ticket to heaven!" The man said, "I just hold this in my hand to tell people about JESUS (unfold the cross) so they can believe in him to be saved and have that place in heaven."

Alternate 2 (From http://www.teachableheartministries.org/files/Paper_Illustrations_for_the_Gospel.pdf)

Ask if any enjoy the dentist's waiting room or standing outside the headteacher's office. Two men stand nervously outside the gates of heaven waiting to get in after they had died. After an awkward silence, Albert turns to Bill and asks; "Do you think you'll get in?" "Sure," says Bill, "I didn't live a bad life. Yeah, I broke the speed limit a few times, but I was a good husband and dad,.. (Mention a few other good works). God's a good bloke, He's supposed to be loving an’ all." Another silence, eventually Bill says, "What about you?"
"Well, I know that I don't deserve to get in that's for sure. I did plenty of things that I'm ashamed of and sorry about. Just before I got my ..er.. 'call up', I met this bloke and he gave me this ticket (show folded paper), said if I showed it to God it would get me in." Another silence while Bill takes this in, gradually he gets more unsettled as he wonders if he's missed out on this ticket. "Give us a piece of your ticket." "Would love to, but the bloke who gave it me told me it wasn't transferable." Bill then grabs the ticket and in the confusion it gets torn (tear paper) and both men end up with a piece. Just then God comes to the gate. He asks Albert, "Why should I let you into My heaven?" Albert gives Him his paper (unfold to reveal the cross). Explain how God welcomes him in not on the basis of what he has done, but on what Jesus has done. Then God calls Bill, who confidently gives God his paper expecting the same welcome (unfold his pieces to reveal 'Hell'" Explain that he is rejected because he depended on his own goodness, not Jesus. At the end explain that this is just a story and that you don't believe there really is a gate and waiting room, etc. But we will all die and face God.) 

Step 5: Combine the Paper and the Story

This is the cool part!!!!

I am going to include the story but add in what you do with the paper as well: - You will be tearing the paper into thirds during the story. I marked the tear lines in the photos. 

 A Christian was once talking to an atheist and someone who went to church. The atheist said he didn't believe in God, Heaven, Hell, the Cross (as you are telling this story, begin folding the paper. I prefer to have the paper already folded here! {Pic 1}.). The Christian warned him that he would have to face God whether he believed in Him or not. The church-goer said he believed everything the Bible said, but he hadn't repented as yet. While the Christian pleaded with them both, a truck came around the corner, up onto the sidewalk and killed all three of them. As they stood before the Judgment Throne of God, the ex-atheist looked down and saw a piece of paper in the Christian's hand. He said, "That's a ticket to get into Heaven, give it to me!" The Christian said, "I'll tell you what I will do. I will give a third of the ticket to each of you" (this is where you tear off the two strips starting on the left, place the torn piece on a table where it won't blow away {Pic 2}. Then rip off another [about a third], vertically [rip it as straight as you can]. Place this piece with the other, then put the remaining [long] piece on the table, away from the other two strips {Pic 3}.) "So they took their tickets, and gave them to God. He said, 'Let's see where the tickets say you are to go.'" (As you open them, they spell the word "HELL {Pic 4}.) The Christian walked up to the Throne and gave his one third of the ticket to God, Who said, "The only way to get in, is the way of the Cross!" (you open the third piece, revealing the Cross {Pic 5}.)

Step 6: Credits:

I honestly do not know who came up with this! However, like I said in the intro; I found it on the Living Waters website!

So I am including a direct link (also in the intro) to the webpage with the story / written directions:

Tear a Summary of the Gospel. (2011). Retrieved July 29th, 2011, from Living Waters: http://www.livingwaters.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=175%3Atear-a-summary-of-the-gospel&catid=48&Itemid=152&lang=en

I honestly hope you find this instructable useful! And if you witness, preach, teach Sunday school, lead a prayer group, etc. PLEASE USE IT!